SCANIA SINGAPORE MAKES LARGEST DELIVERY OF 20 K-SERIES COACHES INTENDED FOR SINGAPORE-MALAYSIA LAND TRAVEL

October 13, 2017 -  Transtar Travel & Tours and WTS Travel & Tours plan new routes to improve transport connectivity between the two countries. Scania Singapore today handed over its largest-ever delivery of 20 coaches at one time to two customers – Transtar Travel & Tours and WTS Travel & Tours – at the Travel Malaysia 2017 event in Singapore.

At the handover ceremony, each customer officially received 10 units of the Scania K-series coach, which offers superior fuel economy, drivability and road handling. The chassis components, engines and transmissions of the K-series are built for reliability and long service life as well as the comfort and safety of the driver and passengers.

The acquisition of the new coaches will expand the fleet sizes for both companies and allow them to introduce new routes to promote cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia.

“We expect our customers to use these Scania K-series coaches to provide more convenient, comfortable and stress-free alternatives to driving cars or riding motorcycles when travelling between Singapore and Malaysia,” said Mr Mark Cameron, Regional Director of South Malaysia and Singapore, and Country Manager of Scania Singapore. “Coach travel is a fuel-economical form of travel, which will reduce traffic congestion at our borders and minimise our carbon footprint.”

Transtar Travel & Tours, a leading express coach company established in Singapore in 1994, has been plying routes between Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands. The latest acquisition will allow the company to introduce two new routes between Gelang Patah Sentral Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru and Singapore.

The first of these routes, starting in December 2017, will cover Singapore’s Central Business District, while the second commencing in April 2018 will cover the Jurong and Tuas industrial areas, Clementi and Buona Vista. Adding these to its two existing routes between Singapore and Johor Bahru, the company will be providing passengers with more than 70 accessible pick-up and alighting points on the island.

“We look forward to providing our passengers with a highly comfortable and stable cross-border travel between the two cities, with the full benefit of the Scania air suspension and electronic level control on its coaches.” said Mr Elson Yap, Managing Director of Transtar Travel & Tour. “The Scania K-series is widely considered to be the best chassis in the world, with its outstanding drivability, responsive handling and a high level of active safety.”

WTS Travel & Tours, established as a travel subsidiary of Woodlands Transport in 1989, continues an almost 30-year experience of using Scania coaches for its coach transportation and chartered coach tours. The company – which currently operates coach services between Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malacca, Muar, Tangkak, Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands – plans to announce its new routes and travel packages at a later date. 

“We expect to see between 10% to 15% increase in passenger traffic when we put the new coaches on the road,” said Mr Micker Sia, Managing Director of WTS Travel & Tours. “Scania was the best choice for our business as it provides the safety and comfort for our passengers that we emphasise. Its cross-border service network and excellent after-sales are also main considerations for us.”

WTS Travel & Tours acquired 10 Scania K360IB4x2 coaches, while Transtar Travel and Tours acquired five units of the Scania K360IB4x2 and five units of the Scania K250IB4x2. The handover ceremony this morning was officiated by Mr Cameron and joined by Mr Sia and Mr Yap representing WTS Travel & Tours and Transtar Travel & Tours respectively.