SMRT Trials Mercedes Benz Citaro (O530)

last SG · 2009-11-06T09:53:09+00:00

I don't think they can extend the date too early in advance. But they should be doing so because without extending the O405s would mean a sudden loss of bus...

iveco SG

Yishun snatch many 1st events..

1st HDB town to be served by Tibs in the late 1980s.. despite ex-SBS 160, 161, 164, 169 serves chong pang area. and W'lands was handover so not counted.

Wonder why SBS didnt want to serve Yishun at that time, I cant imagine how many svc will yishun have now if not them. n of cos those DD bus.. hehe

1st Bendy Bus launch in Yishun in 1995 (Svc 171)

Now 1st Citaro Bus launch in Yishun as well.. ( Svc 855)

I was expecting it on svc 851 =X cos it goes town area and can show-off to tourist? haha

If 169 return to SBST hands confirm will tio B9TL perm.

tintinspartan SG

It's the workers who let the company image down. I may go into a rant bout this but i'm telling this from honest opinion and observation. Bus drivers on same service not co-operating with each other to maintain frequency, resulting in delays.

For example, if you have 4 buses in a service running at 10 mins frequency and 3 of the buses 'run (chiong)' and reach destination very early, you can expect the remainder bus which stick to schedule to suffer the worst load. There are a few feeders where this happens. I once took a bus which broke down and the bus behind it refused to pick up the affected passengers. To make matters worse, there's lots of space in the bus. I hope SMRT can just reprimand these drivers to stick to schedule.

Also, there are drivers which dun care about time. Take their own sweet time to reach destination resulting in bunchup and delays. This is what i don't like about some SMRT services.

About the Citaro, the bus would give SMRT a good image that they CARE for passenger safety and not only cost. See this, SBST bought Scanias which were cheap but did gave a few issues to passengers. They didn't accept the OC demostrater for the expensive cost. SMRT buy OCs because they are good buses, though expensive in cost but at least they are buying quality product. You compare the OCs and KUBs. You will see the big difference. Also, SMRT took the initiative to refurb the DAFs and Scanias which recieved lots of complaints over the years. The addition of Citaro will let SBST see that sometimes, you have to sacrifice cost for customer satisfaction.

That said, however, getting a bus like the Citaro will not fully give SMRT a general good image where operations are concerned. SMRT should look into tightening up their service frequencies and reprimand drivers if they don't follow company rules and commit offences like being too early at the destination point and so on.

16/f/lonely SG

SBST buses....not even the MIIIs have cobwebs all over the ceiling.

I don't care if the MKIII can be such a slow-poke, but I certainly prefer it to the dirty bendies.

Talk about bunching, even their night buses can do that. Don't tell me there's traffic jam at night.

One Harmonius Blend SG

Also, there are drivers which dun care about time. Take their own sweet time to reach destination resulting in bunchup and delays. This is what i don't like about some SMRT services

bunch-up often occurs when theres traffic jam, and that's beyond our control

Ever heard of downroute before?

SMB66X SG

You mean SBST Scania KUBs?

Yes.

SMB66X SG

I've knew it. The bus is meant for SMRT. Never failed to look at C& C when I take a bus that pass by there. Teh design is Superb!!!!!! Can't wait can't wait can't wait.

SMRT Buses is the greatest bus company that always keeps up with the world. Kudos to SMRT.

Anyone knows where I can see a better view pic of the bus??

Check the last few pages...

SBS9818A SG

the intention to demonstrate their concern for passenger safety is there, but if bus drivers continue to behave like gangsters on the road, this point is rendered moot. what use is having a bus that is designed for maximum safety when the person operating it does not embrace these notions and continues to drive in a manner that is inappropriate?

if you look long and hard you will realise that SBST buys buses in large numbers in one shot (eg 150-200). not like SMRT where the maximum order I've seen thus far is 66 in a batch. if i can buy more units of that model A compared to model B for the same amount of money, and model A fits my requirements, why not? don't forget corporate decisions are ruled by the HEAD, not by the HEART. and cost means different things to different organisations so you can't lump them all as one and the same.

are you sure that the OC500LE demonstrator was rejected by SBST because of cost? justify your comments by showing me proof.

SMRT refurbished DAFs and L113CRLs only because of complaints, while SBST refurbished their O405s, N113CRBs, Mk IIIs as part of their midlife upgrading project. so who's the more proactive one here?

TIB1234T SG

Happen to see SMB136C turning out from WLDEP at around 11.50am when i was having driving lessons. Heading Gambus Ave to AMDEP.

TIB1234T SG

From the pics, it seems that there is no "BUS STOPPING" at the back, and no "DOORS CLOSING" too.

tintinspartan SG

bunch-up often occurs when theres traffic jam, and that's beyond our control

Ever heard of downroute before?

I know. This kind of bunchup is understandable but what i was referring is different.

SBS2601D SG

are you sure that the OC500LE demonstrator was rejected by SBST because of cost? justify your comments by showing me proof.

SMRT refurbished DAFs and L113CRLs only because of complaints, while SBST refurbished their O405s, N113CRBs, Mk IIIs as part of their midlife upgrading project. so who's the more proactive one here?

Looking at the fleet size of SMRT in comparison to SBST, of cos it makes sense that the maximum order is only 66.

And SMRT buses are dirtier than the oldest buses in SBST by a mile. That tells a lot. Cleanliness matters more than the "type". In general, mainteinance for SBST is also better than SMRT.

Also I don't get why SMRT/LTA are dragging their feets over DDs. Is it that difficult?? Please don't cite all the infrastructure, costs etc etc etc. It will never happen if these keep cropping up.

Khairiano SG

From the pics, it seems that there is no "BUS STOPPING" at the back, and no "DOORS CLOSING" too.

dun forget to mention, no PIS too

TIB1234T SG

dun forget to mention, no PIS too

Most Citaros have built-in infomation systems, so maybe SMB136C have it? We might not know.

sgbuses SG

Also, there are drivers which dun care about time. Take their own sweet time to reach destination resulting in bunchup and delays. This is what i don't like about some SMRT services.

I was in Kotaraya II and I saw the timekeeper and a group of SLs arguing with her and refusing to keep to their timing.

off_service SG

Most Citaros have built-in infomation systems, so maybe SMB136C have it? We might not know.

It doesn't have. The area for the built-in PIS is fitted with a "stop" sign instead. If they do buy more units next time hope they will integrate the PIS in.

off_service SG

im also mystified by the newspaper reports.

"Depending on passenger feedback after the trial, SMRT may import more Citaros to replace its older models or to expand its 130-strong fleet."

sad that they only consider SMB series buses as their fleet and the TIB series as the "older models"...

I believe they are only talking about expanding WAB fleet.

off_service SG

are you sure that the OC500LE demonstrator was rejected by SBST because of cost? justify your comments by showing me proof.

SMRT refurbished DAFs and L113CRLs only because of complaints, while SBST refurbished their O405s, N113CRBs, Mk IIIs as part of their midlife upgrading project. so who's the more proactive one here?

I doubt there is a need to buy so many new buses now since most of the fleet still have minimum 2 to 3 years of lifespan. Hopefully they will bulk purchase new buses when the time comes.

I would not deny that SBS Transit have more bad press over falling passengers, jerking new buses and denied entry to prams, etc.

How did you know that SMRT refurbished the DAFs and Scania L113s because of complaints? Care to share the source?

SBS9818A SG

I doubt there is a need to buy so many new buses now since most of the fleet still have minimum 2 to 3 years of lifespan. Hopefully they will bulk purchase new buses when the time comes.

I would not deny that SBS Transit have more bad press over falling passengers, jerking new buses and denied entry to prams, etc.

How did you know that SMRT refurbished the DAFs and Scania L113s because of complaints? Care to share the source?

SBST has more bad press simply because they are so much bigger than SMRT. naturally if your organisation serves a greater catchment area one would expect proportionally more complaints. greater catchment = more passengers served = increased potential for complaints.

prams are denied entry on WAB buses and rightfully so. it has already been clearly communicated to staff and on their website. if passengers wish to debate company policy its their prerogative. why would an organisation wish to expose itself to further liability in the event of any unfortunate event taking place?

the DAFs and L113CRLs are at least 15 years old as of this year. refurbishment for these buses only commenced last year or the year before at the earliest. in comparison, SBST's mid-life refurbishment program was conducted in 1999-2001 where the buses were indeed halfway through their lifespan. i dare say, if not for complaints about the condition of their fleet, SMRT might not even have started doing so. why would one want to refurbish a bus so late on when i only have 2-3 years left to use it?

off_service SG

I don't remember SBS Transit having so much bad press before the KUBs come on. Most complaints now are directed at KUB, yes, due to the sheer number of buses on the roads. However, if most of the complaints are on the same problems and policies, there should be a re-look at these policies made and probably even at the bus itself.

If the company doesn't want more liabilities, make their policies known and make prominent signages. To many locals, it is simply ridiculous to reject a baby pram. So to say all passengers with baby prams are to find alternative transportation?

I don't really buy your explanation on the refurbishment. It sounds too personal of an opinion to me. Do not forget most of the mid-life refurbishments for SBS Transit took place were the conversion from NAC to CAC buses. TIBS back then did not have this worry as most of their fleet are air conditioned buses. I do see this as quite an unfair comparison.

sgbuses SG

Baby prams are not rejected outright. They have to be folded to board.

TIBS converted to A/C first. No other major modifications were made except for seat covers. For SBST's OAC buses, the only major modification to their interior were the A/C vents and seat covers.

When MUP came for SMRT's era, they got the suppliers to produce the same O405/UD interior specifications as TIBS originally had. The UDs and O405s went for the refurb first. You might not notice it because the new installations were the same interior design as the old (norwithstanding the PVC seat covers)

I think SMRT had already known that their Scania and DAFs don't have that much of a future; ELBOs didn't get refurbished at all, and these buses have now been relegated to suburban routes. It was only for the DAF/Scanias when SMRT decided to make the refurbishment visible.

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