SINGAPORE: The Public Transport Council has fined SBS Transit S$9,300 and SMRT Buses S$1,000 for lapses in service standards in the six months from December 2007 to May 2008.

The council said the fines were for incompliance of standards such as operating scheduled trips, adhering to scheduled headways or frequency of services, as well as passenger load.

However, the council noted that the bus operators have been able to meet most required standards, and have kept breakdown and accident rates low.

This penalty framework, started in October 2007, aims to enforce "Quality of Service" standards set for basic bus services.

Fines range from S$100 a day per bus service route to S$10,000 a month per breach of standards.

The council reviews the bus services, and announces the results every April and October.

- CNA/yt