Originally posted by carbikebus:Maybe loop around Bishan estate instead
Which contract will it be under?
Originally posted by Guides anyone?:YCK
825 route to YCK Rd
AMK Ave 4
AMK Ave 3
AMK Ave 1
Bishan Rd
Braddell Road
Bishan St 13 ( 1 new bus stop)
follow 54,56 back out to Bishan Rd (Loop)
Does it go to Mayflower MRT? Any potential for an extension to Bidadari?
Originally posted by iveco:Which contract will it be under?
Should be under Seletar
Originally posted by iveco:Does it go to Mayflower MRT? Any potential for an extension to Bidadari?
Yes, potential no.. since there is a new bus stop for it at Street 13 to enhance connectivity, hard to amend it to ply bidadari since it plies unidirectional on Braddell rd
Looking at the videos taken of new bus service 944, I now realise the reason why LTA decide to let SMRT operate the route instead of Tower Transit. The reason is because 944 does not have any target audience, besides that pair of bus stop outside Bukit Batok Polyclinic at Bukit Batok West Avenue 3. Because the profit margin is low, in fact negligible, it's better to reduce the loss as much as possible. That's why they award it to SMRT instead of Tower Transit.
There was probably a tender which we are not aware of, that was called by LTA to determine the operator that can offer the lowest price possible to operate the service. Unfortunately, Tower Transit did not offer the lowest price. Instead, it was SMRT that offers the lowest price. That's why the bus service was awarded to SMRT.
The story is the same as city direct bus services, which were awarded to SBS Transit and SMRT instead of the private operators that were operating the bus services originally. As to whether the story will be replicated at other bus routes, I think it depends on the profitability. If the route is profitable, or sustainable with the current contract, it would probably be awarded to the operator that is operating the contact.
In this case, 944 is really not profitable, in fact incurring losses that is really too great to incur - if operated by Tower Transit under the current contract. As a matter of fact, this bus service is not even required until end of this year or next year when the new HDB flats are completed. Hence, awarding it to SMRT is the better option.
I believe there was a tender called for bus service 944 which we are not aware of, that's why we are under the illusion that LTA may have changed its approach by awarding bus routes to the lowest tender. Nonetheless, LTA could have explained the situation, but it probably finds no need for that, that's why it did not explain the situation in the press release, but just say that there will be a new bus service launched today that is called 944, serving the new residential developments at Bukit Batok.
Whereas for other bus services, I believe the Bishan one is the one that will connect to Ang Mo Kio, because it was mentioned previously that Ang Mo Kio will have new bus service. As for which areas it will serve, I will leave it to the people who are familiar with that area as I don't patronise that area. But most probably it's to improve connectivity within Bishan to connect to the industrial area at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. Otherwise, it's for the landed properties at Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, or a break-up of one of the existing bus services. Nonetheless, I will leave it to the people familiar with that area to comment about the upcoming bus service at Bishan.
I am still wondering about why LTA like to introduce new feeders to ply areas where flats are still under construction in recent months. Much as I do not find any issue with 381 and 883, I was rather thinking that 944 is too short and could have served more areas.
Originally posted by SG1011A:
Looks like it doesn't go anywhere near Mayflower estate at all.
Originally posted by Gus.chong:I am still wondering about why LTA like to introduce new feeders to ply areas where flats are still under construction in recent months.
They change strategy to think long-term, i suppose.
944 could have been merged with 171 (if it fell victim to DTL cuts) or 308 (to form a new inter-town trunk).
Originally posted by Gus.chong:I am still wondering about why LTA like to introduce new feeders to ply areas where flats are still under construction in recent months. Much as I do not find any issue with 381 and 883, I was rather thinking that 944 is too short and could have served more areas.
They got too much money to waste. That's why!!
Originally posted by iveco:Looks like it doesn't go anywhere near Mayflower estate at all.
Ofcourse it will got Mayflower estate.
Originally posted by Gus.chong:I am still wondering about why LTA like to introduce new feeders to ply areas where flats are still under construction in recent months. Much as I do not find any issue with 381 and 883, I was rather thinking that 944 is too short and could have served more areas.
944 shld at least go straight somemore along bukit batok rd then turn left at shell station (aft dulwich college) there, then turn left to ave 8, pass by MI opposite then turn right to ave 6 to go back. at least, serve more people
That pair of bus stop outside Millennia Institute and Princess Elizabeth is only utilised during school hours by students of those schools, and seldom by the residents living there as they have to walk through a passage to get to that bus stop, when might as well they take a shorter route to the next bus stop that is just next to their doorstep; during regular hours, it's rarely utilised.
The areas along Bukit Batok West Avenue 3 already have 157, 174, 188 and 173 providing connection to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange. Furthermore, 941 is already providing a good connection to the bus interchange for residents living in the inner parts of Bukit Batok West Avenue 3 area; Bukit Batok West Avenue 8, Bukit Batok Street 11. No need for another bus service to connect residents of that area to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange.
Making the route ply that path is the right choice, as it optimises the coverage of that new area when it is fully developed. The only issue is that the bus service was launched too early, as none of the developments along the route at the new area is ready for occupancy. The only development that is ready for occupancy is along Bukit Batok Road, and that development has 160 and 180 connecting it to the MRT stations at Boon Lay Way.
Nonetheless, I agree that the routing could have been better, to connect to the other developments in that area. But that's probably for another new route in future when that area is more developed. I don't know about the area, but I believe the authorities have timed the implementation properly, by rolling out the bus services progressively as the developments become ready for occupancy.
The future routes that ply that area may incorporate the area around Millennia Institute and Princess Elizabeth, but that is only required when the new HDB at the petrol station and opposite the foreign school is ready for occupation. Probably next year, or the year after.
Originally posted by Gus.chong:I am still wondering about why LTA like to introduce new feeders to ply areas where flats are still under construction in recent months. Much as I do not find any issue with 381 and 883, I was rather thinking that 944 is too short and could have served more areas.
Probably to assure the new residents that there is public transport within their vicinity.
Without public transport, new residents can only rely on private transport to carry all their items to the new location, which is expensive and not always available.
By having public transport ahead of time, it would encourage new residents to move into their new flats once they collect their keys.
Originally posted by iveco:Looks like it doesn't go anywhere near Mayflower estate at all.
lol it cuts thru mayflower by the entire amk ave 4 and u say nv go
Originally posted by SBS2792K:lol it cuts thru mayflower by the entire amk ave 4 and u say nv go
isn't Mayflower the private estate off Ave 2? Don't tell me the future MRT station is on Ave 4?
Originally posted by gekpohboy:Probably to assure the new residents that there is public transport within their vicinity.
Without public transport, new residents can only rely on private transport to carry all their items to the new location, which is expensive and not always available.
By having public transport ahead of time, it would encourage new residents to move into their new flats once they collect their keys.
By your logic, Tampines N6 should be getting bus service soon.
Originally posted by Vampire77lim:26/08 10.30am Saw training route bus service from sbstransit uniform from ubi ave 2 / jalan eunos/ sims ave East and New upper changi rd to bedok south rd to where don't know
This is the fifth time you write this.
Honestly, with the availability of MRT stations and existing bus services in the area, there is no need for another bus service to connect the areas that are mentioned above.
Originally posted by iveco:By your logic, Tampines N6 should be getting bus service soon.
I thought there already have? There's one intra-town bus service that ply that area. If I'm not wrong, it's 293.
Whereas for Bukit Batok, that area totally don't have bus service within walking distance.
Originally posted by gekpohboy:This is the fifth time you write this.
Honestly, with the availability of MRT stations and existing bus services in the area, there is no need for another bus service to connect the areas that are mentioned above.
Also, the route you mentioned seem to resemble a new BSEP route that was launched last year...
Route 25 extension consider BSEP?
Originally posted by gekpohboy:I thought there already have? There's one intra-town bus service that ply that area. If I'm not wrong, it's 291.
Tampines N6 not even ready for occupancy la.
Originally posted by Guides anyone?:YCK
825 route to YCK Rd
AMK Ave 4
AMK Ave 3
AMK Ave 1
Bishan Rd
Braddell Road
Bishan St 13 ( 1 new bus stop)
follow 54,56 back out to Bishan Rd (Loop)
I really don't know what's the point for this service?
Don't forget that TEL itself is meant to supplement NSL... So why would people from places as far as Bishan go to Mayflower for TEL when there's already a robust bus network to NSL?
Originally posted by gekpohboy:That pair of bus stop outside Millennia Institute and Princess Elizabeth is only utilised during school hours by students of those schools, and seldom by the residents living there as they have to walk through a passage to get to that bus stop, when might as well they take a shorter route to the next bus stop that is just next to their doorstep; during regular hours, it's rarely utilised.
The areas along Bukit Batok West Avenue 3 already have 157, 174, 188 and 173 providing connection to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange. Furthermore, 941 is already providing a good connection to the bus interchange for residents living in the inner parts of Bukit Batok West Avenue 3 area; Bukit Batok West Avenue 8, Bukit Batok Street 11. No need for another bus service to connect residents of that area to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange.
Making the route ply that path is the right choice, as it optimises the coverage of that new area when it is fully developed. The only issue is that the bus service was launched too early, as none of the developments along the route at the new area is ready for occupancy. The only development that is ready for occupancy is along Bukit Batok Road, and that development has 160 and 180 connecting it to the MRT stations at Boon Lay Way.
Nonetheless, I agree that the routing could have been better, to connect to the other developments in that area. But that's probably for another new route in future when that area is more developed. I don't know about the area, but I believe the authorities have timed the implementation properly, by rolling out the bus services progressively as the developments become ready for occupancy.
The future routes that ply that area may incorporate the area around Millennia Institute and Princess Elizabeth, but that is only required when the new HDB at the petrol station and opposite the foreign school is ready for occupation. Probably next year, or the year after.
i meant turn left after shell station & before MI to ave 8, not pass by MI & opp princess elizabeth pri
Originally posted by array88:I really don't know what's the point for this service?
Don't forget that TEL itself is meant to supplement NSL... So why would people from places as far as Bishan go to Mayflower for TEL when there's already a robust bus network to NSL?
It is a one way loading service. During AM, you will see a good number of pax taking 71 to Bishan for CCL/NSL from AMK Ave 1 and for CCL only from AMK Ave 1 & 4. Further it will connect ave 1 to TEL in future.
The stops at Bishan st 13 is a good move as people living there need to walk a long distance to the nearest bus stop.
Return journey towards YCK loading will be poor during AM and it will depend on who calls first 76 or 71. 268 loading will further detoriate as it doesn't go to MRT directly.