SMRT 75 overtook SBST Express 502 along Holland Road

last SG · 2005-06-10T11:51:57+00:00

The blue console u see on the left side of the BC

iamgoondu SG

On a Sunday afternoon, sBST 502, SMRT 61, SMRT 75 called on Holland V busstop one after another. I took SMRT 75, which was about 2 minutes lapse right after SBS502 had left.

Despite making stops at Jelita and Pandan Valley, SMRT 75 still managed to catch up with SBST502 (SBST 502 is running express and making no stops along HOlland Road), SMRT 75 still trailing at SBST 502 back at the junction after pandan valley.

THe speed was just too slow that just before Clementi Road, SMRT 75 overtook SBST 502 near the former Dog Camp.

On a smooth running traffic, I am just curious why SBST 502 still travelling at a snail paced speed. Passengers paying a premium for express routes, and yet they are still travelling not fast enough.

Despite the erratic waiting times for SMRT services (fuming at times), the speed and the air cond of SMRT buses is something I am contented with.

I am willing to trade erratic waiting times with a faster travelling time. Of course the worst scenarios will be you waited 20 minutes for the bus and the bus still travel slowly.

105090 SG

I think 502 should me made to Trunk Service.. Its express sector are just normal trunk loads wich ususlaly has NO passengers, like Holland Road and Ulu Pandan Road.. its express sector acounts for merely about 15% of its route..

sBs_boy SG

There may be various reasons for this.. the most common thing is that 502 is running ahead of itz timing and 75 is running behind itz timing.. it happenes all the time.. so... dont get too work up lar...

Parka SG

Ahead of its timing.....

Well, if you go slow, people on board will complain.
If you go fast, people who miss the bus at the timing will complain.

I say go fast.

sbst275 SG

Very common one that SMRT buses overtake SBS buses

And those drivers even give one creppy stare at the SBS bus captain aft it overtook Evil or Very Mad

iamgoondu SG

Then it is strange that both smrt 75 and smrt61 are running behind their timing schedule. smrt 61 too overtook sbst502 just before Clementi Road.

Being a frequent bus commuter, it is probably a worst kept secret that smrt buses are travelling much faster than sbst buses. I refer to both travelling under the same road conditions and same stretch of road and at the same timing.

Again between faster travelling and more erratic waiting time, I choose the former.

sbst275 SG

Yah... But SMRT always they give very packed timetable to their driver... Buses often get out of time

iamgoondu SG

If sbst and smrt bc travelling the same length of route each day (say 50km *6), then smrt bc would have more break time and rest time.

But travelling on a slow bus can be a very frustrating experience. Imagine bc go into bus stop despite no commuters waiting there. And having bc who stop at a green light going traffic junction (rarely encounter now, perhaps I took smrt buses more often).

tranquilice SG

SBST is reluctant to convert it to trunk service. Laughing

deathscythe99 SG

I lurve SMRT...for their speed Laughing

tranquilice SG

No doubt SMRT SCs drive faster than SBST SCs, but there's exceptions. I had seen recently, for example, a service 812 SC who took his own sweet time driving along Yishun Ring Rd while I was on the opposite side of the road waiting for more than 15 minutes but the next service 812 bus had not arrived. Laughing

SBS3624G SG

I took 9688H and the BC was plain mad. 299G was so fast in front, and he actually tried to overtake 299G on two-lane road. The MB0405 of course had a higher pick-up spped and the 9688H would have lost if not for the fact that 299G relented.

Of course there are extreme cases. Like 792Z overtook 969 MB0405 Volgren. Must admit 089 BCs are speed demons. Cool

SBS3624G SG

Yup, like the time 858 MB0405 overtook 161 VSO. The SMRT BC stared at us with crimson look. Shocked

khk SG

one PTC regulation on bus svc stds: Buses shall not depart from the bus stops earlier than scheduled time. see http://www.ptc.gov.sg/bus_servstandards.html
the bus company can be penalised if this regulation is violated during a PTC audit...SBST has not complied w this regulation during the 2003 PTC audit. results of the audit:http://www.ptc.gov.sg/nr10.htm
so the BCs cannot go fast as they like...it's more than complains frm passengers...

sbst275 SG

I dunno how to say... But SMRT should tell their drivers not to do such things, do they know how dangerous is that esp heavy veh cutting in and out of lanes on the Expressway? Those car drivers get mad

tranquilice SG

When PTC conducted the audit, how to know the regulation that "buses shall not depart from bus stops earlier than scheduled time" has been violated?

Manager433 SG

SMRT Bus 985. Time taken from Toh Yi very very near the Bukit Timah Market to reach Saint Andrew Sch only 20 mins during peak peak hours. And thats what I want! Fast but safe journey! LONG LIVE A$$MRT

sbst275 SG

Yah.. Anyway, by right, 20 mins is just nice...

It takes abt 6 mins to CJC, then another 12 mins to get to Jln Anak Bt

Yah... Wait till a accident happen, where that SMRT bus just filter without signalling to middle lane then the car behind cannot slow down and crash

sbst275 SG

Though journey is fast, I think those SMRT drivers are kang chiong… Trying to met with the timing

Manager433 SG

Aiyo, my 11yrs of driving experience tells me tat if you lang-ga ppl from behind is your fault de.