Bus services that should not have been withdrawn/amended

SMB315C SG

Route swap between 521 (now 963) and 700?

But I'd rather them to extend 700 back to Woodlands (despite having space constrains).

TIB1112L SG

SBS 84/85 (TIBS 864/865)

TPS Timothy Mok SG

148 from Clementi to Geylang fringe that lasted only 7 months. Could extend to Eunos via Suntec, National Stadium, Marine Parade and Still Rd. But then again TEL getting built.

148 I think it should be shortened to Shenton Way instead of being withdrawn, and converted to semi-express to reduce MRT problem and bunching problem. Or they can retain the route and 147 should just be a 2nd anchor route when NEL opened.

SMB145B SG

But I'd rather them to extend 700 back to Woodlands (despite having space constrains).

making 700 to start from WLBP or WLDEP is better.

SBS351M SG

SBS 84/85 (TIBS 864/865)

SBS 84 is not TIBS 864. These two co-existed (and competed) along roughly the same route to the city. When SBS took over Sengkang, it was a no-brainer for them to merge them as 80, the only parts where 864 served that 84 didn't was Hougang to Sengkang (served by the new 80), Geylang Rd/Sims Ave bewteen Paya Lebar and Aljunied (not replaced), and the short distance from North Bridge Rd to Suntec (not replaced).

SBS351M SG

But I'd rather them to extend 700 back to Woodlands (despite having space constrains).

At that point in time, TIBS and SMRT were separate companies and competed for passengers, they probably figured out after a while that very few people were taking the bus from Woodlands, thus not worth running the extra journey. The new MRT extension had opened and travelling by MRT was faster than taking the bus.

SBS351M SG

This thread discusses former bus services that should have been retained/current bus services that should have retained their original routes. While this seems like just digging back into the past of bus services, it allows the collation of the lost connections that can be brought back in the form of new/amendment of existing routes (although unlikely given LTA's concept of more short distance bus services today)

Here's my top picks:

Old sv5 (Bt Panjang - Lor 1 Geylang)

If the former sv5 between Bt Panjang - Lor 1 Geylang was retained, Margaret Dr would have another route to cater to the needs of the neighbourhoods along the route (apart from sv32 initially before the addition of sv122) and a direct connection to Chinatown (currently served by sv122 indirectly). Nevertheless, It is fortunate that sv970 took over part of the former sv5's route between Bt Panjang and Commonwealth.(with the exception of plying Hillview Ave/Bt Batok East Ave 2/Jln Jurong Kechil instead of Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt).

970 adequately covers the sectors covered by 5. Yes, it doesn't serve Margaret Drive, but it isn't that far a walk from Margaret Drive, and for most people there is no difference in terms of walking distance to Commonwealth Ave/Alexandra Rd. Furthermore, by serving Commonwealth Ave, you are improving your coverage as you are not just attracting the passengers from Margaret Drive, but also from the part of Queenstown opposite the road. Also, you have to bear in mind that when it was withdrawn, there was population decentralisation where people were moving out from areas near the city to new towns like Sengkang, Bt Panjang, Yew Tee and Jurong West Extension, so ridership most likely had fallen, replacing it with a more straightforward route near the city like 970 is probably a better choice.

SBS351M SG

The free shuttle bus service from Boon Lay MRT (Jurong West Street 64 / Boon Lay Way) to IMM Shopping Mall was withdrawn in year 2009.

In my opinion, they should not have removed that service. If they are experiencing losses, they should have made it a chargeable (eg: charge us $5 a trip) service, instead of withdrawing it.

That defeats the purchase of having a free shuttle bus service.

SBS351M SG

agree with 989...the current 985 routes at BB West can be served by 188...

The current 985 at Bukit Batok West was served by 185. 185 was merged with 989 to form 985. The only difference is 185 served the Blk 400+ stop at Bukit Batok West Ave 7 (the 367/947 portion), while 985 was amended a few years after the merger to served the other side of West Ave 7 like 187 and 188. They did come out, for a short time, an alternate trip variation to serve both sides. Basically the first bus would be a 985 serving the new route, while the next bus would be a 985W which served the old route.

SBS351M SG

501, 502, cityshopper

Cityshopper was largely a disaster.

SMB315C SG

Ah thanks..

SMB42P SG

yup i know that. thats why i said the current route for 985 can be covered by 188 while 985 can cover the old 985W route and then servce the blk 400+ stops instead...

Gus.chong SG

Service 700 did not run the same route as the NSL from Woodlands to Kranji; which I suppose was the reason for lack of demand...it could have run the same route as service 960 from Woodlands to Bukit Panjang but semi-express after Kranji MRT Station (which Service 700 plied back then) instead.

autumncs SG

I missed all the bus services that were withdrawn/amended due to the North-East Line rationalisation in 2003.

I lived in Bedok North. Before the NEL rationalisation, I always walked to Bedok North Road, took svc 23 to Bendemeer Road, and changed to one of these buses to downtown: 81/82/85/97/103/106/111/133/147... After the NEL started operation in June 2003, all these services (except 133 and 147) were withdrawn/amended. I was very upset because I had concession pass for bus only and I was left with very little choice from Bendemeer Road to downtown. (E.g. Before the cut, I could take 65/85/106/111 to Orchard. After the cut, I could only take 65.)

Another service that I missed is Express 505 - Pasir Ris to Bukit Merah/Harbourfront (loop)

Express 505 travelled through Pasir Ris (Drive 1), Tampines (Avenue 7, 4, 5, 10), Bedok North Road, and then non-stop to Jalan Bukit Merah via PIE and CTE. It made a loop along Jalan Bukit Merah, Alexandra Road, Telok Blangah Road and Lower Delta Road, and travelled non-stop again to Bedok North Road. From Bedok North Road, I could reach Bukit Merah in 20 minutes. Unfortunately Express 505 was withdrawn. (If Express 505 remained, I might have taken it every day because I studied in NUS. Concession passes were not valid on Express bus, but I would still take 505 because it was really fast.)

I remembered taking 505 a few days before its withdrawal. The bus was packed all the way to the front door, and I wondered why SBST withdrew such a high-demanded service. Later SBST introduced Express 518, but 518 was not very useful for me if I travelled to NUS. By the time SBST introduced svc 5 from Pasir Ris to Bukit Merah, I was graduating from NUS, so I didn't get to enjoy the benefits of svc 5.

SBS7557R SG

For routes shortened the NEL Rationalization (apart from the old sv85 mentioned in the first page):

TPS Timothy Mok SG

For routes shortened the NEL Rationalization (apart from the old sv85 mentioned in the first page):

Josuedrive SG

...

201911 SG

Cityshopper was largely a disaster.

While the idea of off peak limited-stop svcs between between housing estates and Orchard/Suntec was great, the high premium fares of $3+ deterred many pax (although student fare was $1). I think the concept would have been much more successful if the svcs charged Express fares of $2+, similar to 502, 518, 188R, 963R and Chinatown Direct.

Ideally, I'd like to see some popular City Direct or CD-type bus svcs operate full day, with off peak variants serving areas like Orchard, Suntec and maybe Harbourfront. Possible svcs would be 850E (Yishun), 951E (Woodlands), 656 (Sembawang), 652 (Ang Mo Kio) and 653 (Bt Batok). If 502 and 518 are popular despite their Express fares, I think some of the City Direct svcs could be similarly successful, especially for outlying housing estates further from the city.

Path Light SG

I have not took Service 97 and 502's route in 1999 and after the North East Line opened, Service 502 ended up plying Suntec City instead and Service 97 ended up terminating at Marina Center instead

List of bus services should have remained:

Service 62: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong East

Service 68: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 91

Service 81: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong East

Service 82: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Boon Lay

Service 85: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 91

Service 97: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Buangkok Green

Service 103: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Pioneer Road North

Service 106: Should have left behind and extended to Punggol

Service 111: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Hougang Street 51

Service 126: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 72

Service 134: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 42

Service 137: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 51

Service 144: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 83

Service 148: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 63

Service 149: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 91

Service 150: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 75

Service 152: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Tampines Street 83

Service 164: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Jurong West Street 65

Service 502: Should have left behind and extended to loop at Buangkok Green

dupdup77 SG