If you're here to encourage
people to take the MRT above the public bus, I feel that you have
come to the wrong forum. SGTrains was created for a reason.
So if we cut away all the direct
bus connections that are claimed to be "too long distance" in
nature, what do we expect our bus network to become? Go back to the
1960s where people have to transfer multiple buses of different
operators to get from one part of the island to another?
Granted, we have a faster MRT
network for long distance travel now unlike the 1960s and even more
MRT lines and extensions to come by 2030. Granted, many existing
bus services are still quite lengthy in nature and taking the train
is certainly a faster option than using these long distance buses.
However, asserting that all long
distance travelling should be done by the train is
unreasonable.
Moreover, the ironic thing is that some of
these so-called "long distance" services were
actually created after the MRT opened, like how 51 was extended to
Jurong East after merging with the old 192 in 1988 and how 14 was
extended to Clementi after merging with the old 92 in
1993.
On the other hand, I understand
that 61, 67 and 961 are entirely different cases, with 61's roots
being that it was already very lengthy when under STC and 961
(ex-181) was intentionally extended by SBS to Crawford St under the
1974 Bus Rationalization. Its route before 1974 from Woodlands to
Commonwealth Ave (now Buona Vista) wasn't exactly direct as well,
admittedly.
With regards to 67, its old route
via TPE to Little India (following 23) would not have been so long
and will be minimally impacted by the upcoming DTL3 if it hadn't
integrated with the old 4 in 1993, guess what, under the MRT
rationalization as well!
All in all, the splitting up of
long-haul services really requires heavy consideration. Unless the
demand for certain sectors of these long-haul services are really
low and are unnecessary, the lost sectors would definitely have to
be replaced by another service, which means more space required to
park more buses. In a space-scarce Singapore, is it really possible
to find more space for more bus interchanges/terminals, especially
in the CBD?
With regards to using CCL to get
from Ang Mo Kio to Marine Parade, some people would prefer direct
rides, even though they may be slightly slower than the train. With
regards to people preferring the train over buses that don't use
the expressway for long distance travelling, why are services like
25/854 so successful even though they don't use the expressway? Why
don't we cut up these services and expect people to take NSL >
CCL > EWL from Yishun/Ang Mo Kio to Bedok instead?
