Yes, Causeway Link is operational today
I first tried Queen Street terminal at about 1300 today, but found
no Causeway Link buses. After that, I took 960 to Kranji
At Kranji, I found the Causeway Link buses. They are MAN citybuses,
but I could not identify the model. After that, I met Hao Rui at
Kranji MRT.
These buses have a simple front desto that says CW-1 in the middel
and Larkin-Johor Bahru to the left and Kranji MRT to the right. Hao
Rui suggested that it may be 18.XXX, and the bus was painted
basically all yellow, and appeared to be Volgren bodied ( the boxy
kind that those Transitlink buses have in JB ). The bus is cooled
by Carrier and the AC vents inside are similar to those found in
private buses ( those that you can flip open and close ). Hao Rui
and I later took the bus to Woodlands custom for 80 cents Singapore
dollar, and the receipts issued are similar to those of that in
S'pore, but longer in dimensions. The anti-slip flooring is spotted
blue in colour, and the vibration is quite audible in the bus
The gearbox used is the Voith, and the dashboard is very similar to
that of the 0405, except that it has more dials and a large bold
MAN lettering above the speedometer. However, the gear change
sounded more like a ZF gearbox than a Voith one. The noise level is
not as low as the company claim, and the engine noise is a cross
between the DAF and an 0405.
The seats are as hard and uncomfortable as those of TIBS, is like
those seats found in the Volgren 0405 and Lance 211, but the colour
is yellow and blue, and the texture is smoother.
Interestingly, the speed limit of the bus is given as 90km/h, as
seen from the rear sticker, and the speed of the bus on Woodlands
Rd. is noticeably faster than that of the SBST's Mk IIIs.
The doors are similar to that of the Lance 245, with plastic, grey
handrails.
For those interested to take a Malaysian bus w/o crossing the
causeway and get a complimentary 14 days temperature check, it is
possible to take the bus from opposite Kranji Mrt to Woodlands
Checkpoint for 80cents, and only exact change. If you dare, the
fare is $1.30 from Kranji to Larkin. The reverse direction cost the
same, except that it is in Ringgit is you board in Malaysia. At
Woodlands Checkpoint, just cross the overhead back to the arrival
hall. The berth of the Causeway link is using the existing SJE one,
but there is a prominant new sign that says CSW-1 in yellow. Buses
are frequent at ~10 minutes interval, 0500 - 0030, all round the
year.
It is quite an interesting experience to take a Malaysian public
bus in Singapore, as the monopoly held by 170 over the years is now
gone. However, the routes to Queen St and Jurong East had not been
scheduled to run just yet.
