You need to understand that
you MUST not assume that a svc will always have max loading
throughout the route. That's not how it works. There will always be
grey areas the route will experience as it transits from one area
to another.
Given so, 120 experiences so from NBR Ter to Redhill MRT. That's
the grey area that 120 has to inevitably pass due to terminal
constraints. You know that yourself either. Don't underestimate the
utility of 120 at that sector. Being an extremely long route 33 is
fully vulnerable to delays and 120 is the solution to that. Maybe
your definition of "empty buses" has got to be a real peculiar one
as contrary to your statement most of 120's buses are fully seated
even on non-peak times such as weekends.
I'm not sure where did poor planning for 47 come from. Where
would you have suggested it to go? IMHO I feel that the route was
well-planned to boost connectivity between Bedok South and MP. Yes,
people actl do take it between these sectors.
When it comes to loading on buses, I think i know better than
most here because i actually do the analysis.
Some people see 2-3 trips full and easily assume that the
service is getting good loading. And so you will regularly see some
people say such things about 116, 120, 117, 150 that it gets high
to moderate loading but fail to recognize that it is 3 out of all
the trips in the day, which makes it <1% of the times and that
can be influenced by many other factors such as other services were
delayed that ply along the patch.