Singapore Shuttle Bus

Singapore Shuttle Bus (Pte.) Ltd. (SSB) came into existence as a result of the "Park and Ride" Scheme introduced by the government in 1975. The "Park and Ride" Scheme consisted of the restricted zone concept together with fringe carparks and area licensing. SSB operates the City Shuttle Service (CSS) which plied from the fringe carparks to the CBD zones. In 1976, CSS services were extended to the public housing estates. Today, SSB provides regular bus services to and from the housing estates through the CBD.

History

Date of Incorporation: 15 May 1975
Number of services (initial): 6
Fleet Size: 60
Operation Hours: 7.30 am to 7.30 pm
Staff Strength: 60 odd
Operation Mode: Two-Men Operation (driver and conductor)
Bus Model: single door 25-seaters

City Shuttle Service was incorporated on 15 May 1975 under the "Park and Ride" scheme introduced by the government. The "Park and Ride" Scheme was aimed at reducing city traffic congestion by encouraging car owners to park their vehicles at allotted fringe carparks and making use of the CSS services plying between the fringe carparks and the Central Business District. This, however, proved unpopular with the car owners and was abandoned in 1976. With the abolition of this scheme, SSB was called upon to provide regular bus services from the housing estates like Bedok, St Michael’s, Queenstown, Bukit Merah and Sin Ming to the CBD and vice versa.

In the initial period, SSB operated 6 out of a total of 9 CSS services, namely CSS services 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9. Starting with an initial fleet of sixty single-door 25-seater buses on 6 services, its fleet was slowly replaced by larger and more spacious buses in 1985. On 12 March 1987, SSB was acquired by Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd. On 2001, SMRT acquired TIBS and SSB becomes a subsidiary of SMRT.

Recent History

Number of services: 1
Operation Hours: 6.30 am to 7.30 pm
Operation Mode: One Man Operation - Distance Related Fare
Seating capacity: 45

Like all SMRT buses, CSS buses were also equipped with safety features such as accelerator-locking devices.

Fares

SSB’s adult fares ranged from $0.60 to $1.20 for passengers paying by cash and $0.50 to $1.10 for ez-link card users. Singapore Shuttle Bus (Pte.) Ltd was the first bus company to extend concessionary fares to senior citizens.

Organisation

Nature of Business

• To provide public transport from the housing estates to the CBD areas
  

CSS services operated from interchanges and terminals like Bedok Interchange, Bukit Merah Interchange and Sin Ming Road Terminal. CSS services did not operate on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Facilities

SSB’s bus depot was situated at Lorong 1, Geylang. The central workshop was at Ang Mo Kio which handled all the preventive maintenance, repair works and major component overhauls.

Withdrawal of CSS

The last day of operation for CSS 608 was originally meant to be on 31 March 2007. The last day of operation was therefore pushed back to 28 Apr 2007.

Last CSS bus departing from Bedok Int: CSS195K
Last CSS bus departing from Bukit Merah Int: CSS180C

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External Links

http://www.smrtbuses.com.sg/transport/ssb/DEFAULT.htm
http://www.smrtbuses.com.sg/transport/ssb/shistory.htm