Southeast Asia has enormous opportunities for urban transport system development and modernisation. The region is developing several rail lines, bus systems and taking numerous initiatives in the rolling stock, fare system and rail infrastructure systems procurement, upgrade and modernisation. Southeast Asia Infrastructure Research provides a brief about the developments in the Southeast Asian countries in 2018.

Cambodia

Electronic payment service provider Wing (Cambodia) Limited Specialised Bank and the Phnom Penh City Bus Authority launched electronic ticketing for city buses in Phnom Penh. Passengers can either buy the rechargeable contact-based smart card called the City Bus Card (available in two options – Blue and Green) or use the existing Wing card by activating near-field communication feature at the booth located inside city bus stations or at the Wing head office.

However, transport development in Cambodia is yet to pick up pace. The United Nations Development Programme had invited bids to appoint a consultant for the Sustainable Urban Mobility for All Initiative in the country. Details for the contract award are yet to be revealed.

Indonesia

The country is emphasising on the integration of public transport systems. PT Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta (PT MRT Jakarta), the operator of the Jakarta mass rapid transit (MRT), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PT Transportasi Jakarta to create a blueprint for integrating the MRT North-South Corridor Phase I, Transjakarta Corridor 1, Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Bekasi (Jabodebek) light rail transit (LRT) and commuter rail lines. Based on the findings of the study, it will be decided whether or not to continue with  the Transjakarta bus route from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota Tua in West Jakarta. The study is expected to be completed by February 2019.

The Badan Pengelola Transportasi Jabodetabek announced plans to develop tramlines on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis to replace Transjakarta bus routes as per the Jakarta Transportation System Blueprint 2019-2029 Plan. The tramlines will be developed after the launch of the electronic road pricing system for charging fees from vehicle owners.

Malaysia

Two major decisions that impacted the public transport scenario of the country were the dissolution of the Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD)/Land Public Transport Commission and the delay of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed rail (KL-Singapore HSR) project.

In May 2018, the Malaysian government announced the dissolution of SPAD. The Ministry of Transport took over the operations of SPAD.

Further, in September 2018, the Singapore and Malaysian governments announced plans to suspend the construction of the KL-Singapore HSR till May 31, 2020, and discuss options for cost reduction. The Malaysian government  announced to pay $6 million as abortive costs to the Singapore government by January 2019 for suspending the construction works.

In addition, plans were announced to develop Kuala Lumpur LRT-3 under the fixed price contract regime. The government terminated its contract with the joint venture (JV) for execution of the underground works of the MRT-2 and announced plans to launch new tenders for underground construction.

Myanmar

The development of urban rail systems is yet to pick up pace in the country. However, several developments were recorded in the bus sector, which is the primary mode of transport in the country.

The Myanmar Investment Commission approved the formation of the Daewoo Bus Myanmar Company, a JV of the South Korea-based ZYLE Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company (75 per cent) and the Myanmar Trade Centre (25 per cent) to manufacture city buses and minibuses in the Mingalardon township located in the Yangon region, Myanmar. Daewoo will contribute $5 million as capital for the JV.

Further, Excel KC Myanmar Company Limited, a JV of Excel Myanmar and Taiwan-based Acer Incorporated, secured a contract from the Yangon Region Transport Authority to install an automatic fare collection system on the Yangon Bus Service in Myanmar. The company will invest $14.78 million to implement the system.

The prepaid card payment system, called Yangon Payment Service, is scheduled to be installed in October 2018 and will replace the current cash-based payment system. There are plans to extend the use of these cards on trains, taxis, restaurants and supermarkets.

Philippines

Focus is being laid not only on the development of new systems but also on the modernisation of existing systems. Japan-based Sumitomo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering Limited, in collaboration with TES Philippines, secured a JPY 35.5 billion contract from the Philippines Department of Transportation (DOTr) to maintain and rehabilitate MRT-3 in Manila till July 2022. The maintenance and rehabilitation is being financed through yen-denominated loans provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Further, the First Balfour-MRAIL JV will rehabilitate Manila LRT-1 substations. The scope of work includes the replacement of major equipment such as electrical switchgears; rehabilitation of supervisory control and data acquisition systems; installation of new fire detection and alarm systems; and improvement of facilities including the construction of a new workshop and storage areas.

The DoTr has reapproved the plans to develop Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 1 and the Cebu BRT under the Build, Build, Build programme. The DoTr had scrapped the projects in June 2018 due to infrastructure limitations but now the BRT systems are planned to be partially opened by 2021. Both projects are being funded by the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement.

OCGlobal, a consortium of six Japanese firms – Oriental Consultants Global Company Limited, Tokyo Metro, Katahira & Engineers International, Pacific Consultants Company Limited, Tonichi Engineering Consultants Incorporated and Metro Development Company Limited – secured the PhP 11 billion contract to construct the Metro Manila subway.

Singapore

The country is primarily focusing on procurement of buses. Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced plans to deploy 50 diesel-electric hybrid buses, supplied by Singapore-based Volvo East Asia (Pte) Limited, from December 2018. Further, BYD (Singapore), ST Engineering Land Systems and a consortium of Yutong and NARI secured three contracts of a total value of SGD 50 million from the LTA to supply 20 electric buses each by 2020.

As a new initiative, the country also commenced a six-month trial of a Smart Bus Priority system, which is a new signalling system prioritising the movement of buses by either extending the green light or shortening the duration of the red light.

For the MRT system, the LTA plans to renew power supply by 2024 and deploy condition monitoring. Further, the LTA will develop an integrated rail asset management system. The LTA uses multiple asset management systems for individual lines and the new system will integrate all asset information and maintenance records.

In terms of ticketing, the LTA also trialled a gateless hands-free AFC system at the Redhill, Tiong Bahru, Kembangan and Bedok stations of the East West MRT line.

Thailand

The country has announced plans to launch bus routes, develop LRT systems and deploy green buses. In May 2018, the Land Transport Department of Thailand and the Royal Thai Navy launched three bus routes to connect the U-Tapao International Airport with Trat, Ranong and Chon Buri provinces. The routes deploy air-conditioned buses, equipped with global positioning system devices.

Further, the Thailand government has approved plans to develop LRT systems in Chiang Mai, Phang Nga and Phuket. The Thailand Mass Rapid Transit Authority will be the developer and operator.

Further, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has announced plans to lease 700 green buses by the first quarter of 2020. During the same period, BMTA will also purchase 35 electric buses and construct vehicle charging stations at an estimated investment of THB 0.57 billion.

Vietnam

The country is taking several initiatives for the development of its bus and rail transit systems, along with upgradation of its fare system. The Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board announced plans to develop 10 metro lines of a total length of 417.8 km (75.6 km underground) as per the Hanoi Transport Plan 2030, developed in accordance with Vision 2050 (Master Plan) in March 2016. Further, RZD International, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, has signed a partnership agreement with a group of investors led by the Vietnam-based Lung Lo Construction Corporation to develop the Tan Tao-Lin Dong-Long Thanh Airport LRT line serving Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province.

In addition, the Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board has announced plans to invest $7.5 billion until 2020, $7.6 billion between 2021 and 2025, over $3.5 billion between 2026 and 2030 and over $21.3 billion from 2031 onwards.

In the area of transit fare collection system, the JV of Hanoi Transport and Services Corporation and Vietnam-based Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group commenced trial of the electronic ticketing system on Line 1 of the BRT system in Hanoi. Further, HCM has also announced plans to introduce an AFC system in phases on all public transport systems.