ComfortDelGroBus001aComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd, one of the largest and most established land transport companies in Singapore, has launched its on-demand bus service called ComfortConnect in the eastern part of Singapore.

The ComfortConnect application can be downloaded into any smartphone devices, through Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The services are currently free during its three-month trial period, which started on August 15 and it operates from Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm.

There is a total of 16 stops that serves the residents of Tanjong Rhu and Meyer Road, including the majority of the condominiums in both the area, Parkway Parade, Singapore Swimming Club and Dunman High School.

This is similar to the on-demand bus services that its sister company in Australia, CDC NSW, had launched in Woolgoolga and the Bella Vistar, Norwest and Hills showground suburbs of Greater Western Sydney.

If the response is good after the trial period, this will be ComfortDelGro Bus' sixth direct bus service. The other five services include the popular scheduled Tanjong Rhu to Shenton Way premium service.

Passengers can book a ride on this new service (after downloading the ComfortConnect app), just by selecting a stop as a pick-up point and another as a drop-off point, indicate the preferred date and time of the pick-up before selecting book. They will then receive an in-app notification once the ride is confirmed and another notification at least two minutes before the bus arrives. The bus will complete the ride even if there is only a single booking.

"ComfortDelGro Bus has been providing direct as well as first and last-mile shuttle services to and from residential areas where public transport coverage is less extensive. We believe that on-demand services have the potential to supplement conventional public transport services. Through this trial, we hope to gauge the commercial viability of on-demand services which will help us plan for new services in the future," said ComfortDelGro chief executive officer Pang Wen Heng in a statement.

Parkway Parade general manager Joey Teng welcomes the trial of an extra transport option for shoppers to and from Parkway Parade.

"It is a good initiative on the part of ComfortDelGro Bus in direct on-demand bus service. The service area includes our mall as it means greater convenience for our shoppers residing in the Tanjong Rhu and Meyer Road area," Teng said.