sorry it should be 163M, 139A can use two SD buses whole day as
there are increasing people living there waiting for the
service in Kim
Feat Road. by the way 163M also a waste as I have taken it before
no many people boarding the service in the afternooon using DD
waste of resources. most of the time both 163M and 163 follow each
other.
Most services in Singapore have less than 20pax in the afternoon
hours, even in CBD. 163 serves as an alternative to LRT in Sengkang
West and Sengakang East Way. Again, it is the only route at
Fernvale with a huge number of HDBs.
People who do not want to walk to the LRT stop can get 163 right
outside the door. Again 163M, there is only 1 bus plying in the
afternoon hours. It is more for reducing waiting time at Sengkang
Interchange.
Have you used 163 in the morning hours towards YCK? If there is
a SD, when the bus comes to Fernvale, people cannot get in already.
The loading is around 90-100 pax for am peak when the bus turns
from Jalan Kayu to YCK road, though from Upp Thomson road, the pax
does drop to around 60.
Hence, 163 does need DDs, and hence the DDs have been increased
from 2 to 3 to 4.