BUS SERVICE THROUGH SIMEI TO CHANGI AIRPORT

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Communications whether the Singapore Bus Service (1978) Ltd has finalised its plans to introduce a bus service to go through Simei Estate to Changi Airport Passenger Terminals One and Two and vice versa.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: SBS has surveyed Simei residents and estimated that several hundred residents travel to Changi Airport daily. This number is too few to support a direct scheduled bus service between Simei and the Airport.

Another alternative of diverting an existing service has also been ruled out because a few thousand people would be adversely affected by the longer journey, and travelling times and higher fares.

A third alternative is to operate a special shuttle service between Simei and the Airport during the peak hours only.

I will ask SBS to consider operating such a service. If SBS is unable to do so, I will ask the Public Transport Council (PTC) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) to look into allowing private bus operators to run this special service.