Fleet addition for 966 during peak hours from 14 December 08

last SG · 2008-12-03T23:32:55+00:00

Did anyone know the redeployment of S966 yesterday. I was like seeing the usual buses like 565U, 593M, 435L, 499C, 510C, 584P, 754S and 749G was what I could...

TIB1062Y SG

Wah!!! Nice one Jun Yang! I share the same feeling as yours.. Everytime when I wait for 187/963/966 bus from opp Blk 223 bus stop (Blk 270, Bt Panjang Rd) between 7:45am to 7:55am, I always see the 966 bus opposite, almost packed to the front door, and felt a bit heart pain and pity those people waiting along Petir Rd..

Like finally SMRT managed to add ONE bus after so many months! I hope SMRT don't just suka suka slot in another 1 crossover from other service (like 963S158 slot, iirc the shift code) in the morning for ONE trip only..

Orange-mush SG

Is there any restriction on Bendys serving 966? So far I think the situation seems quite terrible..

No. There isn't any restriction. Last time a Mk1 bendy x-over to 966 from 963. There were no restrictions. So, 966 needs bendies.

Apex-LW'21 SG

Once I boarded service 969 during the PM Peak hours from Tampines Int, the Sv 969 berth queue is quite long, but somehow , rigids were still deployed despite of the enormous long queues. When one rigid is full, half of the queue have to wait for the next bus which is either a rigid or a bendy. Ever since when I wanted to wait for SMB32T on 969, it was fully packed then I was being left out for the other half of the queue and waited another 5 to 10 mins for the next bus to arrive.

service_238 SG

Its 2 trips. Next trip at 9am.

Orange-mush SG

That's why the problem of packed buses is that it makes commuters wait for the next bus which will usually come at the average frequency and packed again.

Last time, when I want to go to Gulliemard Road, I would take 154 from my house to Tai Seng CCL station there at Upp Paya Lebar Road. I would wait for service 70. Everytime, it will always be packed. Then, I improvised and took service 8 to the bus stop that was 2 bus stops away from where I took 154 to. From there, I could easily get onto 70.

service_238 SG

That's why the problem of packed buses is that it makes commuters wait for the next bus which will usually come at the average frequency and packed again.

you must know which bus stops has the catchment.

For example AM Peak I take 966 from Jln Toa Payoh to Eunos, I would alight at the SAJC bus stop instead of Blk 195 (I'm taking 8 26 31 90 142 from Toa Payoh Central) to change to 966.

Reason: If I board at Blk 195, I have to squeeze witrh SA students for 1 bus stop before they alight and go to school. If I board at SAJC stop, I can slowly wait for them to disembark before I board the bus.

AEW5001 SG

Hi SMRT,

The frequency for Service 966 is poor. With frequencies averaging 13 - 16 minutes during the AM Peak and up to 20 minutes during off peak hours, it is very frustrating for a lot of commuters, especially during the AM peak hour where a lot of commuters need to wait so long to take this bus to work / to school.

Many a time, I have seen commuters not able to board this service along Pending Road and Petir Road.

This is in particular 630am to 700am (in Bukit Panjang Area) where a lot of CJC students need to get to school and working adults travelling towards the North East / East side of Singapore to work. The bus is cramped to the doors and often bus driver skips these 3 bus stops.

Another time was 800am to 900am (in Bukit Panjang Area) where the bus is cramped to the doors and commuters have to wait up to 45 minutes to board the bus (Because the bus skips their stop) and they end up making backup plans, such as taking 700 to cross over the bridge at Whitley Road and transfer to other SBST services to make their way to Jalan Toa Payoh and the East / North East.

I personally have experienced it on 3 occassions while travelling to Toa Payoh on 966.
I was waiting for 966 at the last stop (Blk 202) along Petir Road.
18/11/08
Missed the 815am (Bus was full and skipped my stop)
Missed the 830am (Bus was full and skipped my stop once again)
At 840am, I decided to board 700 instead, and transfer to 105 to get to Jalan Toa Payoh.

25/11/08
This time round, I became smarter and walked further to Blk 223 Bus Stop along Bukit Panjang Road
Took the bus at 825am. Had to stand but I managed to board the bus.
The bus skipped the Pending Road, Petir Road Bus Stops all the way to Jalan Toa Payoh.

01/12/08
My last bad experience was today. Wanted to travel to Jalan Kolam Ayer. Boarded at Blk 202 Bus Stop. Reached bus stop at 1241pm. Bus came at 109pm. I waited a total of 28 minutes for the bus. Isnt the frequency supposed to be at most 20 minutes during off peak hours?

I hope SMRT can look into this matter. Perhaps by deploying 2 more buses during the peak hour to smoothen the load and also improve overall frequency for Service 966. Bus is usually quite packed with commuters during peak hours, even for the Woodlands Bound 966 during PM Peak from 500pm to 1130pm.

Thanks & Regards,
Mr. Lee Jun Yang
Frustrated Commuter
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i think e best solution is to introduce half trips, i.e. AM peak: WDL - Jin Eunos(terminates at opp Eunos MRT) n vicev versa for PM peak (starts from Eunos MRT).

Orange-mush SG

you must know which bus stops has the catchment.

For example AM Peak I take 966 from Jln Toa Payoh to Eunos, I would alight at the SAJC bus stop instead of Blk 195 (I'm taking 8 26 31 90 142 from Toa Payoh Central) to change to 966.

Lol. I only take 966 during off peak hours. So, I don't really know all the catchment bus stops.

Junyang700 SG

Yupz. Hope they dont do that. Actually I think best they have 2 extra buses for whole day. =) The demand is really there.

Junyang700 SG

i think e best solution is to introduce half trips, i.e. AM peak: WDL - Jin Eunos(terminates at opp Eunos MRT) n vicev versa for PM peak (starts from Eunos MRT).

Yeah. Agree with you. Just like 190A.

sv966 SG

Yupz. Hope they dont do that. Actually I think best they have 2 extra buses for whole day. =) The demand is really there.

Demand for 966 remains quite weak during off peak hours (usually about half-seated).

To AEW5001: I don't think half-trips in this case will help much because there is also strong demand in the opposite direction.

sand king SG

Pundek... i end school then they think of this...sometimes i wait 20 min for the bus driver at harbourfront inter!

sinicker SG

Pundek... i end school then they think of this...sometimes i wait 20 min for the bus driver at harbourfront inter!

huh? wait for 966 at HBF Int?

jayh272416 SG

Pundek... i end school then they think of this...sometimes i wait 20 min for the bus driver at harbourfront inter!

u not on line with us ah? this is 966 to marine parade.

AEW5001 SG

To AEW5001: I don't think half-trips in this case will help much because there is also strong demand in the opposite direction.

why do u say so? coz to me, by deploying 1 or 2 buses, it will not be enough to meet demand during peak period, worse if it's also a sch day. i think passengers may not mind much even if it's a ud, so long they can board n reach.

Orange-mush SG

Agreed. They might want to revise the 966 fleet, I hope.

Junyang700 SG

You want UD also quite hard to get nowadays. LOL... 178, 852 and 975 have lesser UD these days. LOL..

sBs_boy SG

Demand for 966 remains quite weak during off peak hours (usually about half-seated).

To AEW5001: I don't think half-trips in this case will help much because there is also strong demand in the opposite direction.

My ride during the off peak hrs has told me that the bus is always full seated. Its worst for the last few buses of the day. Packed to the front.

AEW5001 SG

You want UD also quite hard to get nowadays. LOL... 178, 852 and 975 have lesser UD these days. LOL..

178 somemore now got mercs cameo

Orange-mush SG

My ride during the off peak hrs has told me that the bus is always full seated. Its worst for the last few buses of the day. Packed to the front.

The last few buses of 966 are packed due to the retailers at Parkway Parade taking that bus. The next catchment bus stop for off peak hours will be Eunos MRT.

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