New seats, floors and other upgrades for 906 more public buses by 2030.

• Between 2027 and 2030, 906 public buses, or 15% of the fleet, will undergo mid-life rehabilitation.
  The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is coordinating with bus companies to minimise disruption to services.
  Refurbishment entails replacing damaged parts, electrical components, and altering seats.

SINGAPORE – Passengers can expect improved interiors, like as new seats and flooring, on 906 additional public buses scheduled for mid-life refurbishment by 2030.

The fleet includes 353 single-deck buses and 553 double-deckers, accounting for 15% of Singapore’s public buses. They will be refurbished once they reach ten to thirteen years of service.

This is the second mid-life refurbishment project carried out by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) since the public bus industry switched to a contracting arrangement in September 2016.

Under the approach, the LTA is in charge of operating assets and collecting tickets, while operators are compensated for providing bus services in accordance with the authority’s requirements through a competitive bid procedure.

The first mid-life refurbishment exercise took place between 2023 and 2025, with over 600 public buses being restored.

According to tender documents published by the LTA on the government procurement portal GeBiz on March 5, the upcoming works will include the replacement of passenger and driver seats, floor coverings, door system parts, window and windscreen adhesive sealants, and trims that protect the edges of steps or stairs.

In response to The Straits Times’ enquiries, the LTA stated that commuters may expect “refreshed interiors with improved seating and fittings for a more comfortable journey”.

These projects are anticipated to be completed between 2027 and 2030.

Each single-deck bus will be refurbished in roughly one week, while a double-decker will take two weeks.

The LTA stated that it will collaborate with operators and designated contractors to “progressively schedule” refurbishment works, ensuring that sufficient buses are always in service to limit the impact on daily bus operations.

As of the end of 2025, Singapore had 6,067 public buses. These buses have a statutory lifespan of 17 years, after which they are retired.

According to the tender documents, the mid-life refurbishment of 100 MAN A22 Euro 5 single-deck buses must be finished by January 7, 2029, while the work on 253 Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530 single-deck buses is required by January 27, 2029.

For double-deckers, 63 MAN A95 Euro 5 buses must be renewed by June 9, 2029, and 490 Volvo B9TL buses must be rehabilitated by March 29, 2030.

The contractor is expected to prioritise older buses for renovation. According to the documents, each bus cannot be more than ten years old before the work begins and fewer than thirteen years old when it is completed.

According to the LTA, public buses are routinely refurbished after their tenth year of operation to address wear and tear issues, assuring their safety, reliability, and well-maintained status.

Passenger and driver seats are refurbished by replacing upholstery (seat covers, cushions, and supporting boards) and mounting bolts that fasten seats to the bus floor, as well as cleaning and respraying seat frames.

The contractor must also guarantee that all seat armrests are firmly secured; staples cannot be used to secure upholstery. This is because staples are difficult to maintain and offer a safety risk.The repair will also entail the replacement of critical electrical components including battery cables, master relays, and central switches, which weaken with time.

LTA said that upgrading these electrical components contributes to safe and dependable bus operations.

All 906 buses in this exercise are diesel powered.

Before the new contracting model took effect in 2016, public transport providers owned the buses and did their own repair work.

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