Launch of SMRT Service 188R with effect from 01 May 2010

BusSpeeder SG

Has it occured that a bendy on service 190 has missing floor board too many months back? And how about a dislodged exhaust pipe from a bendy in the same service as well weeks later? Do I see all these so often during TIBS era and SBST now?

Singapore bus companies simply show no pride in their fleet, unlike what is so different in Hong Kong.

that's only in your opinion. how about the recent case of a mkiv on 51 that crashed into the bus stop because it was said that the passengers said that the BC tried but couldn't stop the bus?

if you are here to rant about the standards of SBST and SMRT, i suggest you do it elsewhere. the standards of the companies here cannot be compared to HK, but if you cannot accept it then why not you help SBST and SMRT in improving their standards then, since you are criticising so much about their standards lacking far behind.

vicamour SG

that's only in your opinion. how about the recent case of a mkiv on 51 that crashed into the bus stop because it was said that the passengers said that the BC tried but couldn't stop the bus?

I have done my constant feedback with SBST when I encounter any problems with their service standards. They replied and improved, which is still good, but they still need to buck up I also done my feedbacks with SMRTB when standards are unsatisfactory, which mostly I get weird and unsatisfactory replies or/and little actions, which I already give up.

right. why not you go and plan how these primary resources should be allocated in your own context? and in bold. how many times do you need to be reminded of the first post you have made in the bus forum? you said a bus company should not be judged by their standards. and now you are judging the company based on the buses they are used.

even if the buses are already quite "old", they're still serviceable.

For a big company like SMRT which earns millions annually, they can be so stingy to buy a few buses just to replace those that should be deregistered since they are not road worthy and conditions that are so bad that gives so much complains.

You seems to be eager to point out my flaws in my posts. In the post you quote, I am talking about new buses being brought. In this context, I am talking about how badly some models are being maintained and should be taken off the roads instead of continuing to let them run on basic services at lower bus service standards, which in turn the company should use the new buses instead to fulfill better service standards for basic services rather than emphasizing on secondary services.

I am not aiming at any particular models for nothing, but the UDs and ELBOs are the worst maintained buses in Singapore public bus scene. Maintainance as in the service standards fared the worst for these 2 models. Since SMRTB can't be bothered to service and maintain them even to the basic standards of a proper bus condition, why continue to put them on service and let commuters suffer? UDs, especially the CACs, are supposed to be deregistered in 2009 already, why extend them anyway since their conditions are already bad? To the perception of bus fans, they are buses that are still within the age limit. But sorry, to the perception of the main public commuters, some can describe it as a 30 year old bus, and still on service with that kind of poorly maintained conditions. I have nothing against the OACs though.

Even SBST oldest WA Mercedes Benz O405 is better maintained than the CAC UDs and ELBOs.

sinicker SG

i LOL-ed at 854R.

sinicker SG

frequency 30-40mins. route quite short.

2 buses?

BusSpeeder SG

Other examples? Most SMRTB services have bad frequencies, only a few have good frequencies, which are a few, 67, 190, 851, 854, 913, just to name a few.

Blame it on traffic jams again? Why not blame their half hearted efforts in their bus operations all these years, on top of the overcrowded population problem in this country and LTA's reluctant efforts to improve bus systems and to build seamless systems like the guided bus system to make bus journeys free from other obstructions?

Back to topic, the buses used in these secondary services can jolly well use to improve bus services instead. Weekends doesn't mean that no one is using public buses. And the manpower and buses can be used for services that has very bad frequencies and high loading during weekends. As discussed before, services like 980 for example.

when the bus comes late, passengers complain. when buses bunches up, passengers also complain. as a commuter of both SBST and SMRTB buses daily, for SMRTB frequencies may be quite bad for some, but most of them arrive on time. as for SBST its the same thing, except frequency is better, but not everytime they arrive on the stated time.

how do you expect to improve the current bus system without affecting the bus services? you'll still get complaints from those who are affected by it. once again, these issues please complain it elsewhere. you can write in to the relevant authorities to show your dislike about the population issue and to ask them to improve the bus system. complaining (or rather posting) it here will not achieve anything..

sgbuses SG

Any type of bus, even a UD, can be a good bus as long as the maintenance regime does it job properly. SMRT has put so much into campaigns to try and improve their image, surely walking the talk shouldn't be that hard either.

New buses on the first day are already being driven around as if they were pieces of trash. Triangle on 1H right in the middle of an expressway, 67T's aircon panel wide open, both of Day 1 service.

There are a few decisions which still puzzle me till today. Hinos on 925, OCs on RWS services and cameo on every other service frequently enough to be able to put together two or more new WAB routes.

The other day I overheard from a commuter on board a perm OC, "What's the point of having such new buses when we are squeezing right to the door? Where are the bigger buses we used to have (referring specifically, to the bendy buses)?"

lemon1974 SG

Wonder would they deploy, x-fer some of WLDEP SP Merczs to KJDEP. Just a spectulation only.

i dun understand why there is a need to transfer SP merc to KJDEP? there is space at KJDEP? If so, why KJDEP transfer 4 merc over recently? further this is weekend service... there are more than enough SP buses to run around..

TIB1232Z SG

Aiyo... you guys can complain all you want till the skies fall down - it's not going to change the fact that 188R will start operations on 1st May.

And I agree with sgbuses - there needs to be more bendies as their capacity is higher, boarding and alighting is so much more efficient compared to a DD.

I've taken 853 UDs for about 20 times since the start of the year. Their condition is excellent.

BusSpeeder SG

Even SBST oldest WA Mercedes Benz O405 is better maintained than the CAC UDs and ELBOs.

you need to take note that the CAC UDs and the ELBOs are still serviceable buses, and that a portion of them are still maintained quite nicely. why should they deregister these buses since in your context they are not "roadworthy"? the lifespan of these buses are even lesser than SBST O405 WA buses. and all 3 types are still servicing and slowly retiring out of service. as long as there's regular maintenance and standards still kept at a generally acceptable level, i don't see the reason why can't these buses be still on service when the standards and maintenance of the newer buses can only be kept to a certain level when these buses "age over time".

transportspartan SG

Edited

transportspartan SG

Tomorrow's the start of Service 188R, but the end of SBS234T and SBS237K.

muziq bus SG

Other examples? Most SMRTB services have bad frequencies, only a few have good frequencies, which are a few, 67, 190, 851, 854, 913, just to name a few.

i live in Bt Batok under SMRT territory and i aint complaining...
in fact, there's a fair share of SBST services here as well.
both companies have their flaws. enough is enough.
in fact i waited 174 for 40 mins (from 1948hrs to 2029hrs) at boon lay bus interchange. the only excuse the driver can give me was the first 2 buses breakdown. which was pathetic.
and i had experienced the same with 61 from BB. but at least they put up a sign every Saturday asking commuters to make alternative transport.

TIB1232Z SG

Same! I've been living in Yishun for a decade and although 39 provides a fast link to Pasir Ris, it never fails to surprise me with their 18-19 min frequencies... and their ultra slow speed along Lentor Ave that like every other SMRT bus overtakes it.

During peak hours 39 will be something like clogging up the lanes at Lentor when every other car travels at around 80, an SMRT bus travels at average 65/70 and 39 travels at 50. -__-

But I'm glad there's 85. 85 is like one of the wonderful short services with only 40 mins to Punggol. :) And loading during peak hours is fantastic. Guaranteed a seat even at opp. Compass Point during peak hours towards Yishun.

I'm also grateful for services like 169, 171, 858, 965 and 969 that provide very quick links to the East or West (or North for 169) of Singapore. Never once have I waited longer than how long I usually wait for a 39 for the above mentioned 5 services.

An exception is 857 though. A quick link to town but the waiting time pisses people off. Scheduled headway during Sundays is about 15-16 min and if there's a jam... =S

I've also been regular user of 52 for the past few years (not recently though but I still use 52 if I consider going JE) and 52 never fails to surprise me with their irregular frequencies. I ever saw 2 52s departing Bishan together on an off-peak afternoon and the frequency ahead of the duo is 38 minutes.

So I really find nothing much to complain about for SMRT... I'm really contented with the services they provide. And it's not like SBST is god or something; they too have their problems. Whether others can see the bigger picture or not is another story though.

sbst275 SG

During peak hours 39 will be something like clogging up the lanes at Lentor when every other car travels at around 80, an SMRT bus travels at average 65/70 and 39 travels at 50. -__-

An exception is 857 though. A quick link to town but the waiting time pisses people off. Scheduled headway during Sundays is about 15-16 min and if there's a jam... =S

Isn't heavy buses speed limit being 60kph? how fast do u want to go? I ended up onboard a speeding Sv 851 trying to complete from YIS to TMC in 25 mins w/ beating red lights. Ovbiously he can't stop e bus being too fast. Apparently SMRT's schedule is simply way too tight.

In any case, RWS bus berths has to be overhauled.

TIB1232Z SG

In any case, RWS bus berths has to be overhauled.

Yes it is 60 kph, but not all buses have been limited to 60 kph right? :)

I've taken 161s that do 75/80 on SLE before. The fastest record that I've heard from was some ex-161 driver that did almost 100 kph on a VO3x.

sbst275 SG

Yes it is 60 kph, but not all buses have been limited to 60 kph right? :)

I've taken 161s that do 75/80 on SLE before. The fastest record that I've heard from was some ex-161 driver that did almost 100 kph on a VO3x.

It's mandatory for buses to have speed limiting devices. But obviously it's not going to be effective if they're not constanly calibrated correctly like e LO3x.

For the KUBs, it's +5 to 65kph max.

In any case, buses should not even be speeding esp if it's packed (inertia) and along main roads where the bus stops are along e road.

TIB1232Z SG

It's mandatory for buses to have speed limiting devices. But obviously it's not going to be effective if they're not constanly calibrated correctly like e LO3x.

For the KUBs, it's +5 to 65kph max.

In any case, buses should not even be speeding esp if it's packed (inertia) and along main roads where the bus stops are along e road.

Ya, my scenario given was along Lentor Avenue... on an early morning where traffic volume is low, buses like to drive very fast along that stretch of road. Even the Volvos on 85 can do 65 kph but 39 always get overtaken (even by 85).

SMB136C SG

During peak hours 39 will be something like clogging up the lanes at Lentor when every other car travels at around 80, an SMRT bus travels at average 65/70 and 39 travels at 50. -__-

An exception is 857 though. A quick link to town but the waiting time pisses people off. Scheduled headway during Sundays is about 15-16 min and if there's a jam... =S

18-19 mins freq for 39?? It depends on what time u take it. For a weekday afternoon its jus ard 12-15 mins..which i feel is gd enugh alr...compared to 852 or 855 which i can easily wait for >20 mins. Worse still, very often i waited for 852 for 20+ mins and there it comes the 'sauna' bus (elbos).

Speaking about SMRT buses overtaking 39 or 85, there are some SL who just ASSUME that nobody will board along Lentor Ave. I have seen some switching to the ctr lane aft the Yishun Stadium bus stop jus to overtake other buses..and not switching back to the left aft overtaking. There's a bus stop right aft the traffic junction and I wonder if there are pax who want to take the bus how can they cut back to the left lane fast enugh? I'm not opposing SL for overtaking, but they should do so appropriately, not when there's a bus stop so near.

In fact, I've seen pax missing their bus becos of this..or becos the bus travel too fast and can't stop in time (even though the pax had flagged the bus early). I had witness it twice last year. Once was a 854 at the bus stop after Lentor Flyover (twds Yishun), the SL braked so hard but still stopped very far away. In the end, tat guy jus flagged for the bus behind. Luckily, no one was standing in the bus at tat time.

In addition, driving fast in the bus lane along Lentor Ave twds Yishun during the evening peak hrs can be dangerous. What if one car suddenly filter into the bus lane?

I agree that SMRT's schedule is way too tight..even the last traffic light..outside Yishun Int also need to beat red light. The record no. of buses i've ever seen beating that red light is 4 including 1 bendy..so dangerous!! esp when many ppl jaywalk at that junction by crossing diagonally across. Nothing happens then ok, dun wait till one day someone get knock down again.

jayh272416 SG

In addition, driving fast in the bus lane along Lentor Ave twds Yishun during the evening peak hrs can be dangerous. What if one car suddenly filter into the bus lane?

car suddenly filter = car at fault

bus vs car = bus win

no loss here.

sgbuses SG

I'm pretty sure almost all complaints on 188R will be trips starting from IMM.

But then a good amount of the profit from 188R will also originate from IMM during peak hours. (esp towards CCK)

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