The PTC review noted that both operators had also met all the standards of bus passenger loading, minimal bus breakdowns and bus frequency among other parameters on the checklist. -- ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW
BUS operators SBS Transit and SMRT have turned in their best service performance since financial penalties were introduced in 2007.
Between the two operators, only one service by SMRT failed to leave the terminal on time.
The operator was fined $100 for failing to meet the standard for buses leaving the terminals for service 857 from Yishun to Temasek Avenue in October last year. The fine was a result of review conducted by the Public Transport Council (PTC) over a six month period from June to November last year.
Despite the fine, SMRT improved its performance over the last assessment when it was penalised with a $200 fine for having buses which were overcrowded and did not leave the terminal on time.
SBS Transit, which runs about 75 per cent of the services in Singapore, met all service standards in the latest review.
In the last assessment, SBS Transit was fined $500 for having overcrowded buses on five occasions. For past reviews, it has been fined up to $9,300.
The PTC review noted that both operators had also met all the standards of bus passenger loading, minimal bus breakdowns and bus frequency among other parameters on the checklist.
Operators were required to have at least 80 per cent of their bus services operating at a headway of 10 minutes during weekday peak periods, down from 15 minutes.
Also, at least 90 per cent of all feeder bus services must run at headways of not more than 10 minutes during weekday peak periods.
This was up from 85 per cent.
