popular service smrt 851

alantanchunshyan SG

i wonder why 851 is so popular?at around 10 -11am onwards service 851 would be crowded even with short waiting times.anyone knows why 851 is always crowded with passengers?

sbst275 SG

You have not seen others that are more packed like 238, 410… JIS during peak hrs as well.

^tamago^ SG

there are ppl along the route who happen not to stay near mrt (even if they are along the tracks, like Yishun Ave 2 and Lentor Ave) and can't be bothered to or deterred by higher fares of (even with rebates) transferring to MRT at the next stop. also, there will always be ppl who value a single ride down to town even if it takes slightly longer.

service_238 SG

ok let's say i live next to Yishun Sports complex and i wanna go to Tekka Mall.

Option 1: Quick transfer
walk to Khatib MRT
change at dhoby ghaut or city hall
alight at little india or bugis
walk again

Option 2: Directness
take 851 from yishun sports complex and alight just outside tekka mall.

the general public prefer directness than getting there in the shortest time. That is why there's still many bus services around today in spite of the growing train network

SBS9845X SG

Remove all the 0405s and non bendys to make 851 an all bendy service, like 960.

SBS9818A SG

Not only that, but there are people who do not wish to get down and transfer to MRT, especially the older folk. That’s why the older folk suffer when services get amended, because they’ll get disoriented.

^tamago^ SG

dun think pax load does not warrant that, except to put them on S shifts.

leeJZ SG

I would think that svc 851 needs more bendies, although not a full bendy fleet. They should also deploy the bendies more efficiently, on a Saturday early afternoon (1-2pm) when everyone is going towards the city, most of the bendies are going towards Yishun and you can see people squashed in the O405s towards Bukit Merah.

TIB1186Z SG

I honestly advice YOU to take the service before you start spouting like nobody's business down here.

What is more packed, BTW? People sitting on the roofs ala Bangladesh style? The frequency from 5pm to 6pm is like 5mins, full bendy fleet, as well as in the morning.

TIB1186Z SG

This is where most of the pax come from:

Morning peak not exceeding 0700 hrs from Yishun:
-Marymount Convent
-Ang Mo Kio Sec School
-Yio Chu Kang Sec School
-Whitley Sec School
-NJC,HCJC,NYJC, Catholic High, up to Marymount Rd

After that, pax mainly are office workers to City Hall/Raffles Place area ( ie Prudential Plaza) However, most of them take svc 851 as its cheaper and they dun need to walk to MRT.

Reverse in afternoon period are mainly school students

Reverse in evening peak is the same, except much of the pax ( ~40% ) get off by Yio Chu Kang MRT towards Yishun.

Svc 851 serves as a connecting svc most of the way, bypassing major bus stops which i call as transit stops, mainly Ang Mo Kio ave 6, Novena Station, Bt Timah Road ( LTA Hampshire office ), North Bridge Rd( city hall MRT ), Tiong Bahru Road ( Tiong Bahru Plaza)