Premium Bus Services 529, 589 to Discontinue, New Operator for Premium Bus Service 590
http://smrt.com.sg/Media/Press-release/News/articleid/925/%20News%20Releases/parentId/180/year/2016?category=Announcements%20
Originally posted by TIB987K:Premium Bus Services 529, 589 to Discontinue, New Operator for Premium Bus Service 590
http://smrt.com.sg/Media/Press-release/News/articleid/925/%20News%20Releases/parentId/180/year/2016?category=Announcements%20
Oh my, SMRT premiums all out by the end of 2016!
Didnt expect 529 to withdraw though
Looks like Premium routes are slowly being phased out or privatised.
Originally posted by iveco:Looks like Premium routes are slowly being phased out or privatised.
Hi mr iveco, this could be attributed to LTA's own doing. They introduced the cheaper CDS routes which sort of competed directly with the premium services because of the timings and also because of the routes they implemented for CDS which bear so much similarity. For some routes, they even amended the routes for the premium services to accomodate the CDS. Cheers. Thanks.
Originally posted by CZT:Oh my, SMRT premiums all out by the end of 2016!
Didnt expect 529 to withdraw though
Originally posted by Sbs6750E:
Hope sv 825 operating hours will be revised.
Under Sembawang-Yishun package mah..Expect 3-4 perm Citaros
Originally posted by carbikebus:Under Sembawang-Yishun package mah..Expect 3-4 perm Citaros
Originally posted by Sbs6750E:
Hope sv 825 operating hours will be revised.
Yeah i do rly hope so
Originally posted by Sbs6750E:
So will use 12 metre buses ah?
Lentor area can fit ah? And where will its mini buses go. Oh and my bad, bus plus still hav 2 premiums, and they are 541 and 547 if im not wrong, which have been with them for quite a long time.
Tbh using 12m buses is rly an interesting sight to see when we r used to their minis. But then again, you would sacrifice a public service using mini buses which is itself vry unique :)
Originally posted by CZT:Lentor area can fit ah? And where will its mini buses go. Oh and my bad, bus plus still hav 2 premiums, and they are 541 and 547 if im not wrong, which have been with them for quite a long time.
Tbh using 12m buses is rly an interesting sight to see when we r used to their minis. But then again, you would sacrifice a public service using mini buses which is itself vry unique :)
825 is like 42 in some way.
Originally posted by iveco:825 is like 42 in some way.
True, where the BCs have to like squeeze through narrow roads
Originally posted by Sbs6750E:
Can fit lah but those pte cars park anyhow how? Sooner or later Bus Plus will be for shuttle svcs only.
i think 541 and 547 in bus plus would not be affected, so bus plus will still have 2 premiums and others are shuttle. Hope more bus plus services will be introduced in the future
Originally posted by CZT:i think 541 and 547 in bus plus would not be affected, so bus plus will still have 2 premiums and others are shuttle. Hope more bus plus services will be introduced in the future
Originally posted by Sbs6750E:
Off topic: Now the PA Lances tio chartered liao ah?
I heard they are used on seletar mall shuttle. Any additional news on where they are deployed?
Originally posted by dupdup77:Hi mr iveco, this could be attributed to LTA's own doing. They introduced the cheaper CDS routes which sort of competed directly with the premium services because of the timings and also because of the routes they implemented for CDS which bear so much similarity. For some routes, they even amended the routes for the premium services to accomodate the CDS. Cheers. Thanks.
Eh none of the SBST/SMRT premium routes were directly affected by CDS (only peak-only express routes like 850E, 951E which charge express, not premium fares, had their routes amended). Simple reason why the premium routes are being cut/transferred to private operators is because of GCM; LTA pays the bus companies to run the basic bus services so LTA expects their own buses should be running on the basic routes instead of the premium routes. In the long run I believe 513/850E/951E/982E will also be turned over to the private operators as well, following the CDS model. Cheers.
Originally posted by orange28:Eh none of the SBST/SMRT premium routes were directly affected by CDS (only peak-only express routes like 850E, 951E which charge express, not premium fares, had their routes amended). Simple reason why the premium routes are being cut/transferred to private operators is because of GCM; LTA pays the bus companies to run the basic bus services so LTA expects their own buses should be running on the basic routes instead of the premium routes. In the long run I believe 513/850E/951E/982E will also be turned over to the private operators as well, following the CDS model. Cheers.
CDS668/652 were quite similar in route to 548/549. N is much cheaper.
But LTA is the one collecting the fares. So really dun understand why LTA wan to remove premium service.
As for CDS, LTA is wasting millions of dollars yearly just to run these CDS. Even each bus is full, also can't cover the cost at all.
I would rather LTA ask those PTO to operate CDS instead. It will be much cheaper for LTA to include these CDS Under BCM instead since LTA have so much extra buses.
Originally posted by orange28:Eh none of the SBST/SMRT premium routes were directly affected by CDS (only peak-only express routes like 850E, 951E which charge express, not premium fares, had their routes amended). Simple reason why the premium routes are being cut/transferred to private operators is because of GCM; LTA pays the bus companies to run the basic bus services so LTA expects their own buses should be running on the basic routes instead of the premium routes. In the long run I believe 513/850E/951E/982E will also be turned over to the private operators as well, following the CDS model. Cheers.
Would that be extended to non-BSEP CBD "express" services? Such as 128, 868, 971E?
Let Private Operators run those Premium svc since most of their buses also got no power restriction.Road users usually give way to private buses than PTOs.
Originally posted by lemon1974:CDS668/652 were quite similar in route to 548/549. N is much cheaper.
But LTA is the one collecting the fares. So really dun understand why LTA wan to remove premium service.
As for CDS, LTA is wasting millions of dollars yearly just to run these CDS. Even each bus is full, also can't cover the cost at all.
I would rather LTA ask those PTO to operate CDS instead. It will be much cheaper for LTA to include these CDS Under BCM instead since LTA have so much extra buses.
Thanks for the info on 548/549!
I think it makes sense for the public buses to be used on basic routes where the capacity of the buses can be utilized to the maximum, as opposed to premium routes where standing is not allowed; therefore coach buses would be more useful for such CDS routes whereby the boarding/alighting activity is only at either ends of the route.
I think depending on the costs of future CDS contracts, LTA might figure that it might be cheaper for LTA to get the public bus operators to run these routes using LTA buses instead?
Originally posted by AJQZC:Would that be extended to non-BSEP CBD "express" services? Such as 128, 868, 971E?
Good question! Given 128 and 868 were launched because the MRT system is overcrowded, I doubt they would be removed before the MRT system gets upsized ...
As for 971E, I think it will remain, paired with 972 (like 10e, 30e, 196e with their parent services), since 97e that was started by SBST is still being run under the BCM by TT.
128 charges normal fares, IIRC.
Hmm my guess is that City Direct was introduced to complement the Premium bus svcs between HDB estates and Shenton Way, but at a more affordable fare so more ppl can take. Although end up being subsidised by taxpayers anyway. I think if routes like 850E turn out to be more economical under BCM, the rest of the City Direct svcs might also be operated by PTOs eventually.
Also for those foreign talents that work at CBD.
Time to bid farewell to Premium 555. Poster up at the bus stop, not sure the exact date