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that were withdrawn/amended due to the North-East Line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147) were withdrawn/amended.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 Unfortunately Express 505 was withdrawn.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.
The LTA must be losing their minds. Service 97 is a popular
route serving the Hougang areas with Service 111 and 502
