New Tampines bus interchange shows features for the future
User-friendly features at the new Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange include dedicated boarding points for wheelchair users. Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — With the opening of the Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange on Sunday (Dec 18), commuters can now experience what the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has planned for bus interchanges and integrated transport hubs of the future.
The interchange features amenities such as a dedicated boarding point and graduated kerb edges to help wheelchair users board more easily, priority queues with seats for the elderly and the disabled, as well as a baby nursing room.
“This is part of LTA’s efforts to create a more inclusive and family-friendly public transport system,” said the agency in a statement.
In September, the LTA had announced that some of these features would be introduced to cater for commuters’ needs, after having studied the recommendations in the Public Transport Council’s Advisory Report released on Aug 1.
SPD president Chia Yong Yong called the new interchange “another step to an inclusive transport system”.
“It’s my hope that in ramping up such facilities, the transport experience of people with special needs, drivers and other passengers will be made as seamless as possible,” she said.
The Tampines Concourse interchange is also equipped with 40 bicycle lots for commuters who cycle there, a phone-charging station and a water cooler.
It was opened to add bus services and improve connectivity for Tampines residents. Together with the existing Tampines Bus Interchange, capacity has also increased now.
Tampines resident Jenny Song, 62, said she appreciated the additional seats for the elderly: “We tend to get tired more easily, and some of us have leg problems, so having an area like this to sit while waiting is good.”
However, commuters were unhappy about the distance from the new interchange to the existing one. The two are connected by a 250m-long barrier-free sheltered path.
Delivery driver Alec Chong, 30, felt that signage could also be improved to minimise confusion among commuters.
The new interchange is served by three services: A new service 129, which plies between Tampines and Whampoa via Toa Payoh, and services 18 and 39, which have been relocated from Tampines bus interchange.
Drink seller Yong Siow Lin, 64, who was trying out service 129, said there was a bit of “commotion” yesterday morning, as the bus captain had taken the wrong route when exiting Jalan Rajah. “Everyone was a bit worried, asking ‘Hey, where are we going?” My husband even had to help (redirect) the bus driver. But it was his first day, so it’s (understandable) and not really a big issue for us,” said the Whampoa resident, who would consider travelling to Tampines more often with the new bus route.
Others, like Tampines resident Nath Soham, 16, hoped that the buses could stop at both the old and new interchanges. “If we had these bus services terminating at both interchanges, people would find it more convenient,” he said.
He also suggested more bus services to ramp up connectivity to the central areas: “In the mornings, people might have to wait for four to five buses before they can catch a bus to the MRT station.”
About 40 additional staff are being for the first few days to assist commuters, said SBS Transit senior vice-president of corporate communications Tammy Tan.
