LTA to modify some bus stops for 3-door buses in S'pore, 3rd door will remain closed at 1% of stops

Some public buses in Singapore come with a third door to speed up boarding and alighting.

But depending on where you are getting off, that door might not always be used.

According to The Straits Times (ST), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it will be modifying bus stops across Singapore to better accommodate three-door buses, which currently make up a significant part of the public bus fleet.

In response to Mothership’s queries, LTA said there are 540 three-door buses in operation, comprising 440 single-deck and 100 double-deck buses.

LTA said the third door improves passenger flow, especially on high-demand bus services, as it allows commuters to move further to the back of the bus without needing to walk forward to alight.

This helps reduce crowding, improve circulation, and shorten dwell times at bus stops.

However, not all bus stops are able to support its use.

Due to infrastructure limitations, some bus stops cannot be modified to safely accommodate third-door alighting. At these locations, the rear door will remain closed, with bus captains directing passengers to use the second door instead.

LTA said about 96 per cent of Singapore’s roughly 5,000 bus stops are currently able to support the use of the third door.

Another 3 per cent are being progressively upgraded, such as through platform extensions to ensure commuters can alight onto proper boarding areas.

The remaining 1 per cent cannot be modified due to site constraints, such as nearby property accesses or road layout limitations.

When the third door cannot be used

LTA said the third door is only opened for alighting where conditions at the bus stop allow commuters to step directly onto a proper platform.

At some bus stops, the third door would otherwise open onto grass, roads, or uneven surfaces. In such cases, the door will not be opened, and passengers will be directed to use the second door instead.

Notices added to third doors

According to LTA, notices were placed on the third door of buses to inform passengers that the rear door may not open at certain bus stops.

However, a commuter told ST that passengers are often caught off guard when the third door does not open, leading to confusion and last-minute movement towards the middle of the bus.

Another passenger said he had observed cases on Service 106 where the third door remained closed even when the bus stop appeared suitable. He suggested this may be because some drivers are more accustomed to not using the third door.

LTA added that it will continue to upgrade bus stop infrastructure and work with operators to improve commuter awareness and the use of the third door.