CRUISE UP THE SINGAPORE RIVER AND DISCOVER A NEW WAY TO LIVE IT UP IN SINGAPORE !

Singapore will soon be introducing the country's first-ever integrated river transport system along the Singapore River. This is poised to become an alternative mode of commuting for residents and tourists, who can now experience seamless transfers from boats to bus or MRT. The route will take passengers from Jiak Kim Street and King's Centre near Kim Seng Bridge to the river mouth at the Merlion Park. The Singapore Tourism Board will be calling for tenders on 16 March for this exciting new mode of water transport.

The two successful bidders will provide a range of transport services which are expected to be regularly scheduled and competitively priced. These are slated to start within the fourth quarter of this year. The five types of transport service include: a loop, hop-on, hop-off transport service, plying along the entire waterway (passengers will pay one single fare which allows to get on and off as many times as they wish in one day). river express services (these will be available at selected landing points and will transport passengers to popular destinations such Clarke Quay or Boat Quay) river taxi services, which ferry passengers to landing points of their choice (passengers can hire this for their exclusive use) sightseeing leisure cruises with commentary food and beverage cruises In totality, the integrated river transport system promises residents and visitors an alternative mode of transportation that will be both efficient and convenient. The river transport system will certainly benefit the residents living in the Robertson Quay stretch, who will have another way of heading downtown to the Central Business District. By creating a busy, lively waterway, the new transport system will also bring the focus back to the river itself, which has played a vital role in Singapore's history.

In totality, the integrated river transport system promises residents and visitors an alternative mode of transportation that will be both efficient and convenient. The river transport system will certainly benefit the residents living in the Robertson Quay stretch, who will have another way of heading downtown to the Central Business District. By creating a busy, lively waterway, the new transport system will also bring the focus back to the river itself, which has played a vital role in Singapore's history.

To further encourage the use of this alternative transport mode, a total of 18 landing points have been planned along the river. (At present, there are only five landing points ? Raffles Landing Site, Boat Quay, Riverside Point, UOB Promenade and Clarke Quay.) The new additional landing points are:

· The Riverwalk

· Merchant Loop

· Riverview Hotel

· Jiak Kim Street

· Trademart

· High Street

· The Fullerton Singapore

· River Place

· King's Centre

· Robertson Quay

· Liang Court

· Singapore River MRT*

· The New Merlion Park*



*scheduled for completion in 2002/03

These landing points will have sheltered jetties, including comfortable waiting areas. The landing points, where fares can be collected and passengers will board will be divided among the two operators. However for ease of mobility, passengers will be allowed to disembark at any of the 18 landing points.

Further down the line, the operators can also extend their routes to the Theatres-on-the-Bay, an optional landing point which does not currently have a jetty or landing steps.

Apart from enhancing accessibility to places along the river, the new water transportation system also looks set to inject colour and vibrancy into the historic waterway.

STB's Chief Executive, Mr Yeo Khee Leng commented, "Not only will this new transport system mean greater convenience for Singaporeans and our visitors, businesses along the river will benefit too as human traffic area increase to these areas. Imagine soon you can have dinner at Boat Quay, coffee at Clarke Quay before heading to Zouk to party the night away, without even driving or riding in a car!"

Furthermore, the new water transport system promises a wider range of vessels plying the river. Mr Edmund Chua, STB's Deputy Director, Thematic Development revealed: "The bumboats, which are our historical icons, will continue to serve the Clarke Quay and Boat Quay areas. But further upriver beyond Ord Bridge, we'll see different shallow-bottomed vessels plying the waterway."

He added, "We're also excited about the new river cruises that serve food

and beverages. What better way is there to appreciate the unique river

landscape and atmosphere than with a glass of wine or a sumptuous meal

during a leisurely cruise! We would like to see romantic dinner cruises,

dimsum breakfast cruises and even exclusive themed cruises. We'll encourage

the operator to collaborate with existing F&B businesses but of course the

cruises have to meet the Environment Ministry's requirements. Hopefully

this will develop into the successful F&B cruises that San Antonio

Riverwalk is famous for and add to the range of ways visitors can live it

up in Singapore."

The STB has been working closely with the Singapore River Business

Association, stakeholders and other government agencies to create

visitor-friendly infrastructure and an exciting calendar of events. The new

river transport services in the pipeline are part of the larger plan to

enhance and revitalise this significant district.