Best split for 61
991: Bukit Batok Interchange <> Marina Center Terminal
current route >> Outram Park MRT >> China town
>> Upper Pickering St / Cross St >> Fullerton Road
>> Suntec City >> Marina Center
61: Eunos Interchange <> Shenton Way Terminal
current route >> South Bridge Road >> Maxwell Road
>> Shenton Way Terminal. On return via Maxwell >> Kreta
Ayer Road >> Eu Tong Sen >>
* small duplication at Chinatown as other services provide
coverage
To be realistic, the sectors of sv61 in the Eastern part of
Singapore (Eunos, Ubi, MacPherson, Kallang Bahru) doesn't have very
significant demand due to the following possible reasons.
Firstly, sv61 duplicates a large portion of sv63, first between
Eunos Int and MacPherson Est and later between Lavender and
Chinatown. sv63 usually has more frequent arrivals at Eunos Int,
which results in more commuters choosing sv63 over sv61. With the
conversion of sv63M to a full day sv in 2014, this likelihood is
even higher now.
Unless the diversion to Shenton Way Ter can improve the
scheduled frequency of sv61 significantly, the competition between
sv61 and sv63 will likely continue and sv61 would likely continue
to be at a disadvantage in the east.
In addition, sv154 also provides connections between Eunos Int
and MacPherson Est, though with less frequent arrivals as well due
to its relatively lengthy route. It also links MacPherson Rd with
Eunos Int like sv61 (unsure about the demand of this connection so
I'll not elaborate further).
The western sectors of sv61 are really the ones with more
significant passenger demand, especially between Bt Batok Int and
NP/SIM. Adding on the fact that it is the only bus along the
southern leg of C'wealth Dr. So sv991 will likely do well if your
suggestion materialized.
The eastern sectors of sv61 should either be slightly modified
to be less duplicative of sv63 or truncated fully. Nevertheless,
sv61 does have 1 advantage over sv63 at this point, which is its
ability to run double-deck buses while the latter is unable to due
to Jln Rumah Tinggi. Maybe more SD->DD upgrades for sv61 to see
if it can win over sv63 may suffice if sv61 has to remain as it is
along its eastern sectors.
