Creating Possibilities Together

Commentary of the day

Yesterday marked the start of operations for Go-Ahead Singapore under the Tampines Bus Package. Due to a host of questionable planning decisions in previous months there was a severe shortage in available fleet and manpower to operate bus services in the Tampines area this week. An observed operational decision was to significantly increase headway on certain feeder services while introducing double-decker buses to the route for the first time. Trading frequency for bus capacity appears to make sense, until one recalls the shared goal of advocates and LTA alike to improve travel times by public transport to fulfil the vision of a “20-minute town” and “45-minute city”. How can a “20-minute town” be realised if one has to wait 18 minutes for their feeder bus, even if it’s a double-decker that helps them get on? While bus package transitions aren’t smooth, there should be a bottom line to how much service is allowed to degrade, if we are serious about delivering car-lite goals through more appealing public transport. It’s a terrible day to be in the east today for people who do not own cars.

— 6th July 2026