Inspite of BSEP, do SMRT services still need improvement?

last SG · 2013-10-18T01:02:51+00:00

Transport planners insist on hard evidence.They do, but info from cepas travel records and idfc units are currently being used as the initial step before sur...

BusAnalayzer SG

Here is the video posted on service 190 at Scotts Road stop, where person had to leave 13 buses to catch a bus (of course a little exagerrated).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQlayJE8Qs&sns

But it goes to show that even after BSEP/LTA efforts of adding MANs to 190, it still proves ineffective. All buses during peak are crowded to the door.

Tell me one service in SBST where pax have to leave buses to enter one. LTA has been ineffective where SMRT services are concerned and main reason is lack of high capacity buses.

All the Best! SG

I tell u, Feeder 334 @Jur Int observed it everyday for abt a mth and u will know.

sbst191 SG

There are still some svcs that have high loadings but no BSEP implemented on them~

334 different case~

All the Best! SG

Aiyah superlong queue leh one DD still can't take finished pax, bus sometimes arrive very Long time

BusAnalayzer SG

Aiyah superlong queue leh one DD still can't take finished pax, bus sometimes arrive very Long time

That was 334 case before the capacity was beefed up. Now with 8 DDs and 1 SD, tell me this is the case. Observed 334 at Jurong. Long queue but when the DD comes 90-100 pax enter the bus and only 15-20 are remaining, not because they cannot squeeze in but they are aware that in a few mins another 334 DD will come where they will get place to sit.

Anyway, people may leave 1 bus for a seat, never more than 1 and waiting time never more than 10-12 mins. This is the max.

There are still some svcs that have high loadings but no BSEP implemented on them~

334 different case~

Like?

Bus Stopping SG

Here is the video posted on service 190 at Scotts Road stop, where person had to leave 13 buses to catch a bus (of course a little exagerrated).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQlayJE8Qs&sns

But it goes to show that even after BSEP/LTA efforts of adding MANs to 190, it still proves ineffective. All buses during peak are crowded to the door.

Tell me one service in SBST where pax have to leave buses to enter one. LTA has been ineffective where SMRT services are concerned and main reason is lack of high capacity buses.

Not trying to defend SMRT or LTA here, but I don't think it's appropriate to say all of their BSEP enhancements on SMRT is ineffective just because of 190.

The fact is, most of us knows putting SD BSEP buses on 190 is not going to do much. There's almost 30 bendies and 10 plus SD on 190, so why would adding 3 BSEP MAN to it give any visible effect?

As the operator, they have to do something about it. Adding more BSEP buses will do moot, since it does not signficantly increase capacity. Adding existing bendies, well this is possible by reorg some of the other services, but this also causes problems on the road infra. As for adding new high capacity buses, do remember it takes time for buses to be build, it does not magically appear. I hope smrt has made the more appropiate decision to convert themselves into a mixed dd and bendy fleet but that is still yet to be determined.

As the commuter, the gov't has pushed DBTF in order to reduce penalty on transfers to nil, so make use of it! Travel smart and use apps if you have a smartphone to find alternative routes. In that example, taking a bus down to raffles town club will most probably get the person a space on 190 or 700.

Last but not least, we cannot expect the gov't to solve each and every single problem. Do your own part as a commuter to help yourself. The video is good to show exactly how bad the situation is, but it does nothing at all to help with the situation. Likewise, don't you think it's about time for you (BusAnalayzer) to promote yourself to BusConsultant and give suggestions to problems after analyzing?

Cheers.

OMSI123 SG

Like?

KJ 300

Go and see for yourself.

azharjj SG

Here is the video posted on service 190 at Scotts Road stop, where person had to leave 13 buses to catch a bus (of course a little exagerrated).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQlayJE8Qs&sns

But it goes to show that even after BSEP/LTA efforts of adding MANs to 190, it still proves ineffective. All buses during peak are crowded to the door.

Tell me one service in SBST where pax have to leave buses to enter one. LTA has been ineffective where SMRT services are concerned and main reason is lack of high capacity buses.

is that the reason why there will be service 972?

if only 190 go back SBST....

I tell u, Feeder 334 @Jur Int observed it everyday for abt a mth and u will know.

since 334 got major DDs,

I think got no problem already. during peak hrs, when DD is full at int, the next one is approx 5-7 mins, which is DD. unless no luck got 5001 lor. haha

yes i am aware the line can go thrice the length of railing. when DD came, left 1/2 to 1 length of railing.

i stay around 334 route. thats why i know. btw 5001 run full day.

All the Best! SG

Me too 334 route. Sometimes 15min not a bus during peak when I was waiting for one 334. Sometimes SBST didn't deploy the right bus to cope the queue situation. Like u said, sometimes thrice the length of the railing(got one time queue about1-2m away from the back BC rest area, behind 197 queue berth) and deploy 5001 or Cameo SD.

BusAnalayzer SG

Not trying to defend SMRT or LTA here, but I don't think it's appropriate to say all of their BSEP enhancements on SMRT is ineffective just because of 190.

The fact is, most of us knows putting SD BSEP buses on 190 is not going to do much. There's almost 30 bendies and 10 plus SD on 190, so why would adding 3 BSEP MAN to it give any visible effect?

Cheers.

But is only 190 operating inefficiently?

What about sv 969? Have you seen the queues at Tampines Int? Even longer than the 334 queue. On top of it made it WAB, and hence bendy capacity will never increase on this route?

What about 61/811/854/857/985? Daily problem on all these services. And these are just a few to mention. The Woodlands Industrial area is not even properly taken care of by SMRT like SBST does for JIS or where 78/79 plies.

I think azharji is saying since 334 got DDs, the problem is resolved.

KJ 300

Go and see for yourself.

Yes, agreed. But at least the relief is, it is almost full fleet bendy. Though with bendy the bigger issue is people not moving to the end. And BC cannot shout and tell people at the rare to move behind.

All the Best! SG

But is only 190 operating inefficiently?

What about sv 969? Have you seen the queues at Tampines Int? Even longer than the 334 queue. On top of it made it WAB, and hence bendy capacity will never increase on this route?

SMRT small company. SBST got CDGE back up. Unless SBST donate buses to SMRT, then maybe freq. will increase.

61 quite ok at BBT INT wat.

ik 334 did a great job, but at Jur est int freq. still need improvement.

BusAnalayzer SG

SMRT small company. SBST got CDGE back up. Unless SBST donate buses to SMRT, then maybe freq. will increase.

61 quite ok at BBT INT wat.

ik 334 did a great job, but at Jur est int freq. still need improvement.

Actually 61 does not need to ply all the way to Eunos. SBST can take care of that sector and have routes in parallel.

61 main loading comes along BBT to Clementi Road to Commonwealth and Alexandra Road. The route can be easily reduced to Bukit Merah Int via Henderson road or Harbourfront Int or even Shenton Way Terminal.

This way frequency can be improved. 61 have hardly any high capacity buses anymore. During SBST days had so many DDs on it. Even frequency highly uncertain.

SMB388S SG

But is only 190 operating inefficiently?

What about sv 969? Have you seen the queues at Tampines Int? Even longer than the 334 queue. On top of it made it WAB, and hence bendy capacity will never increase on this route?

Time for SMRT get more bendy~ BSEP more effective if SMRT buy 200 more MANdys and BSEP pay~

Bus Stopping SG

But is only 190 operating inefficiently?

What about sv 969? Have you seen the queues at Tampines Int? Even longer than the 334 queue. On top of it made it WAB, and hence bendy capacity will never increase on this route?

I don't think you gotten my point. Some services are inherently inefficient due to the passenger loading and turnover, route taken, traffic and fleet used.

Some of these factors are not within their control, so they try to fix it with the aid of BSEP. Does doing so make it more inefficient?

Take 969 for an example, imo it has a fleet use+pax turnover issue because loadings are perfectly ok. Pax dont get off until 30mins later, and thus everyone wants to get a seat. Putting SD and bendies there is just not enough in terms of seats so as you also know the queue is meant for those who wants a seat. If you want to stand on 969 just queue at the side and you can board the next bus as standee.

If the queue is there because they want to get a seat, i dont think that should be considered a problem so long as the standees can all board.

As for other services, do you have a bias against one operator? I'm quite sure there's some sbst svcs that causes much more problems than those, especially with how 198 is managed now. That problem itself is multipled with the lack of end on berths in bnl.

SMB128B SG

969 queue have reduced by that bit after BSEP. With the intro of 969A the queue is reduced even further.

BusAnalayzer SG

I don't think you gotten my point. Some services are inherently inefficient due to the passenger loading and turnover, route taken, traffic and fleet used.

Some of these factors are not within their control, so they try to fix it with the aid of BSEP. Does doing so make it more inefficient?

If the queue is there because they want to get a seat, i dont think that should be considered a problem so long as the standees can all board.

How come all the problems come only on SMRT services? Can you answer me that? If I don't find an issue with SBST services, I am not going to speak about it. So there is absolutely no bias here.

If you track my threads months back, I would keep speaking about how 88/161 need full fleet DD, how 45/59 needs capacity increase, how 78 needs bus adds. But all this was done and taken care of because they have those additional high capacity buses to deploy and they have planned for it. In a year they added 8 DDs to a 9 bus fleet on sv 334. The only thing I can say to them is job well done. They still continue to add DDs on new routes like 125, 101, 130, 243G, 293.

Do these services need DDs/high capacity buses more or does 857/985 need it more? You know the answer that it is the latter - but do they get? No? Why? Coz they are SMRT services.

vodafone27 SG

SBS is taking the initative to improve its services even without BSEP, converting SDs slot to DDs, fleet adds here and there. SMRT seems content to sit back and do just enough, only thru BSEP then improve their bus services. SMRT at most add some trips to their premium routes, seldom see them improve their basic routes.

Bus Stopping SG

How come all the problems come only on SMRT services? Can you answer me that? If I don't find an issue with SBST services, I am not going to speak about it. So there is absolutely no bias here.

Do these services need DDs/high capacity buses more or does 857/985 need it more? You know the answer that it is the latter - but do they get? No? Why? Coz they are SMRT services.

Although I still dont really agree with you esp on services like 334, but lets agree to disagree. I would like to say something else that i feel is the root of the problem.

The strange part, which since you have a MBA should be able to see thorugh this.

I do full agree with you on services such as 857 and 985 needing more high capacity buses, but unfortunately they will never get them. Its not that SMRT cannot run a bus operations properly, but rather they are looking at this from a financial perspective.

Remember that part of the trunk routes operated by SMRT duplicates with their train services which in your example is both 857 and 985 to a certain extent. The passenger pools is partly shared with the trains, but since they can fully utilise the SD buses, why would they put higher capacity buses there? They would rather not be spending money by improving on services that they can cater to with trains. I.e. Fighting for the same revenue source within the company.

Perhaps this is why SMRT seem to sit back and just focus on their train operations now while SBST is doing alot to compete with pax that would normally take the trains.

Of course they are taking action, but only on services that wont affect their train ops (969A and premium services anyone?). So much for a profit generating multi-modal transport company.

One thing i hope not to see is SBST letting go of bus services along their DTL corridor, but as a public listed company, it still waits to be seen if their interest is on profits for shareholders or passengers.

TIB868X SG

I think it is important to note that nearly all of the BSEP fleet additions by SMRT including the ones for 190 are split shifts... they should try to time their high capacity buses to arrive at certain major bus stops/bus interchanges better.... but most importantly, SMRT should wake up and smell the coffee, and get double deckers as soon as it can!

sgbuses SG

Although I still dont really agree with you esp on services like 334, but lets agree to disagree. I would like to say something else that i feel is the root of the problem.

The strange part, which since you have a MBA should be able to see thorugh this.

Perhaps this is why SMRT seem to sit back and just focus on their train operations now while SBST is doing alot to compete with pax that would normally take the trains.

Of course they are taking action, but only on services that wont affect their train ops (969A and premium services anyone?). So much for a profit generating multi-modal transport company.

That is a partial answer.

Notice that in the video, the lady correctly pointed out that there was ample space at the rear and none of the drivers took any initiative.

How does LTA and PTOs know whether the buses are overcrowded? Clue: It is not done by simply pressing the tally counter.

Connect the dots and you will see why the improvements (if any) were inadequate.