http://a.msn.com/r/2/AAd5dMH?a=1&m=EN-AU
Did the same thing happen in Singapore during the MRT rationalisation?
Quite likely, yes... Long bus routes shortened or withdrawn, more transfers required, including taking the MRT which would be more expensive than buses. Previously there wasn't even distance fare, so additional transfers would cost much more than just a direct bus svc.
As I see it, dedicated rail lines (like the MRT, or the light rail to be built along George Street in Sydney's case) provide the capacity and reliability needed for a major traffic corridor, while buses provide the directness and convenience to bring you exactly where you want to go.
The issue is ensuring buses do not duplicate the MRT excessively and inefficiently, while maintaining necessary bus links, along short sectors of the MRT (connecting areas between the stns), in areas not directly served by the MRT (eg Sengkang to hougang st 21 for 119, old 85 route), and where buses are faster and more direct than the MRT (Express/Premium/City Direct).
Reliability of the MRT is becoming an issue in recent years, but I doubt having more bus svcs duplicating the MRT (directly or in the form of Express/Premium svcs) would help much. While they give commuters another option, the capacity of the MRT (~300 pax x 3 or 6 carriages, 2-7 min headway) is simply much greater than buses (~70 pax for SD, ~120 pax for DD/bendy, 5-15 min headway). In the event of major train disruptions, buses are simply inadequate in handling the huge numbers of stranded pax. I'm not saying we shouldn't have duplicating bus svcs, but just that they don't help that much when the trains break down.
i don't think the people of sydeny allow the government to take away bus services like PAP did to us. There will be mass protest from drivers and passengers soon.