Singapore’s bus commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) system has rebounded, boasting over 90% availability—thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
What Went Wrong?
The ETA system faced significant hiccups starting from 10 January 2024. Technical glitches led to inaccuracies in bus arrival timings and longer wait times, causing frustration among daily commuters. LTA pinpointed a “memory cache build-up” in on-board systems as the root of the problem, affecting around half of the bus fleet across all operators.
Restoration Process Details
- Cleared memory cache and updated firmware for transmitters on 4,000 buses.
- Some transmitters were replaced due to malfunction.
- Continued testing ensured that the system stabilised before complete restoration.
LTA began the restoration process with a reset on 21 January, initially predicting a four-day timeline for full recovery. However, due to unforeseen issues, complete restoration wasn’t achieved until earlier this week.
Upgrades on the Horizon
In addition to correcting current issues, LTA has announced that they are commencing improvements on bus fleet management and fare systems. These upgrades are slated for completion within the next two years, which should enhance overall efficiency for commuters.
A Thank You from LTA
“We thank commuters for their patience during this period and apologise for the inconvenience caused,” LTA mentioned in their recent updates. As the system normalises, commuters can expect more reliable bus arrival information moving forward.