Ermm... I think you didn't back-track to read our earlier
postings properly, that's why you're confused and blur.
First of all, please note that CW3 is split into:
a) LOCAL ROUTE (Black signage on the bus):
Kotaraya -> Tmn Perling -> Bkt Indah -> Gelang Patah
b) SINGAPORE ROUTE (Blue signage on the bus):
Gelang Patah -> CIQ -> Tuas Checkpoint -> Jurong
East
At the same time, HI svc 666 is going by:
Larkin -> Tun Aminah -> Gelang Patah
(*Once at Gelang Patah, passengers from svc 666 will transfer to
CW3 SGP route).
The SHUTTLE BUS which I mentioned was initially HI's TRIAL SERVICE
to pick up passengers from WITHIN BKT INDAH -> Gelang Patah
because at first CW3-Local route did not enter Bkt Indah's
residential estate, merely passing through the roundabout &
immediately hit the highway towards GP.
Secondly, please understand that there is a B-I-G DIFFERENCE in the
number of passengers travelling by Causeway with 2nd Link. Probably
about 80-90% of people travelling in-and-out of JB-S'pore daily
still opt for the Causeway, due to the fact that many are not
staying anywhere near Tmn Perling, Bkt Indah, Gelang Patah or Tun
Aminah.
Therefore, CW3 does NOT have the same service frequency as that of
CW1 or CW2. Todate, CW1 has abt 30 buses, CW2 = 20 buses while CW3
only about 6-8 buses. CW1 operates at a frequency of every 5
minutes between Kranji-Larkin during peak hours while CW3 is every
30mins between Gelang Patah-Jurong East. See the difference?
So because of that, CW3's procedure is that of a "TYPICAL EXPRESS
BUS" where it's "supposed" to WAIT & HEAD-COUNT for everyone of
its passenger before leaving Tuas checkpoint. It cannot afford to
operate like CW1 because it does not have long queues of passengers
like Woodlands Checkpoint. Morever, Tuas Checkpoint is not
assessible by foot due to tight security. It does not have crowds
of people coming in-and-out of it constantly.
But at times due to an unfortunate long queue at the immigration
caused by another crowd of tourist, CW3 will not wait till all its
passengers are aboard the bus because it has to abide by a strict
schedule, which is monitored by the HI Time-keeper.
The incident of the 2 bus loads of ppl dumped together sometimes
happen due to different scenarios. It could be:
a) The local route bus which was supposed to pick up passengers
from Tmn Perling-Bkt Indah at a certain time (e.g. 6:10am) did not
turn up, so we ended up boarding the next bus that came 20-30mins
later and reaching Gelang Patah at 7:00am instead of 6.30am. So
that explains passengers from 2 different time slot ended up on one
same bus, which in turn causes the bus departing GP @ 7:10am to be
much more FULLER THAN USUAL.
b) CW3 left some passengers at Tuas Checkpoint who were delayed at
the immigration. So these passengers have to board the next
oncoming bus. Again, the next bus also becomes fuller than
usual.
c) CW3 experienced a tyre puncture after leaving Jurong East when
it was nearing Tuas checkpoint (it was an unfortunate incident that
really took place, believe me, I was there...), so once it reaches
KSAB CIQ, it decided that it will not continue with the journey to
Gelang Patah. So we had to wait to board the next bus coming from
Jurong East. And of course, the next bus became a "2 bus loads of
ppl dumped together" thingy....
Get it??
