Imagine stepping onto a bus with no driver in sight. Yet, these autonomous buses navigate through the city streets and stop at the right locations. Sounds futuristic? Well, that future is getting more closer.
Starting in the middle of next year, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) will roll out six autonomous buses as part of a major pilot program. These self-driving buses will operate on public routes in Marina Bay, Shenton Way, and Buona Vista, running alongside traditional manned buses for three years.
But how will these buses work? What are the challenges, and what does this mean for Singapore’s transport system? Let’s take a closer look.
How Will Singapore’s Autonomous Buses Work?
Singapore’s LTA has just launched a tender system typically known as a request for proposal system to seek the industry’s proposals on piloting autonomous public bus services. The trial will reportedly start with smaller 16-seater buses on two main routes:
- Service 400 – This route covers the Marina Bay and Shenton Way areas, stopping at key locations like Downtown MRT stations, Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Gardens by the Bay, and Shenton Way.
- Service 191 – This route serves the Buona Vista and One-North neighborhood, with stops at Buona Vista Bus Terminal, One-North MRT, and Buona Vista MRT.
These routes were chosen because they are shorter and less complex, allowing for a smoother transition into autonomous public transport.
To ensure public safety, bus captains will be on board as safety operators during the first phase of the trial. Additionally, the LTA will closely monitor how the buses perform under real-world conditions.
If successful, LTA may purchase up to 14 more autonomous buses to expand the program to two additional routes in the future.
Why Is Singapore Testing Autonomous Buses?
Singapore has been experimenting with autonomous vehicles for years, but mostly in controlled environments like Sentosa Island, where shuttle buses serve tourists along a 1.2 km route.
This new pilot, however, is different. The buses will now operate in busy city areas, facing real traffic, pedestrians, and unexpected obstacles—a true test of whether autonomous buses can work in a major urban setting.
According to LTA, the goal is to:
- Test the reliability and efficiency of self-driving buses.
- Evaluate how they can be integrated into Singapore’s public transport system.
- Ensure they can operate safely alongside manned buses and other road users.
The ultimate aim? To make public transport more convenient and smarter in the country.
Challenges on the Road Ahead
While self-driving buses sound exciting, they also come with significant challenges.
According to Mr. Niels de Boer, chief operating officer of Nanyang Technological University’s Energy Research Institute, the biggest challenge is that public buses operate in unpredictable conditions. Unlike controlled environments, these buses will have to navigate:
- Heavy traffic
- Illegally parked vehicles
- Pedestrians and cyclists
Additionally, keeping up with schedules will be a major concern. Public buses must run on time, even during peak hours.
Mr. Daniel Chow, a travel and transport consultant, and Principal at Arthur D. Little, believes that during the early phase of the trial, autonomous buses will likely operate only during less traffic hours to avoid existing bus schedules.
Another challenge is the lack of dedicated lanes. Unlike train systems or guided buses, these self-driving buses will be combined with regular traffic, which makes navigation more complex.
How Will Safety Be Ensured?
Singapore’s LTA is taking a stepwise approach to make sure the buses are safe for passengers and road users.
Some key safety measures include:
- Bus captains on board during the first phase.
- Remote safety operators who can take control if needed.
- Continuous monitoring of self-driving capabilities to assess performance.
Before full deployment, the selected operators must run the buses for at least six months to prove their reliability and remote operation capabilities.
Only when these tests are successful will the supervision be handed over to fully remote safety operators.
What Does This Mean for Transport Workers?
One big question surrounding autonomous buses is, What happens to public transport workers and bus drivers?
Yeo Wan Ling, executive secretary of the National Transport Workers Union (NTWU) released a social media statement. She highlighted that NTWU is closely working with LTA to ensure that transport workers benefit from autonomous vehicle technology.
She emphasized that new technology should enhance workers’ lives, not take away their livelihoods. LTA shared details about the RFP for a pilot deployment of autonomous buses with our key union leaders, including those representing drivers of SBS Transit (SBST) services 400 and 191. Also, she said that NTWU’s top priority is to ensure that transport workers:
- Receive training to work alongside autonomous vehicles.
- Are supported during the transition to new roles.
- Can adapt to new career opportunities in the transport sector.
This means that even as Singapore moves towards automation, human workers will still play a vital role in the transport ecosystem.
Why Start with Buses Instead of Robo-Taxis?
Singapore is taking a different approach from other countries by starting with autonomous buses instead of robotaxis.
According to Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, robotaxis are more difficult to operate because they must navigate a variety of different routes and handle complex point-to-point services.
Autonomous buses, on the other hand, follow fixed routes, making them easier to manage and regulate. This allows Singapore to:
- Gain experience in real-world self-driving operations.
- Slowly expand the technology once it proves safe and reliable.
- Avoid major disruptions to the transport system.
By starting small and scaling up, Singapore hopes to successfully transition to an autonomous transport future without compromising public safety or efficiency.
The Future of Public Transport in Singapore
If this pilot program is successful, self-driving buses could become a common sight in Singapore within the next decade.
LTA’s gradual rollout plan ensures that risks are minimized while allowing authorities to learn and improve the technology over time.
In the near future, we could see:
- More autonomous buses on additional routes.
- Larger buses with greater passenger capacity.
- Fully driverless public transport operating across Singapore.
As technology continues to evolve, Singapore remains at the forefront of innovation, leading the way for other cities to follow.
