LTA's Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) (Part 4)

last SG · 2015-12-04T16:42:41+00:00

Hi mr busanalyser, don't think they will introduce 2 Punggol new services at the same time even though I see 2 plaques being constructed at berth B2 and B4 a...

array88 SG

Hi mr SBS5010P, they should have the loading details which will definitely be far more reliable than anyone of us here. Cheers! Thanks.

True but I wonder did they really use the data that well... Some services they launched have seen extremely low loading but they still don't want to make any amendments. Other services have buses added like crazy but most of the buses are under-utilised.

dupdup77 SG

Hi mr array88, they have already made it clear from the very start that for BSEP, loading is not the start-all or end-all for the newly introduced bus services. It is we all the people who have that perception that loading is important and keep on expecting them to make adjustment to it. Thus when we don't see any amendment, we have this sense of disbelief that it should not be this way. This is what we termed different set of expectation levels. What we people see is one set of loading (even a few) then we came out of our ideas to amend a portion of the routes which should realistically not be the way. Cheers. Thanks.

BusAnalayzer SG

I AGREE with you. LTA has made some big mistakes in launching routes, and they haven't used the data well.

But once they have launched the routes, it is difficult for them to make amends. They are scared the few people it serves may not be happy and make loud noise about it. Anyway, they have deep pockets, so they don't bother. If their pockets were limited, they would have to think harder and use resources more wisely.

jurongresident SG

You know, the reason why the Government take over the planning of bus routes is actually to ensure that even the loss-making and less-profitable bus connections are provided.

Previously, when Singapore Bus Services (SBS) and Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) planned bus routes, their interest was on profits. As a result, the less-profitable bus connections are usually less provided and the loss-making bus connections are usually not provided.

SMB128B SG

You know, the reason why the Government take over the planning of bus routes is actually to ensure that even the loss-making and less-profitable bus connections are provided.

How sure are you on this?

Or trying to get people into their MRT trains??

jurongresident SG

At the other forum, people are arguing about the Downtown Line, on why there is no interchange at Rochor station for people to transfer between DTL stage two and DTL stage three. I feel that this is redundant.

I do not know if it is wise to argue about the new bus services launched by the LTA, on why many of them are not profitable, because I feel there is no benefit in doing this.

Well, we could change the bus routes to make them profitable. However, this could affect some bus connections, or even remove them.

Singapore is very good. We have much better bus and train services, as compared to our friends from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Why are we complaining? We should be grateful for what we have, not ask for more.

but in this case, we are asking for less bus connections, just because some bus connections are not making money. Seriously?

Appreciate what we have, because as compared to other people from other countries, we are considered very lucky already.

dupdup77 SG

All, people can say all they want that this is that and that is this. However if LTA is going to keep changing bus routes whenever people complained, then it is going to be ridiculous. There are lots of complaints day in and day out. It will never stop too. So unless you want a route that is going to be changed by the weeks, then please wake up. Or else you really cannot please everybody. Person 1 and person 2 will never agree. So let's don't be so assuming that your route 1 is going to be the most profitable and the route 2 is going to be weak in loading. Cheers. Thanks.

SMB145B SG

I do not know if it is wise to argue about the new bus services launched by the LTA, on why many of them are not profitable, because I feel there is no benefit in doing this.

Well, we could change the bus routes to make them profitable. However, this could affect some bus connections, or even remove them.

Singapore is very good. We have much better bus and train services, as compared to our friends from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Why are we complaining? We should be grateful for what we have, not ask for more.

but in this case, we are asking for less bus connections, just because some bus connections are not making money. Seriously?

Appreciate what we have, because as compared to other people from other countries, we are considered very lucky already.

there is a way to link DTL2 and DTL3

currently Tibs 67 does DTL3 to DTL2 linkage, though no DTL2 to DTL3 linkage.

why settle for less when you could have asked for more?

BusAnalayzer SG

Buses that never received fleet upgrade/add after BSEP was launched (+3 years now)

1-50

9 - there was capacity add + upgrades on both sv 19/89 doing Changi Cargo but none on sv 9.

16 - after Dakota MRT, loading dropped drastically between Orchard and Dunman road. Current fleet is able to manage loading well, hence agree no add required.

18 - this service operates at 18-20 minutes frequency. It is just a back up service there with limited resources.

24 - surprisingly this Changi Airport service has not received fleet add for years now. I think it could be because of parallelism with MRT + other services along the route that have not substantiated the need

26 - this service actually has pretty decent loading between Geylang and Toa Payoh, but somehow has not got any add/upgrade

27 - due to lack of DDs, already 32 buses had been added by SBST managing the load well. Hence. But 27 really needed DDs. LTA answered with 118.

30 - surprisingly this heavy loading service got no upgrade/fleet add. Have to say SBST has done a good job maintaining the frequency/loading on sv 30

32 - lol. no need. just a back up service. surprisingly even after the Margaret Dr HDBs in Queenstown, both 32 and 122 haven't really picked up its loading. Is it that the occupancy at those HDBs still remains v low?

37 - this service had received DD upgrades just before BSEP was introduced. Having said this I do feel the lone KUB also needs to be converted to DD slot. There is crash loading on this service and needs to be treated like JIS - full fleet DD. The KUB cannot tank the load. Also, sv 4 has relieved loading on sv 37 to some extent.

38 - needs fleet reduction, if any!!

41 - since launched, no add/upgrade and not required. Actually DD-->SD should be done, and fleet add with Citaro as frequency is around 12-15 mins. Fleet should look like 6 SDs, 2 DDs.

BusAnalayzer SG

51-100

51 - no fleet add/upgrade. sv 51 was one service I used to get irritated to see SDs. No more. Now the loading has dropped especially on the Alexandra/Havelock side + around JE/West Coast. Multiple reasons

(1) 120 connects Alexandra Road (NOL Bldg) - Redhill MRT, faster than 51's loop to Queenstown via Queensway

(2) 122 connects Alexandra Road HDBs/condos to connect to Tiong Bahru, faster than 51's connection to Queenstown MRT

(3) 121 connects Ganges to Outram/Tiong Bahru MRT, faster than 51's connection to Queenstown/City Hall/Clarke Quay

(4) 143M/201 have further split the crash loading of Pandan to MRT

56 - doing okay with current fleet. DDs are a luxury on this service.

62 - this service was in dire need of more SD-->DD upgrade or fleet add as the loading was +100 from Upper Serangoon in AM. With 102 and 324 introduction, loading on 62 has been tamed with these introductions. Current fleet doing okay.

64 - current fleet doing okay. Seems like the Queenstown HDBs along Sterling have gone down in occupancy given they are very old. On other part of its route it duplicates 65/66/139 too much

65 - if any, received fleet downgrade of 1 DD -> 1 SD. No more full fleet DD. Again mutliple services plying the same route is the reason. Yet I would prefer 65 to be full fleet DD because there are parts of the route you cannot predict that will get 80+ pax. For those who are interested, these are the high loading sectors:

(1) River Valley Road - Lucky Plaza (Orchard Rd)

(2) Dhoby Ghaut MRT - Ferrar Park MRT

(3) Boon Keng MRT - Macpherson Rd

(4) Circuit Rd - Ubi Ave 2

(5) along Bedok Reservoir Rd

++ has bi-directional loading

66 - got weekend upgrade, no weekday upgrade. Reason same; multiple services in parallel. Now DTL2 also.

73 - if you see the loading, you will know why.

74 - guess already discussed multiple times, should have more SD-->DD but again due to multiple services in parallel, just okay!

80 - this one got capacity downgrade from 1 DD->SD

81 - no fleet add/upgrade. I thought it was quite a decent candidate to get SD->DD

82 - no fleet add/upgrade. Loading says it all.

83 - even after huge surge of HDBs/condos along its route, its loading has dropped.

93 - CCL is the culprit why 93 lost its loading. Its lone DD AM crossover also stopped in end 2014. In turn 94 got 2 DDs.

95 - guess because it is a student service, no fleet add/upgrade

96 - same as above

97 - the DD loading on 97 hugely depends on whether 197 has called or not as the peak loading point is NUH/ITE Dover

array88 SG

Buses that never received fleet upgrade/add after BSEP was launched (+3 years now)

1-50

9 - there was capacity add + upgrades on both sv 19/89 doing Changi Cargo but none on sv 9.

16 - after Dakota MRT, loading dropped drastically between Orchard and Dunman road. Current fleet is able to manage loading well, hence agree no add required.

18 - this service operates at 18-20 minutes frequency. It is just a back up service there with limited resources.

26 - this service actually has pretty decent loading between Geylang and Toa Payoh, but somehow has not got any add/upgrade

27 - due to lack of DDs, already 32 buses had been added by SBST managing the load well. Hence. But 27 really needed DDs. LTA answered with 118.

30 - surprisingly this heavy loading service got no upgrade/fleet add. Have to say SBST has done a good job maintaining the frequency/loading on sv 30

38 - needs fleet reduction, if any!!

41 - since launched, no add/upgrade and not required. Actually DD-->SD should be done, and fleet add with Citaro as frequency is around 12-15 mins. Fleet should look like 6 SDs, 2 DDs.

9 - Indeed needs fleet add. Although it can be argued that svc 9's loading from Simei MRT all the way to Airport Cargo may be less than 19/89, 9's loading mainly peaks at Tampines Ave 2/7 and Loyang Ave... Especiall at Ave 2 where it receives a lot of transfer pax. And that's where the DDs can get really packed...

16 - Maybe it's time to divert it back to Stadium.

38 - This service is a unique and key inter-town service especially for Simei. Although 20 is there, it doesn't really serve Tampines East CC & Ave 7 which are key transport nodes in Tampines East. Frequency of 20 also depends... And since Eastpoint Mall is open now, expect more people from Tampines / Bedok South shopping there.

And again for Bedok South, 38 provides the fastest link to Bedok MRT. Although there's 12 and 47 to Tanah Merah, not all residents prefer this kind of backtracking... And although there's 229, it's simply too winding.

array88 SG

51-100

(1) 120 connects Alexandra Road (NOL Bldg) - Redhill MRT, faster than 51's loop to Queenstown via Queensway

(2) 122 connects Alexandra Road HDBs/condos to connect to Tiong Bahru, faster than 51's connection to Queenstown MRT

(3) 121 connects Ganges to Outram/Tiong Bahru MRT, faster than 51's connection to Queenstown/City Hall/Clarke Quay

(4) 143M/201 have further split the crash loading of Pandan to MRT

56 - doing okay with current fleet. DDs are a luxury on this service.

64 - current fleet doing okay. Seems like the Queenstown HDBs along Sterling have gone down in occupancy given they are very old. On other part of its route it duplicates 65/66/139 too much

(1) River Valley Road - Lucky Plaza (Orchard Rd)

(2) Dhoby Ghaut MRT - Ferrar Park MRT

(3) Boon Keng MRT - Macpherson Rd

(4) Circuit Rd - Ubi Ave 2

(5) along Bedok Reservoir Rd

++ has bi-directional loading

66 - got weekend upgrade, no weekday upgrade. Reason same; multiple services in parallel. Now DTL2 also.

73 - if you see the loading, you will know why.

74 - guess already discussed multiple times, should have more SD-->DD but again due to multiple services in parallel, just okay!

80 - this one got capacity downgrade from 1 DD->SD

81 - no fleet add/upgrade. I thought it was quite a decent candidate to get SD->DD

82 - no fleet add/upgrade. Loading says it all.

83 - even after huge surge of HDBs/condos along its route, its loading has dropped.

93 - CCL is the culprit why 93 lost its loading. Its lone DD AM crossover also stopped in end 2014. In turn 94 got 2 DDs.

95 - guess because it is a student service, no fleet add/upgrade

96 - same as above

97 - the DD loading on 97 hugely depends on whether 197 has called or not as the peak loading point is NUH/ITE Dover

51 - I don't see why 120/121/122 which get very poor loading at Alexandra will affect 51's loading...

95, 96 - Don't think it's right to use "student service" as an excuse to not add buses - if not 179 wouldn't have full fleet DDs. CCL and NUS shuttle are more likely the reason why.

BusAnalayzer SG

16 - Maybe it's time to divert it back to Stadium.

9 - I think frequency is already quite good and managing well with current fleet.

16 - agree

38 - actually people do prefer back tracking to Tanah Merah instead of taking MRT from Bedok, since 38 goes to interchange and its a long walk to MRT + congestion can be quite bad. Maybe observe PM peak for 38 at interchange and you will know. Each bus gets around 15-25 pax in my last observation. Most are those who alight at Bedok to shop at the mall. 229 is too winding. If 229 is made direct, can already do away with 38 and have it as a Tampines-Simei (loop) service.

51 - The 20-25 pax that have moved to each 120, 121, 122 have definitely caused a dent to sv 51. I listed above the better/closer MRT options these serve than 51

95/96 - ok shouldn't give excuse of student service, but you should know that 179 has also not got fleet add in last 3 years. I believe their capacity is just right to meet the demands.

CB2883J SG

9 - I think frequency is already quite good and managing well with current fleet.

16 - agree

51 - The 20-25 pax that have moved to each 120, 121, 122 have definitely caused a dent to sv 51. I listed above the better/closer MRT options these serve than 51

95/96 - ok shouldn't give excuse of student service, but you should know that 179 has also not got fleet add in last 3 years. I believe their capacity is just right to meet the demands.

Indeed, this backtracking to 38 is one of the few good points of 47, as it passes directly to Tanah Merah but not Bedok MRT.

SMB128B SG

38 should get an SD fleet add... Freq can be terrible

BusAnalayzer SG

38 should get an SD fleet add... Freq can be terrible

That's because the loading is also absolutely terrible.

CB2883J SG

That's because the loading is also absolutely terrible.

Haha. If you discussed with enough Simei residents you'd be convinced that it's a cause and effect, and that the poor loading is an effect of the poor frequency rather than a cause.

SBS 9256 X SG

Haha. If you discussed with enough Simei residents you'd be convinced that it's a cause and effect, and that the poor loading is an effect of the poor frequency rather than a cause.

Actually, the loading in Simei is dependent on whether was there a Svc 20 in front of Svc 38.

CB2883J SG

Actually, the loading in Simei is dependent on whether was there a Svc 20 in front of Svc 38.

I agree with this. 20 and 38 follow similar routes in the sense that they both detour off Simei Rd (via St 4, St 3, St 1) then back onto Simei Rd. And I know of cases where residents prefer 20 because 1) the buses are newer and “better/high quality” (yes I have literally heard them say that) due to full BSEP fleet, though this remains to be seen due to the addition of Scania perms and 2) shorter route to Tampines Interchange.

SBS3004X SG

Buses that never received fleet upgrade/add after BSEP was launched (+3 years now)

1-50

9 - there was capacity add + upgrades on both sv 19/89 doing Changi Cargo but none on sv 9.

16 - after Dakota MRT, loading dropped drastically between Orchard and Dunman road. Current fleet is able to manage loading well, hence agree no add required.

18 - this service operates at 18-20 minutes frequency. It is just a back up service there with limited resources.

26 - this service actually has pretty decent loading between Geylang and Toa Payoh, but somehow has not got any add/upgrade

27 - due to lack of DDs, already 32 buses had been added by SBST managing the load well. Hence. But 27 really needed DDs. LTA answered with 118.

30 - surprisingly this heavy loading service got no upgrade/fleet add. Have to say SBST has done a good job maintaining the frequency/loading on sv 30

38 - needs fleet reduction, if any!!

41 - since launched, no add/upgrade and not required. Actually DD-->SD should be done, and fleet add with Citaro as frequency is around 12-15 mins. Fleet should look like 6 SDs, 2 DDs.

Service 7 had fleet upgrades after BSEP was launched, but not under BSEP. Does this service count in your list, or have you missed it out?

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