Which is the first air-con bus service?

last SG · 2004-02-20T13:12:07+00:00

I think service 187 was the first AC service. Correct me if i am wrong

xin1jun2 SG

hmmm i not sure if 857 wins... but yah 950 951 and 952 sure is the likely answer

ZYX

xin1jun2 SG

FAC services in order of coming on

AIR-con 3 118 76 66 8 390 187 196 111...dotz dtoz dtoz

correct me if i wrong.

ZYX

The_Bus_Guide SG

The first SBS air-con bus, a Leyland National 2, came in 1982. It was put on trial for a short period on sv. 143 (Toa Payoh - Jurong Rd 16.2 km).

Svs 3 and 168 had existed since 1980, both were NAC in the beginning. When SBS bought over 8 Mercedes O302 buses from SABS, they were put on SBS's first air-con service in 1984. This new service was called AIRCON 168. Route details was the same as the normal sv. 168 except that AIRCON 168 operated from 0630 - 1645 with no operation on Sundays & PH. And it charged according to the air-con fare structure.

Sv. 3 was also converted the same way as 168. In sv 3's case, the whole fleet was converted to AC and renamed as AIRCON 3. So, the first SBS service to be full AC right from its inception was actually AIRCON 118.

tranquilice SG

I didn't know that this service 3 had NAC buses.

TIB1186Z SG

.

Im not sure either.....but svc 857 is undoubtedbly the first FAC service in Yishun back then, with a full fleet of U31RCN.

I still remember passing thru Marsiling TEr on svc 856 in the past....allways amazed to see the AC Hinos with the nice blue desto.....

SBS9818A SG

118 from HG - Tomlinson Rd, right? It used full fleet of U31SCNs if I'm not mistaken.

The_Bus_Guide SG

It was a long long time ago. Even I didn't know that sv. 3 was once NAC until I looked at the old bus guides at NRL. I suppose it was converted in 1986 with the new Nissan U31SCN air-con buses.

The_Bus_Guide SG

Yes, that's right. And contrary to popular beliefs, sv. 168 did not loop at Tomlinson Rd but at Bencoolen St, near the YMCA.

tranquilice SG

Did service 3 originally plied Bedok - New Bridge Rd when it was introduced?

tranquilice SG

I remember service 140 (Toa Payoh - Orchard Rd) also looped here, using the currently closed slip road from Orchard Rd into Penang Rd. (not the road currently ply by services 123 and 143)

tranquilice SG

Services 111 and 118 have duplicated routes during that time between Hougang (South) and Orchard.

Services 64 and 111 have duplicated routes between Alexandra Rd and Serangoon Rd/Bendemeer Rd before service 64 amendment in 1993.

The_Bus_Guide SG

Yes it did but it was a bit different. You see, in 1980 it was a semi-express loop service charging a flat fare of 70c. Route was as follows:

Bedok Inter, Bedok North Ave 1, New Upp Changi Rd, Changi Rd, Geylang Rd, Guillemard Rd, Nicoll Highway, C'naught Dr, Stamford Rd, North Bridge Rd, South Bridge Rd, Neil Rd and New Bridge Rd.

Return via Hill St, Vicoria St, Bras Basah Rd, Nicoll Highway, Guillemard Rd, Paya Lebar Rd, Sims Ave, Sims Ave East, New Upp Changi Rd and Bedok Inter.

Note: Express between Changi Rd aft Still Rd and Stamford Rd bef Nth Bridge Rd.

In 1985, it was a normal service charging stage fare. The express sector was deleted. The new route was as follows:

Bedok Inter, Bedok Nth Ave 1, New Upp Changi Rd, Changi Rd, Geylang Rd, Kallang Rd, Crawford St, Nth Bridge Rd, Sth Bridge Rd, Neil Rd and New Bridge Rd.

Return via Hill St, Victoria St, Kallang Rd, Sims Ave, Sims Ave East, New Upp Changi Rd and Bedok Inter.

AIRCON 3 was extended to Jurong East Inter. in 1987 via Jln Bt Merah, C'wealth Ave, C'wealth Ave West, Boon Lay Way, Jurong East Central and Jurong East St 13.

tranquilice SG

Looking at the route, it's cruel for SBST to remove the express sector.

SBS9818A SG

No wonder Sv. 118 was withdrawn so quickly. It acted like a SWT, right?

The_Bus_Guide SG

Here are the semi-express services in 1980 which were either withdrawn or converted to stage fare with their express sectors removed.

3 Bedok - New Bridge Rd
6 Bedok - North Bridge Rd
7 Bedok - Dempsey Rd (former CMPB)
8 Bedok - Shenton Way
86 Tampines Way - Shenton Way
107 S'goon Gdn Way - Shenton Way
138 Ang Mo Kio - Shenton Way
168 Ang Mo Kio - Orchard Rd

These services charged a flat fare of 60c or 70c.

tranquilice SG

Yes, I remember during that time, I would always board service 118 from Hougang to Orchard and never service 111, as service 118 was FAC while service 111 was NAC.

If I remember correctly, service 118 was withdrawn in 1990, and it was at the same time that service 111 became PAC.

tranquilice SG

I would like to know the routes for services 6, 138 and 168. Thank.

tranquilice SG

Service 140 also acted like a SWT to service 143. Both have duplicated route between Toa Payoh and Orchard. However, service 140 was a NAC service, unlike service 118.

Service 140 was withdrawn after the MRT operation was extended from Toa Payoh to Outram Park.

SBS9818A SG

Sv. 7 got extended to Bedok, right?

tranquilice SG

I don't remember service 7 terminating elsewhere in the east except Bedok.

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