Not sure if this has already been suggested.
So far, most of the buses linking HDB towns are concentrated in
the Central - NE - Eastern corridor, and with the Nature Reserve
taking a large portion of space between Central and West HDB towns,
buses connecting the
West side
(BB, CCK) have to make a large loop down to the south (PIE, Bt
Timah) to connect with Central or CBD. There are virtually no buses that make the
loop over from the north (SLE, Mandai) to make these connections,
so commuters have to travel the long loop north to Woodlands or
south to Buona Vista / Bt Timah.
Hence I propose these two services, with just general and
tentative routes, with the hope that they can improve connections
between Western and Central / Northeast HDB towns. As for the
service numbers - I just use them because they don't seem to have
been used yet, and can probably set the standard for future routes
(i.e. 470-499 for Inter-HDB town links or the sort)
SBST Service 496 - Hougang Int - Bt Batok Bus
Depot
SBST Service 497 - Sengkang Int - Jurong East
Int
Routes are nice and different. Few points:
1. Cannot identify with the numbering.. Better if first service
has number 117 and second one 118
2. Loading will be poor between these towns. It will be one of
those routes where for the first one year, demand will have to be
generated.
3. People normally take into
consideration where they want to live or work based on their
connectivity. Even when you move out of your parent's house, you
will already look for a place that is connected well by MRT or bus.
Hence, to start with you will get a poor response and with time the
loading might pick up.
4. Full Sd fleet to start with
