Originally posted by wsy1234:i think for 851 there a lot of old people going for short distance, going up and down from the service. Bendy is good, no need to go up to upper deck for old people as their legs not strong to climb up upper deck of DD bus. 188 also the same serving inter town bus stopping often.
I think I get your point... Elderly who are taking 851 usually are from Chinatown area, Fu Lu Shou Complex area and Little India area. Not forgetting those from KKH visiting...
Well, I would think SMRT is still conducting its feasibility studies of the new MAN A24 on the various services. Services like 188, 180 have many stops along their routes and since SMRT has bendy buses as well, its good to trial and find out the best for. Not as clear cut as 963, 966, 857 where DD is obvious due to express sectors and limited intertown servicing.
Originally posted by randomguy10:Well, I would think SMRT is still conducting its feasibility studies of the new MAN A24 on the various services. Services like 188, 180 have many stops along their routes and since SMRT has bendy buses as well, its good to trial and find out the best for. Not as clear cut as 963, 966, 857 where DD is obvious due to express sectors and limited intertown servicing.
80% of pax board 180 at BNL, and alight at BPJ.
Quite suitable for DD alr. Infact, after Parc Oasis till ITE CW, there's less than 5 passengers alighting(on average). Maybe we will see a difference with new flats upcoming. But, I believe DD is suitable for 180.
Sv963 can still use bendy, but DD is doing good. Took 963 back today during lunch time, the upper deck quite empty, whereas the lower deck left a few seats. Can say that the upper deck would be frequently used during peak hours/high demand time..otherwise, most of them will take the lower deck.
IMO, 971E should start getting DD, not A24s. Time to attract more passengers la...train isn't reliable one..
The sole A24 on 971E can deploy on 900 and replace one of its O405G,Already get WAB status with 3 A22s,2 A24s and 2 O405Gs
Originally posted by carbikebus:The sole A24 on 971E can deploy on 900 and replace one of its O405G,Already get WAB status with 3 A22s,2 A24s and 2 O405Gs
Alr deployed to 858. 900 could take some rigids if resources do prohibit and it needs the WAB status so badly.
Originally posted by SMB128B:Alr deployed to 858. 900 could take some rigids if resources do prohibit and it needs the WAB status so badly.
You mean 900 to add 2 more A22s?Where to find BCs?
Originally posted by carbikebus:You mean 900 to add 2 more A22s?Where to find BCs?
I think SMRT has enough BCs... why else would they spam services like 169, 190, 854 with rigids when they could reduce few buses by replacing with more high capacity fleet.
Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:I think SMRT has enough BCs... why else would they spam services like 169, 190, 854 with rigids when they could reduce few buses by replacing with more high capacity fleet.
Do you really think service such as 169 run with 29 buses?Even 854 only run 25 duties on average despite its 29 buses status.
Yeah 971E should use DD. But If sgwiki is correct, SMB8025L is already shared to 858. So even if dun deploy to 971E, cant use it on 900.
Haha I dun think SMRT spam so many rigids due to tthem having too many BCs. They just made a mistake and purchased so many A22s. So bo pian have to use them. It will be cheaper than buying more HC buses now and let those A22s sleep and depreciate.
Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:I think SMRT has enough BCs... why else would they spam services like 169, 190, 854 with rigids when they could reduce few buses by replacing with more high capacity fleet.
they do not have enough high capacity buses to deploy.. as simple as that... they try to save cost by buying more A22... up till now, SMRT only bought around 100 DDs under their own name.. the other 116 are under BSEP... and even though there are 40 A24, there are around 55 units of bendies being deregistered... so net increase is only around 85 units of HC buses under SMRT (Excluding BSEP)
Originally posted by carbikebus:You mean 900 to add 2 more A22s?Where to find BCs?
I dont think its a problem since SMRT did manage to find enough BCs to waste on 858's 33-rigid fleet before.
On paper its 33 buses but did anyone of you know that some AM shift BCs OT till late evening just to cover those extra duties?
Originally posted by carbikebus:On paper its 33 buses but did anyone of you know that some AM shift BCs OT till late evening just to cover those extra duties?
so they're illegally overworked. fall asleep on the wheel and get into accident, who's problem? pity those BCs.
Originally posted by carbikebus:On paper its 33 buses but did anyone of you know that some AM shift BCs OT till late evening just to cover those extra duties?
Exactly the problem.
In summary, rigids off and away!
Originally posted by SMB128B:Exactly the problem.
In summary, rigids off and away!
No way.
More buses = better flexibility for the service. You see how stress the driver is if he faces tight schedules..
The main problem is, still not enough BC. On surface, there seems to be enough BC. But it may not be true..
Originally posted by carbikebus:Do you really think service such as 169 run with 29 buses?Even 854 only run 25 duties on average despite its 29 buses status.
Sorry to say, 169 still have problems running at a better intervals and understanding it's pax well.
Especially Fridays/Sundays and during PM off peak.
Originally posted by TIB868X:so they're illegally overworked. fall asleep on the wheel and get into accident, who's problem? pity those BCs.
SMRT Buses' (and by extension SBS Transit's) driver shortage is not going to get any better once the two new GCM operators ramp up their recruitment efforts.
Route 858 can be truncated to SBW. The missing sector from WDL can be covered by a new route.
Route 967: WDL to CBP via current 858 route to Chong Pang, Sembawang Rd, Upp Thomson Rd, SLE, TPE, Tampines Ave 7, Simei Rd, Upp Changi Rd East, 117 current route to CBP.
Originally posted by sgbuses:SMRT Buses' (and by extension SBS Transit's) driver shortage is not going to get any better once the two new GCM operators ramp up their recruitment efforts.
precisely why I think AMK and YIS will be bundled together under the Seletar GCM and be successfully won by a still-unknown overseas contractor.
Originally posted by sgbuses:SMRT Buses' (and by extension SBS Transit's) driver shortage is not going to get any better once the two new GCM operators ramp up their recruitment efforts.
although i think the 'shortage' can be at least partially offset by having fewer services to operate.
also, i've noticed that TT isn't trying to tap only onto the current PTOs' drivers, they also made a wise choice in diversifying their sources of drivers, including private bus companies, truckers and also people with little experience (only a class 3 license, no prior bus driving experience although they will be trained). feels like musical chairs to me.
What service 858 needs is a layover point at Changi Airport. It has the same set of problems as service 99 before it was extended to Joo Koon.
One way is to send arriving buses up to the departures hall/arrivals hall for alighting only. Then let these buses head to a designated parking lot/layover point. That would give some flexibility for the operator to space out the frequency proper, clear out the crowds while avoiding bus bunching.
For example if three service 858 buses arrive at the same time, two can be sent to the layover point and spaced out accordingly while the third bus can be sent to the basement right away.
Originally posted by TIB868X:although i think the 'shortage' can be at least partially offset by having fewer services to operate.
also, i've noticed that TT isn't trying to tap only onto the current PTOs' drivers, they also made a wise choice in diversifying their sources of drivers, including private bus companies, truckers and also people with little experience (only a class 3 license, no prior bus driving experience although they will be trained). feels like musical chairs to me.
TT are playing it smart. They know not all affected BCs want to go over to them and remain with BUDEP. Better to have a diverse talent pool sometimes. Won't surprise me if GAG tries a similar tack.
Originally posted by sgbuses:What service 858 needs is a layover point at Changi Airport. It has the same set of problems as service 99 before it was extended to Joo Koon.
One way is to send arriving buses up to the departures hall/arrivals hall for alighting only. Then let these buses head to a designated parking lot/layover point. That would give some flexibility for the operator to space out the frequency proper, clear out the crowds while avoiding bus bunching.
For example if three service 858 buses arrive at the same time, two can be sent to the layover point and spaced out accordingly while the third bus can be sent to the basement right away.
off topic: Does route 36 practise layover?
Originally posted by TIB868X:although i think the 'shortage' can be at least partially offset by having fewer services to operate.
also, i've noticed that TT isn't trying to tap only onto the current PTOs' drivers, they also made a wise choice in diversifying their sources of drivers, including private bus companies, truckers and also people with little experience (only a class 3 license, no prior bus driving experience although they will be trained). feels like musical chairs to me.
Still, an overall shortage. I can't give too much away though.
I heard a lot from bus enthusiasts at ABCD. I think they are way too optimistic. TT knows how to run their PR well - using the same J1X tactics from Torrens Transit (friendly female star drivers) to run their ABCD shuttle service. I will be very amazed if they can source drivers elsewhere and still end up with a very consistent level of customer service.
Originally posted by iveco:off topic: Does route 36 practise layover?
Jumpbus.