Tower Transit Singapore
A Singapore public bus operator that runs services under the Land Transport Authority's Bus Contracting Model.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Tower Transit Singapore is a contracted public bus operator serving Singapore. It was established in 2014 as a local subsidiary of Tower Transit Group to compete for a Singapore government bus operating contract. The company began passenger operations on 29 May 2016, initially taking responsibility for 26 routes associated with the Bulim Bus Package and operating from Bulim Bus Depot in the west of Singapore. The company's creation followed the Land Transport Authority's introduction of the Bus Contracting Model, under which the authority owns the bus assets and infrastructure and awards operating packages to private operators. In October 2014, the authority invited bids for routes serving areas including Bukit Batok, Clementi and Jurong East. Tower Transit Singapore was incorporated on 3 July 2014 for this purpose and won the contract in May 2015. The handover of Bulim Bus Depot took place in July 2015, enabling the operator to complete depot fitting works and train employees before the start of service. The depot was formally opened in December 2015. At launch, Tower Transit introduced practices and technologies that were presented as new within Singapore's bus industry. These included driver telematics, which provided bus captains with feedback on driving performance and supported incentives for safer and smoother driving, as well as wheel-nut covers on buses. In March 2017, the operator conducted a six-month trial of Singapore's first three-door double-decker bus. The company also became known for employee-recognition and passenger-facing initiatives, including a staff reward involving travel to London, Valentine's Day messages on electronic destination signs, a signature scent used on selected buses, and International Women's Day activities. Tower Transit Singapore's ownership structure changed in 2020 when it became part of the sale of Tower Transit Group to Australia's SeaLink Travel Group. SeaLink was renamed Kelsian Group in 2021, making Tower Transit Singapore part of the Kelsian group's broader transport operations. The Singapore operator nevertheless retained the Tower Transit identity and continued to operate under government-awarded bus packages. In September 2020, the Land Transport Authority awarded the company the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package and a further five-year term for the Bulim Bus Package. The renewed Bulim operations began in May 2021, while Sembawang-Yishun services began operating under Tower Transit in September 2021. The additional package expanded the company's footprint beyond western Singapore into northern areas and required operations from Mandai Bus Depot. Together, the two packages cover dozens of scheduled public bus services, with routes associated with interchanges and transport hubs including Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Jurong Town Hall, Sembawang, Tengah, Yishun, Clementi and Woodlands. As of the referenced 2025 description, Tower Transit Singapore operates 60 bus services: 31 under the Bulim package and 29 under the Sembawang-Yishun package. It is also described as Singapore's only public bus operator using minibuses, specifically BYD C6 vehicles, on Feeder Service 825 between Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange and the Lentor private-housing area. Its fleet otherwise includes single-deck, double-deck and articulated buses from manufacturers such as BYD, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Yutong, Zhongtong and Alexander Dennis. Tower Transit Singapore's role is therefore primarily that of an operating contractor: it delivers scheduled bus services, manages drivers and depots, maintains vehicles and implements operating practices within the framework established by Singapore's transport authority.
History
Tower Transit Singapore was formed in response to Singapore's Bus Contracting Model, introduced by the Land Transport Authority to restructure the procurement and operation of public bus services. Under this model, operators compete for packages of routes while the authority retains a central role in planning and contracting. In October 2014, the authority invited bids for 26 services based at the planned Bulim Bus Depot and serving western districts, including Bukit Batok, Clementi and Jurong East. Tower Transit Singapore Pte. Ltd. was incorporated on 3 July 2014 as a subsidiary of Tower Transit Group, a United Kingdom-based bus company that was itself connected to Australia's Transit Systems. The Singapore subsidiary won the Bulim contract in May 2015. The Land Transport Authority handed over the Bulim depot on 31 July 2015 so the new operator could prepare the facility, install operational equipment and train its workforce. The depot was officially opened on 6 December 2015 in an event attended by Member of Parliament Amy Khor and Tower Transit chief executive Adam Leishman. A public carnival at the depot gave residents an opportunity to view the facility and learn about the incoming operator. Passenger operations started on 29 May 2016. Tower Transit introduced driver telematics, allowing the company to provide feedback about driving standards and encourage smoother and safer operation. It also became the first Singapore bus operator identified in the reference material as installing wheel-nut covers. The company subsequently experimented with new vehicle configurations, operating Singapore's first three-door double-decker bus in a six-month trial beginning in March 2017. The operator also publicised a series of workplace and customer-engagement initiatives. In December 2016, it awarded an employee a London trip and accommodation package for excellent service. In February 2017, its buses displayed Valentine's Day messages on electronic destination signs, and the company highlighted couples among its workforce. The following month it introduced a signature scent on 100 buses operating on services 66, 97 and 106. It also marked International Women's Day in March 2017. A major corporate transition occurred in January 2020, when Tower Transit Group was sold to SeaLink Travel Group of Australia. SeaLink changed its name to Kelsian Group in November 2021. Tower Transit Singapore consequently became part of the Kelsian group while continuing to operate under the Tower Transit brand in Singapore. On 30 September 2020, the Land Transport Authority awarded Tower Transit Singapore the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package and renewed its Bulim package for another five-year term. The renewed Bulim operations commenced in May 2021, coinciding with the operator's fifth anniversary in Singapore. Several routes changed hands during the package transition: services 653, 657 and 944 moved to Tower Transit, while services 665 and 974 moved to other operators. The Sembawang-Yishun package began transferring from SMRT Buses in stages between September and October 2021. Operations were based at Mandai Bus Depot. The two packages together give Tower Transit Singapore a substantial presence in both western and northern Singapore. The referenced 2025 account lists 60 services, comprising 31 Bulim services and 29 Sembawang-Yishun services. The operator serves a network connected with Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Jurong Town Hall, Sembawang, Tengah, Yishun, Clementi and Woodlands. It also operates Feeder Service 825 between Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange and the Lentor private-housing estate. The service uses BYD C6 minibuses, making Tower Transit Singapore, according to the reference material, the only public bus operator in Singapore operating minibuses at that time. Its fleet has included inherited vehicles from incumbent Singapore operators as well as various newer and trial vehicles. Fleet categories include single-deck buses, double-deck buses and articulated buses. Listed models include BYD, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Yutong, Zhongtong and Alexander Dennis products. The company remains an operating contractor rather than the owner of Singapore's overall public transport network, with route packages and service responsibilities determined through the Land Transport Authority's contracting system.
- 2021
Expanded operations begin
[1]The renewed Bulim term began in May and the Sembawang-Yishun package began operating under Tower Transit in September.
- 2020
Ownership moves to SeaLink
[1]Tower Transit Singapore became part of SeaLink Travel Group's acquisition of Tower Transit Group.
- 2020
Sembawang-Yishun package awarded
[1]The Land Transport Authority awarded the Sembawang-Yishun package and renewed Tower Transit's Bulim contract.
- 2017
Three-door double-decker trial
[1]The company began a six-month trial of Singapore's first three-door double-decker bus.
- 2016
Singapore operations commence
[1]Tower Transit Singapore began operating public bus services on 29 May.
- 2015
Bulim contract awarded
[1]The Land Transport Authority awarded Tower Transit Singapore the Bulim Bus Package, with operations planned for 2016.
- 2015
Bulim Bus Depot handed over and opened
[1]The depot was handed over in July and formally opened in December, supporting staff training and pre-service preparations.
- 2014
Local subsidiary incorporated
[1]Tower Transit Singapore Pte. Ltd. was incorporated on 3 July to bid for Singapore's new contracted bus packages.
Products and positioning
A contracted Singapore public transport operator positioned around reliable bus operations, operational technology, driver development and service innovation.
Public bus operating package · 2016
Bulim Bus Package
The Bulim package was Tower Transit Singapore's initial Singapore operating contract and remains one of its two principal networks. It covers bus services connected with western Singapore, including areas around Bukit Batok, Clementi, Jurong East, Jurong Town Hall and Tengah. The package originally involved 26 routes and was later renewed for a second five-year term. The operation is associated primarily with Bulim Bus Depot, with services also linked to several interchanges and transport hubs.
Public bus operating package · 2021
Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package
Awarded in 2020 and transferred to Tower Transit in stages during September and October 2021, this package expanded the operator's presence into northern Singapore. It is based at Mandai Bus Depot and covers services associated with Sembawang, Yishun and nearby areas, including connections to Woodlands and other northern transport facilities. The package is one of the two major operating groups that make up Tower Transit's reported 60-service network.
Feeder bus service
Feeder Service 825
Feeder Service 825 links Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange with the Lentor private-housing estate. The service is notable for its use of BYD C6 minibuses. The reference material identifies Tower Transit Singapore as Singapore's only public bus operator using minibuses as of 2025, with these vehicles deployed exclusively on Service 825.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Valentine's Day bus messages
Singapore
Electronic destination signs on Tower Transit buses displayed Valentine's Day greetings, while the company highlighted couples working for the operator.
Outcome. The activity created a seasonal customer-facing and employee-engagement campaign.
- 2017Signature scent initiative
Singapore
Tower Transit introduced its signature scent on 100 buses operating services 66, 97 and 106.
Outcome. The initiative was described as a first for a Singapore bus operator.
- 2017International Women's Day activities
Singapore
Tower Transit Singapore marked International Women's Day as part of its workplace and public-engagement activities.
- 2016Employee London travel reward
Singapore
Tower Transit Singapore awarded an employee a pair of return tickets to London and five nights of accommodation for excellent service.
Outcome. The initiative was presented as an employee-recognition milestone for the Singapore bus industry.
Brand decisions
2020
Transfer into SeaLink and later Kelsian ownershipM&ABackground
Tower Transit Group was sold to Australia's SeaLink Travel Group.
Action taken
Tower Transit Singapore became part of the acquired group; SeaLink later changed its corporate name to Kelsian Group.
Aftermath
The Singapore operator continued using the Tower Transit brand while operating as part of Kelsian's transport portfolio.
2020
Expansion into the Sembawang-Yishun packageStrategyBackground
The Land Transport Authority reallocated and renewed bus operating packages through its contracting system.
Action taken
Tower Transit Singapore accepted the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package and a second five-year term for the Bulim package.
Aftermath
The expanded contracts began in 2021 and increased Tower Transit's geographic coverage and route count.
2017
Trial of a three-door double-decker busProduct launchBackground
The operator sought to test a new double-decker configuration in Singapore's public bus environment.
Action taken
It operated bus SG5999Z for a six-month trial beginning in March.
Aftermath
The trial made Tower Transit an early local adopter of a three-door double-decker layout, although the reference does not state the final fleet decision.
2015
Bid for and accept the Bulim Bus PackageStrategyBackground
Singapore's Land Transport Authority invited private operators to compete for route packages under the Bus Contracting Model.
Action taken
Tower Transit Singapore submitted a bid and was awarded the Bulim package, creating its initial operating footprint in Singapore.
Aftermath
The company prepared Bulim Bus Depot and commenced passenger operations in May 2016.
Sources1 sources
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