this service is damn jialat.
i waited about 30 mins yesterday evening. its peak hours.
i saw 3-4 service 291-to-st81 before one 291-to-st32 arrived.
to make things worst, most, if not all the 291-to-st81 buses were empty while the 291-to-st32 queue was super long.
what is wrong with sbs's schedules?
they should take a good hard look at things!!!
and this is not the first time.
Originally posted by dragg:this service is damn jialat.
i waited about 30 mins yesterday evening. its peak hours.
i saw 3-4 service 291-to-st81 before one 291-to-st32 arrived.
to make things worst, most, if not all the 291-to-st81 buses were empty while the 291-to-st32 queue was super long.
what is wrong with sbs's schedules?
they should take a good hard look at things!!!
and this is not the first time.
Let me explain this.......
Basicly, 291 buses go in the following way:
Park - West - East - West - East (T) - Park.
(Average 2hr Per 'trip', 30min per loop)
The reason why the waiting time at East Loop is horrible is that the buses going to East Loop all depends on the buses at the West Loop. So, when the buses kena a lot of people from the West Loop, they will be late and thus bunch up with another bus; Hence the bus bunch.
As this bus parade of late buses go to East Loop, they will kena alot of people from the East Loop as the front buses are late. So in the East Loop, they will bunch together. As some of the buses are in their 1 round, they would not have the 'T' sign and thus go over to the West Loop.
With the East Loop - West Loop (Crossover) buses already late, they will tend to clash with buses coming out of parking. Hence, continuing the cycle.
Possible Soloutions:
- Deploy DDs.
However, they do take up more time as they need more time to unload people from upper deck. This is the main reason given by 291 BCs (Back in 2006 when there was DDs on 291) why they dont want DDs on 291.
If there were DDs, 1 loop could need 35 - 45 mins. And this will extend running time for BCs which is somehow equal to Svc 30 BCs.
- More buses
When there are more buses, they will bunch more and this adds fuel to fire.
- Shortworking Trips
To me, this is the best solution. How this works is that there would be around 3 'spare' buses parking at Tampines Int. When the Q from either loop gets too long, these buses would be deployed. However, they will have the 'T' sign. Hence going back to 'spare mode' after completing a loop.
- Splitting services
SBST can just spilt TownLink 291 into two. Mainly feeder 291 and 294. This would ensure no bunching and accurate intervals at the interchange but cause alot of trouble for people from a loop going to the other loop.
Originally posted by dragg:this service is damn jialat.
i waited about 30 mins yesterday evening. its peak hours.
i saw 3-4 service 291-to-st81 before one 291-to-st32 arrived.
to make things worst, most, if not all the 291-to-st81 buses were empty while the 291-to-st32 queue was super long.
what is wrong with sbs's schedules?
they should take a good hard look at things!!!
and this is not the first time.
somewhere along st81 traffic heavy. (passenger/vehicular)
Reply inside the quote
Originally posted by TownLink 291:Let me explain this.......
Basicly, 291 buses go in the following way:
Park - West - East - West - East (T) - Park.
(Average 2hr Per 'trip', 30min per loop)
The reason why the waiting time at East Loop is horrible is that the buses going to East Loop all depends on the buses at the West Loop. So, when the buses kena a lot of people from the West Loop, they will be late and thus bunch up with another bus; Hence the bus bunch.As this bus parade of late buses go to East Loop, they will kena alot of people from the East Loop as the front buses are late. So in the East Loop, they will bunch together. As some of the buses are in their 1 round, they would not have the 'T' sign and thus go over to the West Loop.
With the East Loop - West Loop (Crossover) buses already late, they will tend to clash with buses coming out of parking. Hence, continuing the cycle.
Possible Soloutions:- Shortworking Trips
To me, this is the best solution. How this works is that there would be around 3 'spare' buses parking at Tampines Int. When the Q from either loop gets too long, these buses would be deployed. However, they will have the 'T' sign. Hence going back to 'spare mode' after completing a loop.
This occurs for about max 2 hrs. Not feasible to pay 3 BCs full 8hrs salary and keep 3 buses out of revenue service for this 2hrs in the evening. Furthermore this will aggrevate the parking problem faced in TMI.
- Splitting services
SBST can just spilt TownLink 291 into two. Mainly feeder 291 and 294. This would ensure no bunching and accurate intervals at the interchange but cause alot of trouble for people from a loop going to the other loop.
Then that will defeat the service of being a Townlink.
a way is to have it such that they can T on either loop and start on either loop
They should just destroy the concept of townlinks and split up the service into 2 parts. Though it saves waiting time and is convenient, just the thought of one side empty and the other side full is horrifying. It's the same problem with 811 (South loop). One can wait for 30 minutes before 4x 811s arrive together as one pack. Only a mere minority of townlinks are successful in keeping waiting times regular, and that is 222.
S291 east loop is problematic.
even the BC who has been driving the service since 1998 looks sian everytime a bus bunches with him or he bunches with another bus.
it's a chronic problem.
man Townlink 291 like tat one la... i have being experiencing it since 2001 onwards... if 291 can use back DD... i solo BNDEP but then CMI la... somemore is now a WAB svc... and juz wondering, why mostly east wing muz have T and not west wing... same goes for 293 bah i suppose...
Originally posted by TIB1232Z:They should just destroy the concept of townlinks and split up the service into 2 parts. Though it saves waiting time and is convenient, just the thought of one side empty and the other side full is horrifying. It's the same problem with 811 (South loop). One can wait for 30 minutes before 4x 811s arrive together as one pack. Only a mere minority of townlinks are successful in keeping waiting times regular, and that is 222.
Nah. Just keep it. Alot of people uses it. Save $ too. =)
Originally posted by jayh272416:a way is to have it such that they can T on either loop and start on either loop
This would be the timekeeper's worst nightmare xD
Originally posted by bus555:man Townlink 291 like tat one la... i have being experiencing it since 2001 onwards... if 291 can use back DD... i solo BNDEP but then CMI la... somemore is now a WAB svc... and juz wondering, why mostly east wing muz have T and not west wing... same goes for 293 bah i suppose...
293's problem is not as serious as this as the east loop has services that duplicates it (28, 29) (That's why everyday you see commuters milling outside 7-11 and not entering any queue)
Svc 20 Tampines -> ???
Tampines Ave 7
St 24
St 23
St 33
St 32
St 34
Ave 7
TPE
...
Speaking of tat,wen 291 became wab,i thought hw it wld gonna handle if there was a piw.Now wit the normal demand alr,the buses not enough.Still make wab.Peak hour piw wan take good luck alr.No space for ppl to squeeze,still got piw prob.But off peak hour surely piw can board..
at times 2 291 comes together. the driver behind drives like a turtle. a jogger can overtake the bus. its another frustration altogether.
why dont sbs consider splitting this service? its ridiculous to stick to a townlink that only frustrates commuters.
maybe they can consider swopping T plates from east to west?
or
SBS591L, SBS594D, SBS602P, SBS813Y and SBS848Y add fleet on 291 hehe
Originally posted by SBS1984E:This would be the timekeeper's worst nightmare xD
but it benefits the people.
Townlink nowdays... better split become feeder better
Originally posted by bus555:maybe they can consider swopping T plates from east to west?
or
SBS591L, SBS594D, SBS602P, SBS813Y and SBS848Y add fleet on 291 hehe
The problem will be the same, only on different loops.
No nid WAB liao.
Originally posted by dragg:
why dont sbs consider splitting this service? its ridiculous to stick to a townlink that only frustrates commuters.
It would fustrate students when u split it.
Splitting is good. with throughfare next time this would not be a problem.
Originally posted by SBS1984E:293's problem is not as serious as this as the east loop has services that duplicates it (28, 29) (That's why everyday you see commuters milling outside 7-11 and not entering any queue)
Svc 20 Tampines -> ???
Tampines Ave 7
St 24
St 23
St 33
St 32
St 34
Ave 7
TPE
...
I am one of those people who stand outside 7-11 waiting for quickest bus to come. I can take 28 29 293 home mahs :D
Originally posted by Khairiano:Townlink nowdays... better split become feeder better
There's always a reason why there's Townlink feeder services.
As for Townlink 293's case, it links people from st41, 42, 43 ,45 people to the west area and vice-versa. Street 81 the coffee shops there the food damn nice, which include the mee pok from the Jurong Cafe and etc etc :D So I am actually one of those people who benefit to this luhs. I use it also for my tution bus last time at Tampines West CC. Students from Springfield Sec and St' Hildas and etc etc uses this function too. Don't tell me if you don't use this when taking Townlink services.
One of the disadvantages when service gets split up is that you get the fare a bit expensive. I live with service 293, so I get things experienced luhs. I do guide people around sometimes when a particular BC on 293 is driving the bus :D
What I could suggest is to add a bus to standby to cater to crowds during peak hours. When the queue gets out of line(which 291 gets it often) the bus will come out and help with the first bus.
Originally posted by SBS8214Z:There's always a reason why there's Townlink feeder services.
As for Townlink 293's case, it links people from st41, 42, 43 ,45 people to the west area and vice-versa. Street 81 the coffee shops there the food damn nice, which include the mee pok from the Jurong Cafe and etc etc :D So I am actually one of those people who benefit to this luhs. I use it also for my tution bus last time at Tampines West CC. Students from Springfield Sec and St' Hildas and etc etc uses this function too. Don't tell me if you don't use this when taking Townlink services.
One of the disadvantages when service gets split up is that you get the fare a bit expensive. I live with service 293, so I get things experienced luhs. I do guide people around sometimes when a particular BC on 293 is driving the bus :D
What I could suggest is to add a bus to standby to cater to crowds during peak hours. When the queue gets out of line(which 291 gets it often) the bus will come out and help with the first bus.
thank you for your very experienced speech and guidance.
Originally posted by dragg:at times 2 291 comes together. the driver behind drives like a turtle. a jogger can overtake the bus.
not true leh. they see jogger catch up they'll speed up one. hahaha! i always catch up with them.
Originally posted by SBS8214Z:There's always a reason why there's Townlink feeder services.
As for Townlink 293's case, it links people from st41, 42, 43 ,45 people to the west area and vice-versa. Street 81 the coffee shops there the food damn nice, which include the mee pok from the Jurong Cafe and etc etc :D So I am actually one of those people who benefit to this luhs. I use it also for my tution bus last time at Tampines West CC. Students from Springfield Sec and St' Hildas and etc etc uses this function too. Don't tell me if you don't use this when taking Townlink services.
One of the disadvantages when service gets split up is that you get the fare a bit expensive. I live with service 293, so I get things experienced luhs. I do guide people around sometimes when a particular BC on 293 is driving the bus :D
What I could suggest is to add a bus to standby to cater to crowds during peak hours. When the queue gets out of line(which 291 gets it often) the bus will come out and help with the first bus.
Reply to the statement in BOLD:
Hopefully throughfare will be implemented, this problem can be eliminated. That's of course by splitting. I agree that direct links will be cut but the good part will be service reliability increased and its frequency stablised. The aim of throughfare is actually to cut duplicates where necessary and to encourage people to transfer. However, this is a balance that LTA needs to work out.
The best Townlink is still 222.Besides good frequencies got low floor DDs