SINGAPORE One Rail (SOR), a partnership of SBS Transit and RATP Dev Asia Pacific, has won a nine-year licence from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to operate and maintain the Jurong Region Line (JRL) metro.
LTA launched the tender in May 2023, inviting international companies to bid in partnership with existing Singapore operators, SBS Transit and SMRT Trains, for the first time. The international firms were required to act as minority partners, with a 25% shareholding or less.
The licence includes an option for a two-year extension, with the total 11-year service fee due to SOR worth $S 750m ($US 558.5m), around 8% less than the bid submitted by SMRT Trains, LTA says.
LTA says the government will retain all fare revenue during the initial licensing period for the JRL with SOR paid the service fee to operate the line. LTA explains that this is due to revenue uncertainties during the initial years of operating new lines. However, the agreement includes a framework to encourage good performance in areas such as service reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational and maintenance processes, similar to the model adopted for the Thomson-East Coast Line.
A tender to operate the Cross Island Line (CRL), which is also under construction, was launched at the same time as the JRL tender. However, LTA says it has decided not to award the contract to either SOR or SMRT after the proposals received did not adequately reflect “the uncertainties of operating the line when service commences in six years’ time.” LTA says it will select the CRL operator “at a later juncture.”
Jurong Region Line
The JRL is Singapore’s seventh metro line and is due to open in stages from 2027 until 2029. The 24km line will be entirely elevated and will serve 24 stations in Jurong and the west of Singapore, including the Jurong Industrial Estate, Jurong Innovation District, Nanyang Technological University and the Tengah new town.
The first phase with 10 stations from Chua Chu Kang to Boon Lay and Tawas will open in 2027, followed by the second phase with seven stations from south of Tengah to Pandan Reservoir in 2028. The third phase will add another seven stations from Tawas to Peng Kang Hill and from Boon Lay to Jurong Pier and will open in 2029.
In its tender proposal, SOR says it committed to leveraging advanced technologies such as condition monitoring, video and data analytics, and generative Artificial Intelligence to “deliver safe, reliable and sustainable train services.”
SOR adds that it will establish a Customer Experience Innovation Lab to encourage commuters to “co-create innovative technologies and solutions for a better public transport experience.” The Lab will allow passengers to participate in testing and improving new solutions. It will also serve as a platform to build local capabilities and host design workshops and hackathons aimed at generating fresh and creative ideas to tackle public transport challenges.
SBS Transit’s parent company, ComfortDelGro, is partnering with RATP Dev to operate the South sector of Line 15 of the Grand Paris Express project.
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