Proposal to extend TIBS 966 into Toa Payoh Lor 6

^tamago^ SG

i was thinking if TIBS 966, which plies between Woodlands Regional Int and Marine Parade Rd, can turn in into Toa Payoh Lor 6 when it reaches Jalan Toa Payoh in both directions, like what SBST Express 506 does. this will add only less than 5 mins of travel time but can be squeezed into the current schedule since they actually travel faster than the schedule (see below). and i've seen how TIBS allow long-distance services to speed on expressways - my experience came fromTIBS 858 (i saw 120km/h on Mercedes O405 w/o speed limiter before at midnight on its way back to Woodlands Reg Int - they used to put those few buses w/o speed limiters on 858 ). ideal travel time is within 45 mins from Woodlands Reg Int to Marine Parade, and less than 20 mins from Toa Payoh to Marine Parade. this allows TIBS 969 to compete with SBST 31 instead of making passengers walk out to Jalan Toa Payoh from Toa Payoh Int. but i wonder if it is because SBST rejected TIBS' idea at the PTC stage 'cause they wan to protect their Toa Payoh 'turf'?

FYI
this is the schedule sheet that i saw on the driver's seat. from what i can remember,
[weekday afternoon]
Location (Time from Woodlands Regional Interchange)
Woodlands Regional Interchange (0)
Marsiling MRT (9)
Catholic JC (29)
St. Andrew's Sch (37)
Eunos MRT (48 )
Parkway Parade (57)
NOTES:
it is scheduled to get to the opposite bus stop in 1-2 mins. break at Woodlands Reg Int is around 13 mins, not including meal breaks, which indicates only one bus is in the interchange bus park. counting travel time, there should be around 11 buses for the TIBS 966 bus fleet (based on average 13min interval), though some had counted 15.
the driver left Woodlands Regional Interchange late by 4 mins but was still ahead of schedule. by St. Andrew's Sch, it had been too fast by 10 mins. i suppose the drivers actually reach Marine Parade Rd faster and take longer breaks.

service_238 SG

I don't think that will happen... Apparantly TIBS do not want to invade SBST's TP territory. lol..

Currently there're few places where TIBS & SBST has full homeround control over the housing estates...

SBST: Toa Payoh, Pasir Ris
TIBS: Pasir Panjang, Choa Chu Kang

SBS9818A SG

They should consider it, as it would bring passengers from TPY to Woodlands / Marine Parade with a much faster link.

off_service SG

BUKIT Panjang. Pasir Panjang is a free area for both companies.

tranquilice SG

There must be reasons why services 151 and 154 do not divert into Lor 6 Toa Payoh. Also the former service 989 did not turn into Toa Payoh too.

^tamago^ SG

SBST 151 and 154, if turning into Toa Payoh Lor 6, will duplicate other services serving the MacPherson Road-Toa Payoh New Town link like SBST 8 and 90 so SBS Transit probably decided not to make SBST 151 and 154, which are "long-haul" services, even longer by turning into Toa Payoh Lor 6..

as for TIBS services (former 989, 985 or 966), we are speculating if it's SBS Transit who did not want TIBS services coming into the heart of Toa Payoh..

Airbus330Captain SG

Instead of making it easy for commutors , the bus companines are so scared to invade each’s other territory , this has to be stopped . I want to see more TIBs service in Pasir ris . for example : Bt Panjang to Pasir ris ….

tranquilice SG

But that will relieve the load between MacPherson and Toa Payoh, and will have direct links from Toa Payoh to NUS and Ngee Ann Poly.

service_238 SG

One reason why Svc 151 and 154 didnt turn into Toa Payoh is because of the road system before the upgraded CTE/PIE Interchange opened in around 1994/1995.

Then, there was a slip road from PIE (Jurong) towards Toa Payoh Lor 2. On the other hand there was no slip road from PIE (Jurong) towards Kim Keat Link.

Since there was no slip road from PIE (Jurong) towards Kim Keat Link, Svc 151 & 154 could not turn in at that time, which results in their current route today. I wonder why SBST didnt consider or revising those services? They think that there's enough links from Toa Payoh? not really..

There's no Toa Payoh Services plying Clementi Rd, Jln Ahmad Ibrahim, North Buona Vista Rd, Moulmein Rd, Loyang Ave, East Coast Rd, Punggol Estate, Great World City area, Tiong Bahru Plaza area, Ganges Ave and many many more...

tranquilice SG

But now, it's not a problem anymore.

^tamago^ SG

But SBS Transit won't want to have buses duplicating. Having 2 buses plying the same route is already quite good of SBS Transit. They would rather have short working trips i suppose. And there must be at least one service plying Jalan Toa Payoh to serve Whampoa residents over the Kallang River Diversion along Jalan Toa Payoh.

Toa Payoh to NUS: take MRT to Buona Vista and transfer to SBST 95.
Toa Payoh to NP: take 157 to King Albert's Park and walk or if you use bus pass go bus-hopping.

tranquilice SG

Since there is no bus stops along that stretch of Jln Toa Payoh, the residents aren't affected.

tranquilice SG

Since there is no bus stops along that stretch of Jln Toa Payoh, the residents aren't affected.

tranquilice SG

Since there is no bus stops along that stretch of Jln Toa Payoh, the residents aren't affected.

^tamago^ SG

true, i remebered wrongly the pair of bus stops.. it's near Blk 195, Kim Keat Estate. there's a overhead bridge from there to the opposite bus stop and over the river to St. Michael's Estate.. they could skip Jln Toa Payoh but still calling at this pair.. but for some reason SBST didn't probably cos of duplication and long routes.. maybe we can email TIBS on the proposal of 966 and SBST on 151 and 154? heh..

th1988 SG

By right 966 demand is very low, so why Tibs built a special berth at WDL? There are only 2-3 pax at 1 time.

Also 966 have lower demand than 603, Evil or Very Mad saying that CSS Sv have lower demand that TIB Sv

off_service SG

Actually service 966 is just like any other services. However, the load is slowly increasing. You should see the load for the service on Sundays.

sbs&tibs SG

It will cause some duplication if those TIBS services (966,985) if they turn into TPY lor 6. But I can see that there is a lack of TIBS svc in Tpy. I would also like to extend it to TPY too.

^tamago^ SG

actually 1 in 2 TIBS services turning into Toa Payoh is a gd thing.. the only duplication issues comes from SBST 506 (especially if it’s TIBS 985 turning in) and SBST 31 (Toa Payoh – Marine Parade – Tampines)..

SBS9818A SG

Sv. 985 turning in? What's the point? Not like anyone would want to board it..