There's also 75 and 184 from Bt Panjang to Upp Bt Timah via
Cashew Rd, although they do not cover the sector along Upp Bt Timah
btw BPJ and Cashew, which is served by 963. Overall, I think it's
ok to shorten 171 to Bt Panjang, unless it's extended somewhere
else to cover deleted sectors of other routes, or as a route
'enhancement'.
As for withdrawing svc 700, parts of the route can be merged
with 972, as follows:
Bt Panjang - Senja/Segar/Fajar - Pending Rd - Petir
Rd - BKE/PIE - Whitley/Stevens/Scotts Rd - Orchard Rd
- Shenton Way on weekdays, Suntec on
weekends (similar to current 700/A)
The direct connection between Petir Rd and Bt Panjang would
still need replacement, which can be covered by amending or
extending existing svcs. Options include:
- amending 75 or 184 to ply Petir Rd/Dairy Farm Rd instead of
Cashew Rd/Upp Bt Timah Rd (one less bus svc for Cashew Rd)
- amending 960 or 190 to ply Petir Rd instead of entering BKE
directly at Bt Panjang Rd (already high loading svcs, lost
connection to Bt Panjang Rd stop, although the 972 amendment above
has the same issue)
- amending 961 to Bt Panjang Rd - Petir Rd - BKE/PIE express -
Eng Neo Ave - Bt Timah (lost sector along Upp Bt Timah, but faster
journey for long distance travellers)
- extending 180 or 983 into Bt Panjang, loop at Petir Rd, or
loop around Chestnut Dr/Dairy Farm private estate (may not have
demand for the latter)
If 171 is removed from Bukit Timah road, you need 700 to connect
Dunearn road condos to Orchard road. Anyway, 700 gets quite a good
loading even today from the condos between Stevens and Newton MRT
towards Scotts/Orchard.
I would have liked 700 to extend to CCK via Keat Hong estate to
provide direct Orchard connection between Keat Hong and Orchard. If
190/972 have been so popular as direct services inspite of DTL/NSL,
I am sure extended 700 would be very popular as well.
700 can be shortened to Marina Center Terminal instead of
Shenton Way, replacing 171 there.