Express Bus Terminal for Long-haul Coaches

Mr Teo Siong Seng asked the Minister for Transport whether he will reconsider setting up an Express Bus Terminal for coaches plying long distances as the joint study by URA, STB and LTA which concluded that a centralised bus terminal for inter-city buses was not needed was made in 2010.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for Transport): Mdm Speaker, when the Member raised a similar question last year, Minister Lui had explained that the projected demand for intercity bus services in the near to medium term did not merit the provision of centralised intercity bus terminal. Since then, there continues to be little indication of growth in intercity travel. In fact, the number of intercity bus licences this year has declined by 9%.

The existing approach where bus operators ride on existing infrastructure at various premises for their passenger boarding and alighting operations remains adequate to support the projected growth in demand. LTA will nonetheless continue to monitor the demand for intercity bus services and, if necessary, review the need for a centralised bus terminal.