SBS Transit and French company to operate Jurong Region Line

Contract, initially for 9 years, is a first for a foreign operator in Singapore's rail industry

- Lee Nian Tjoe

A joint venture between train operator SBS Transit (SBST) Rail and French transport company RATP Dev Asia Pacific has been appointed the operator of the upcoming Jurong Region MRT Line (JRL).

This is the first time that a foreign operator will be involved in Singapore's rail industry, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Nov 28.

RATP Dev Asia Pacific is a subsidiary of French public transport operator RATP Dev.

The contract is for nine years, with the option for LTA to extend its licence for two more years. The JRL, Singapore's seventh MRT line, will open in phases from 2027.

The service fee quoted by SBST and RATP Dev Asia Pacific to operate the line for 11 years came to about $750 million.

LTA said the bid submitted by the joint venture was 8 per cent lower than the other bid by rail operator SMRT Trains.

LTA said SBST and RATP Dev Asia Pacific have committed to using the French company's experience to build local capabilities in rail operations and maintenance.

This is not RATP's first attempt at entering the Singapore transport market.

In 2001, a related entity, RATP International Investissement, joined hands with Trans-Island Bus Services to bid for the Marina MRT Line - the first stage of what is now the Circle Line, which went to SMRT.

RATP and fellow French transport operator Transdev Group were also unsuccessful in their efforts to clinch two government bus contracts in 2015.