502 "Express"

ilovebuses SG

I am dependent on 502 Express and this service just annoys me. Whose stupid idea was it to have the last bus depart from town at 10.30pm? Once you miss the bus you can forget about taking any other bus from Town to Jurong East/West Ave 1. It's crazy. Then I have no choice but to take the stupid MRT.

And the frequency of the bus is frighteningly low. Miss one bus, that's it.

Also, why is it called "Express"? It's hardly Express. It only skips stops from the bus stop after Holland until the first Clementi Bus Stop (the one before Clementi Central).

s|nNeD SG

i think becoz previously, it calls at Hougang Central terminal.

and when it departs from the terminal to boon lay, it would use the expressway to get to orchard rd, and hence EXPRESS loh...

Laughing

SBST390 SG

u could take 106 then change to 99...

ilovebuses SG

Change buses troublesome lah...

The other thing is, they stopped coming in DDs so it's always overcrowded (I hear 174 has the same problem) during peak hours. It'd be okay if it was at least a regular bus, but it isn't. On top of which, the journey is SO long, and if you don't get a seat (which is close to impossible after the Winsland House bus stop during peak hours), it really becomes tiring.

SBST390 SG

for peak hours i usually would take scheme B 625... at leastt i am guaranteed a seat

Airbus330Captain SG

Correction , it calls at Sengang interchange.

bendy2003 SG

No need correction, s|nNeD was right, 502 was initially a hougang ctrl terminal service, then it was changed to sengkang.... Smile

^tamago^ SG

Actually it skips bus stops between:
- Botanic Gardens and Holland Village
- Holland Village and Clementi MRT
- ITE Clementi and Jurong East MRT

sbst275 SG

Emm... 2200 last bus was already there during Boon Lay - Sengkang days

sBs_boy SG

Reason is Because for DD Bus, In the past before the NEL days, there was a VERY HIGH demand for 501/502.. thats why there was More DD Bus than SD bus on 502.. Another reason is.. Its called Express is because it USED to be a EXPRESS Service from Hougang Ctr Int.. BUt, as SengKang Town Starts to developed in a very quick pace and people living in SengKang complained that there wasnt any xpress service to the city. Thats why 501 and 502 was then extend to SengKang Int. Reason that the last Bus leaves at 10 plus is because in the night, people would normally go for train instead of Bus as they want to go home faster.. Wink

^tamago^ SG

actually, looking at this case of 502, it's not unreasonable to use DDs and extend operation hours to end half to one hour later, given that resources are available. too bad i'm not SBSTransit staff. Laughing

Acx1688 SG

or sv7 to sv99

sbs&tibs SG

Slightly off-topic:
I don't think 502 needs to be known as express bus. Can renumber 185 (SBST reintroduce lah) because 181, 182, 183 all that are in the west side service.

Airbus330Captain SG

Off topic :

If 518 can be downgraded to trunk service , the passenger load will definately shoot up and frequency must be reduced to cater the load especially peak hours.

5454 SG

all the Express sevices should be changed into a trunk service Very Happy

s|nNeD SG

erm... even before sengkang was even heard of.

it used to call at Hougang Interchange.

sbs&tibs SG

Explain 506. The route on expressway is quite long and it is not like the current 502 which doesn't go long distance and on expressway. Think.

5454 SG

36,39,161,168 uses expressway and they are all trunk services and 506 will have very good ridership if it is converted into trunk service and it will be good for those with bus pass.

tanjun SG

Another example will be service 190. I like this service route a lot because firstly it is a trunk service, and secondly, this route provides a fast way to reach to the city. It is even faster than taking MRT to the city. Thus, this service has high ridership.

^tamago^ SG

the only way an express svc can be converted to trunk service is when demand drops steadily. or else, if ppl dun mind paying more to take an express bus home and 502 & 518 is still so crowded there is no reason for SBST to downgrade & lose out on the premium fares.