47 is quite good actually in my opinion. It does serve two
main purposes:
1) It relieves the extremely high loading along Marine Parade
Road, along the Victoria School - Victoria Junior College corridor.
(Interestingly, 47 more or less covers the route which was
cut off when that tree fell recently...) 48, which has no
double deckers, is usually very crowded at peak hours. 31,
which has double deckers, is also crowded, possibly due to
the fact that they already picked up many passengers before heading
to the 'Victorian' area. 36 has no double-deckers due to
airport height restrictions, and runs only westbound. The fact that
47 loops at the west end of Marine Parade Road means that it is
more dedicated to serve the area, as opposed to 12 which will be
"cham" with passengers from the city.
2) it offers a much needed connection eastwards "beyond" Bedok.
At the bus stops near CHIJ Katong, Neptune Ct and Hua Xin Ct, if
you want to take the bus to Tanah Merah (a key transport node as
the bus stop has many buses there, 2, 12, 14, 24 etc etc), 196, 197
and 43 are out (all 3 of which have the highest frequency), and
commuters are stuck waiting for 31 or 48, both of which are
notorious among students of the Victorias, CHIJ and Tao Nan for
poor frequency. 196 and 197 cut off at Bedok and hence are
unfeasible for those commuters, and 43 ends off at Upp East Coast
terminal, which to them, might as well be in the middle of nowhere,
while 76 terminates at Marine Terrace and doesn't even cover VS as
it used to. 47 neatly helps to bring people from Marine
Parade Road eastbound, saving one less transfer.
PS. I like the route duplication with 12 actually. 12 has
a ridiculously bad frequency at off-peak hours, and the alternative
38 has no double deckers, so having another route should relieve
congestion or at the very least mean a shorter wait.
I am sorry to say but I really dont think you take services in
Marine Parade area because so many of your comments are
wrong.
Just go and observe along Marine Parade Road and you will see
all the services you have mentioned running empty or mediocre
loading during peak hours as well.
Let me share with you:
31 - DD loading is bet Tanah Merah and Tampines
town, and Boon Keng and Toa Payoh. Within Marine Parade estate
usually gets 30-50 pax during peak
43 - Loading picks up only bet Parkway Parade
and Paya Lebar and then further till Buangkok Dr. Usual loading bet
UEC and Parkway Parade is 20-40 pax
48 - This service got heavy loading throughout.
It is a real good candidate for DDs as it gets huge crowd bet Tanah
Merah and Bayshore. Bet Bayshore and Parkway Parade just like other
services gets 30-40 pax during peak and will pick up again to go
70+ to Rochor (evening a bit lower).
12 - DD worthy loading is between Bedok South
Road to Tanah Merah MRT, Tanah Merah to Simei, Simei to Tampines
East CC, PSR Ris Dr 6 to Pasir Ris MRT. It does not cham cham load
from city.
196/197/16 - so many options to Bedok MRT.
Mostly buses get 30-35 pax during peak hours bet Bedok/Parkway
Parade. Please note my analysis does not include city loading for
196/197/16.
36 - it is one of the lowest loading CGA
service bet Marine Parade and CGA got 20- 30 pax. From Marine
Parade to city crowded.
So sorry but none of the east bound services are bursting today.
47 though will be nice for those living along EC/MP/Bedok South to
get direct connection to CBP.
