Loading level on buses (Part 2)

• lemon1974

  24 Mar 16, 17:03

  Originally posted by dupdup77:

  Hi mr lemon1974, sbs 43 Frequency is 5-19 min depending on time structure. Considered a massive boost. Cheers. Thanks. 

  dun be mislead by the so called 5 mins frequency during PM peak..

  only one SLOT with 5 mins frequency..few slots with 8 mins frequency and the rest are more than 10 mins frequency

  1500 1514 1529 1543 1552

  1601 1610 1618 1626 1634 1643 1652
  1701 1706 1716 1731 1747 1802 1818
  1832 1849 1905 1923 1941 1959

• dupdup77

  24 Mar 16, 17:06

  Originally posted by lemon1974:

  dun be mislead by the so called 5 mins frequency during PM peak..

  only one SLOT with 5 mins frequency..few slots with 8 mins frequency and the rest are more than 10 mins frequency

  1500 1514 1529 1543 1552

  1601 1610 1618 1626 1634 1643 1652
  1701 1706 1716 1731 1747 1802 1818
  1832 1849 1905 1923 1941 1959

  Hi mr lemon1974, yes I know. However it is still much better than last time. Cheers. Thanks.

• Sbs6750E

  24 Mar 16, 17:10

  Back in 2011/2012, every Sunday late afternoon, I always wait for 43/156 at opp Blk 968 Buangok Green. Always waited for 20-25 minutes before a 43/156 arrives.
• carbikebus

  24 Mar 16, 17:36

  43 freq varies,Once i went for observation an SD arrive at 1645,Next DD at 1653 later at 1710 SD arrive with full seatings...After that at 1726 DD with full loadings and guess what next DD with half loadings arrived at 1731 before a fully packed SD arrived at 1745.

• BusAnalayzer

  24 Mar 16, 22:58

  Originally posted by lemon1974:

  uring certain periods only... off peak is bad....15-19 mins..peak also not good

  

  when I look at this, I think it is absolutely fine.

  direction 1: peak frequency between 1700-1900 is between 5 mins to 17 mins. 17 mins would be for the buses departing close to 6pm onwards from Punggol interchange. There is 43M till NEX. By the time the bus comes to Paya Lebar already 7pm+, so most office crowd already gone. Frequency of most buses dies around 7-730pm, so this is fine. Peak frequency during main operating hours seems within respectable limit of 8-12 mins on average.

• SBS3004X

  24 Mar 16, 23:31

  Loading observations on 43 DD (SBS3050L) at 5.30 pm at Yio Chu Kang Rd

  Headway from previous bus (43): 10 mins (SD, almost packed to door)

  There was no 43M in between.

  Upper deck with 30+ pax, lower deck fully seated with a few standeds

  Total: 60-70 pax

• SBS3004X

  24 Mar 16, 23:33

  Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:

  when I look at this, I think it is absolutely fine.

  direction 1: peak frequency between 1700-1900 is between 5 mins to 17 mins. 17 mins would be for the buses departing close to 6pm onwards from Punggol interchange. There is 43M till NEX. By the time the bus comes to Paya Lebar already 7pm+, so most office crowd already gone. Frequency of most buses dies around 7-730pm, so this is fine. Peak frequency during main operating hours seems within respectable limit of 8-12 mins on average.

  5 mins is the frequency between SBS9419T (retired) and SBS3141H. Departs Punggol at 5:03 and 5:08 respecively.

• BusAnalayzer

  25 Mar 16, 09:06

  Originally posted by SBS3004X:

  5 mins is the frequency between SBS9419T (retired) and SBS3141H. Departs Punggol at 5:03 and 5:08 respecively.

  I think these DDs are timed to clear the Buangkok Green/YCK Road Industrial departures and then along Paya Lebar road... as between 5.30pm-6pm you have the major exodus of people who leave office especially in industrial estates. CBD is a bit different where admin staff leaves around 5.30-6.30pm, but white collar people leave 6.30pm+

• SBS3004X

  25 Mar 16, 16:56

  Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:

  I think these DDs are timed to clear the Buangkok Green/YCK Road Industrial departures and then along Paya Lebar road... as between 5.30pm-6pm you have the major exodus of people who leave office especially in industrial estates. CBD is a bit different where admin staff leaves around 5.30-6.30pm, but white collar people leave 6.30pm+

  Excuse me BusAnalayzer, can you please do a loading observation on service 43 (not 43M) at 5:40pm (SBS9532Z) at NEX towards Punggol. Loading seems to have increased here. Frequency is ok at this time, but during the peak at 6pm, the frequency is 12 mins and the buses are all SD. Then right at 7pm, there would be a bunching of 2 DDs on 43 and 43M each, all at the same time: SBS3795X, SBS7703K, SBS3458U, and SBS3435K.

• SBS8002T

  26 Mar 16, 12:14

  This morning while waiting for 241 at 7:30am, I observed 258 at Pioneer MRT (Blk 651A towards Joo Koon), I was surprised that 258 had 19-20 people alighting at Pioneer MRT with about 10 people on the bus towards Joo Koon.

  As of now, it doesn't seem DD worthy loading but I was surprised on 258's loading as I didn't expect so many people on board.

• array88

  26 Mar 16, 22:14

  Note: The following observations were on Good Friday, 25 Mar 2016.

   

  Observed 173 and 77 arriving at Beauty World MRT (towards Toh Tuck) together, with 77 after 173. Surprisingly, more pax boarded 77 than 173.

  Guess Bt Batok East Ave 3 residents do take DTL.

  
  

  
  

  Apparently, there are some pax at Jurong West St 61 who take 256 to Boon Lay Int. Yesterday at 6pm there were 10 pax boarding 256. Also, 256 can clear all pax at St 62 towards Boon Lay Int especially if 243G has not called (though the number is usually small). As a result, the SD that I took had standees (although it's maximum 25 pax on the bus). Expect better loading during peak hours.
  Some foreign workers also take 256 from Joo Koon to Soon Lee Dorm. I'm not sure whether they went to Joo Koon for shopping or they come from other JIS (if it's the latter, 193 at Benoi Rd can do the job).
  Surprisingly, nobody boarded 256 at Pioneer MRT.
  (Did not record down loadings as I did not expect any good loading due to PH)
• phillipC

  27 Mar 16, 09:23

  Suprised with saturday night loading for 920 and 922 at bt panjang station an bt panjang plaza as well. 

• BusAnalayzer

  27 Mar 16, 15:26

  Originally posted by SBS8002T:

  This morning while waiting for 241 at 7:30am, I observed 258 at Pioneer MRT (Blk 651A towards Joo Koon), I was surprised that 258 had 19-20 people alighting at Pioneer MRT with about 10 people on the bus towards Joo Koon.

  As of now, it doesn't seem DD worthy loading but I was surprised on 258's loading as I didn't expect so many people on board.

  You are talking about 20+10 = 30 pax on sv 258 in AM towards Joo Koon. And you call this "so many people". To be honest, 258 fetches much more pax between 7.30-8.15am towards Joo Koon. The DDs usually have between 50-70 pax on board, half of which alight at Pioneer MRT, few on Upper Jurong Road and around 25-30 pax go all the way to Joo Koon. 

  258 in opposite direction from Joo Koon has <5 pax on board on every bus during AM peak and afternoon until you hit the PM peak. 

• SBS8002T

  27 Mar 16, 17:37

  Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:

  You are talking about 20+10 = 30 pax on sv 258 in AM towards Joo Koon. And you call this "so many people". To be honest, 258 fetches much more pax between 7.30-8.15am towards Joo Koon. The DDs usually have between 50-70 pax on board, half of which alight at Pioneer MRT, few on Upper Jurong Road and around 25-30 pax go all the way to Joo Koon. 

  258 in opposite direction from Joo Koon has <5 pax on board on every bus during AM peak and afternoon until you hit the PM peak. 

  I was quite surprised with the loading on weekends as I expected lesser for weekends, though I feel that weekday loading has improved as DDs have about 30-40 people alighting at Pioneer during weekdays around 7:30am.

• carbikebus

  27 Mar 16, 19:09

  109 DDs timing need to adjust,During peak hours only a couple is packed while other DDs is not even half full and worse case the SDs behind is packed.The DDs is enough but need some adjustment.

• BusAnalayzer

  27 Mar 16, 19:27

  Originally posted by SBS8002T:

  I was quite surprised with the loading on weekends as I expected lesser for weekends, though I feel that weekday loading has improved as DDs have about 30-40 people alighting at Pioneer during weekdays around 7:30am.

  Sorry.. what I mentioned is weekday loading.. .you are right weekends loading on 258 would be lower except for those who want to go to mall at Joo Koon.

• array88

  27 Mar 16, 23:35

  I was at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 (aft Blk 304) bus stop from 3-4pm today, and had interesting observations on 130/130A.

  During this time, 130 in both directions had at least 40-50 pax per bus, probably due to Qing Ming period. However, 130A, which was introduced for the Qing Ming period, was almost empty. 130A towards AMK is still not that bad and have standees at times, but 130A towards Sin Ming is a disaster.

  Thus, I decided to take 130 from there.

  
  

  Loading on 130 to Sin Ming:

  (15:56) Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 - [+6-1] 27

  (15:58) Sin Ming Ave - [-3] 24

  (15:59) Sin Ming Dr - [-5+4] 23

  (16:01) Sin Ming Rd - [-5+2] 20, [+1] 21 (last stop for 130A), 21

  
  

  Loading on 130A back to AMK:

  (16:08) Sin Ming Rd - [+1] 1, 1 (1 pax chose not to board)

  (16:10) Sin Ming Dr - [+9] 10 (2 pax chose not to board)

  (16:12) Sin Ming Ave - [+3] 13

  (16:13) Marymount Rd - [+1] 14

  (16:14) Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 - [-2+4] 16

  (16:17) Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 - [-5] 11

  (130 that arrived 3 mins later had 15-20 pax when exiting the bus stop)

  
  

  - Of the 27 pax onboard 130 towards Shenton Way, only 13 are going to Sin Ming - which explains the difference in loading on 130 and 130A. Another reason could be that pax are not familiar with 130A and choose to board 130 instead (hence almost empty buses on 130A)

  - Return leg on 130A is ok, but a lot of people asked whether 130A goes to AMK Interchange (as EDS still shows 130A)

  
  

   

• array88

  27 Mar 16, 23:39

  Sunday night Loading on svc 166 (SBS8756B)

  (19:18) Ang Mo Kio Int - [+33] 33  (166's queue is much shorter than 169 if 169 arrives before 166. However if 169 is just after 166 then both will have 30+ pax)

  (19:24) Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 - 33, [-6+1] 28, [-2+1] 27, [-9+2] 20

  (19:30) Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 - [-1+1] 20, 20

  (19:31) Upp Thomson Rd - [+2] 22, [-6] 18, 18, 18 (opposite 980 SD 80% packed), [-1+1] 18, [+1] 19, [-3+2] 18, [+1] 19, 19

  (19:41) Thomson Rd - [+2] 21, 21, 21, [+1] 22, 22, [-1] 21, [-1+7] 27, 27, 27, [-5+1] 23 (Novena MRT, 19:48), [+2] 25 (opposite 56 SD 70% packed, 980 80% packed)

  (19:52) Keng Lee Rd - [-1+1] 25

  (19:53) Kg Java Rd - [+1] 26

  (19:54) Bt Timah Rd - [-12+2] 16 (Little India MRT)

  (19:55) Sungei Rd - [+1] 17 (Rochor MRT)

  (19:57) Bencoolen St - [-3+7] 21

  (19:58) Middle Rd - [+4] 25

  (20:00) Bras Basah Rd - [-2+4] 27 (Bras Basah MRT)

  (20:04) Nth Bridge Rd - [+4] 31 (City Hall MRT), [+2] 33

  (20:07) Sth Bridge Rd - [-6] 27, [-3] 24, [-3+3] 24

  (20:16) Neil Rd - [+1] 25, [+1] 26, [-2] 24

  (20:19) Kg Bahru Rd - [-3+1] 22, [-5+3] 20, [-2] 18, [-5] 13, 13
  (20:26) Telok Blangah Rd - [-3+16] 26 (HarbourFront MRT)

  
  

  - A handful of ppl do take 166 from AMK Int all the way to Little India / city, although I guess it's very limited

  - 166's demand at Little India is much smaller than other services, probably due to lack of dorms (although quite a number of locals travel from (Upp) Thomson Rd to Little India)

  - Most of the loading seems to be towards Kg Bahru Rd

  - 166's loading at HarbourFront is also lower than many other services

• array88

  27 Mar 16, 23:40

  (I walked to the next bus stop)

  
  

  Sunday night Loading on 131 (SBS8973R) from HarbourFront to Bukit Merah
  (21:08) Telok Blangah Rd - [+12] 51 (HarbourFront MRT), 51, [+3] 54
  (21:11) Henderson Rd - [-22] 32, [-5] 27
  (21:17) Telok Blangah Way - [-16+1] 12, [-8] 4
  (21:20) Bt Purmei Ave - [-2] 2, [+1] 3
  (21:23) Lower Delta Rd - [-1] 2, [+1] 3
  (21:26) Jln Bt Merah - 3
  Bukit Merah Int - [-3] 0

  
  

  - Surprised that 22 pax alighted at first stop along Henderson Rd, even when there's 124 that may be more direct for some people. I guess either they're too lazy to walk to HarbourFront Int or they stay closer to Henderson Rd
  - Very few alighted at Bt Purmei, guess they're already taking the more direct 123/M

• AJQZC

  27 Mar 16, 23:53

  With 150 introduced, any sightings of 15 with (or without) demand reduction along Telok Kurau?

• SMB3095S

  28 Mar 16, 17:18

  Spotted TIB1233X on 860 just now morning. The loading of the bus is 100% full while heading to Khatib MRT. 1 bendy for 860 is not enough. Need more bendies, if not double decks.

• SBS8002T

  28 Mar 16, 18:00

  While waiting for 8033D at BNL, I observed 243G loading for four buses from 5:55pm to 6:04pm

  Based on my observations: I feel that 243G (and W) should cut down the number of SD buses and do a 2 SD to 1 DD swap, today at 5:55pm, 1 BSEP citaro was fully loaded and packed to the door at 5:55pm, 3 mins later, 2989K was also packed to the door at BNL with less than 3 mins difference and the queue had about 10-15 people when 2989 left BNL

  3 mins later (6:01pm), 1 DD 243G arrived, picking about 55-60 pax, clearing the queue at 6:02pm, and 1 SD 243G (KUB) came 1 min later, picking about 20-25 pax, in my opinion, 243G has too many buses and should cut down the number of SD

• SBS8002T

  28 Mar 16, 18:33

  SBS8033D 256, boarded this bus at BNL towards Joo Koon, boarding time: 6:06pm, alighting time: 6:32pm

  
  

  All figures include myself

  
  

  BNL - 07 (+7)

  
  

  Street 62:

  Blk 665A - 07

  Opp Blk 622 - 05 (-3/+1)

  
  

  Street 61:

  Jurong West Pri - 03 (-2)

  
  

  Street 63:

  Pioneer MRT (Blk 651A) - 04 (+1)

  
  

  Pioneer Road North:

  Blk 653B - 03 (-1)

  Pioneer Junction - 04 (+1)

  Before Secura - 04

  After International Road - 04

  
  

  AYE (Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim):

  Carrier Transicold Pte Ltd - 05 (-1/+2)

  After Benoi Sector - 07 (-1/+3)

  Before Benoi Flyover - 09 (+2)

  Before Joo Koon Int - 09

  
  

  Joo Koon Int (I alighted here): 14 (9 alighted, 14 people boarded the bus towards BNL) and a DD 256 was behind 8033D at Joo Koon Int

  
  

  I feel that I have missed the peak loading from AYE to Joo Koon/Boon Lay as it is already 6pm+, though the loading is very low for both Boon Lay to St 62 and Pioneer to Joo Koon, the previous bus (SBS8068T) departed BNL at 5:48pm.

  
  

  256 does not even need DDs at all based on the loading, in my opinion, 256 can just operate on full SD with 1 more split SD or crossover SD for the AM peak and 4pm-5:30pm high loading trips if necessary

  
  

  I feel that 256 can be re-routed to ply Joo Koon - Pioneer MRT/Jurong West Street 63 (loop) instead as there is 243 to Boon Lay from St62, for St61, I think adding 1 more bus on 258 will help to boost the frequency to cover 256's deleted sector

  
  

  Proposed new 256 route:

  Joo Koon Int (follow original route until S'pore Post)

  AYE

  Pioneer Road North

  Boon Lay Way - Blk 655B

  Jurong West Street 61 (Express)

  Jurong West Street 63 - Blk 651A (Pioneer MRT)

  Pioneer Road North (follow original route all the way to Joo Koon Int)
• gekpohboy

  28 Mar 16, 18:53

  Originally posted by SBS8002T:

  While waiting for 8033D at BNL, I observed 243G loading for four buses from 5:55pm to 6:04pm

  Based on my observations: I feel that 243G (and W) should cut down the number of SD buses and do a 2 SD to 1 DD swap, today at 5:55pm, 1 BSEP citaro was fully loaded and packed to the door at 5:55pm, 3 mins later, 2989K was also packed to the door at BNL with less than 3 mins difference and the queue had about 10-15 people when 2989 left BNL

  3 mins later (6:01pm), 1 DD 243G arrived, picking about 55-60 pax, clearing the queue at 6:02pm, and 1 SD 243G (KUB) came 1 min later, picking about 20-25 pax, in my opinion, 243G has too many buses and should cut down the number of SD

  3 mins frequency is indeed over supply. If I am not wrong, feeder 241 also running at 3 mins frequency. Even the standard set by LTA for the GCM model is 6-8 mins frequency for feeder bus services.

  if 243 and 241 runs at a uniform frequency of 6 mins, they may need a full fleet of double decker buses. and I think that's enough to meet the demand.

• gekpohboy

  28 Mar 16, 19:00

  Originally posted by SBS8002T:

  SBS8033D 256, boarded this bus at BNL towards Joo Koon, boarding time: 6:06pm, alighting time: 6:32pm

  
  

  All figures include myself

  
  

  BNL - 07 (+7)

  
  

  Street 62:

  Blk 665A - 07

  Opp Blk 622 - 05 (-3/+1)

  
  

  Street 61:

  Jurong West Pri - 03 (-2)

  
  

  Street 63:

  Pioneer MRT (Blk 651A) - 04 (+1)

  
  

  Pioneer Road North:

  Blk 653B - 03 (-1)

  Pioneer Junction - 04 (+1)

  Before Secura - 04

  After International Road - 04

  
  

  AYE (Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim):

  Carrier Transicold Pte Ltd - 05 (-1/+2)

  After Benoi Sector - 07 (-1/+3)

  Before Benoi Flyover - 09 (+2)

  Before Joo Koon Int - 09

  
  

  Joo Koon Int (I alighted here): 14 (9 alighted, 14 people boarded the bus towards BNL) and a DD 256 was behind 8033D at Joo Koon Int

  
  

  I feel that I have missed the peak loading from AYE to Joo Koon/Boon Lay as it is already 6pm+, though the loading is very low for both Boon Lay to St 62 and Pioneer to Joo Koon, the previous bus (SBS8068T) departed BNL at 5:48pm.

  
  

  256 does not even need DDs at all based on the loading, in my opinion, 256 can just operate on full SD with 1 more split SD or crossover SD for the AM peak and 4pm-5:30pm high loading trips if necessary

  
  

  I feel that 256 can be re-routed to ply Joo Koon - Pioneer MRT/Jurong West Street 63 (loop) instead as there is 243 to Boon Lay from St62, for St61, I think adding 1 more bus on 258 will help to boost the frequency

  Hey my friend, if you are a full-time student and you purposely take time off to observe bus loadings, I feel that it is better that you focus on your studies. Let us do the bus observations for you. :)

  There are adults in this forum who live in Jurong West (for example, lemon1974, ashrafjj, gekpohboy, chickenlittle/CHT). The people behind Facebook pages "Buses in Singapore" and "Singapore buses" are based in Jurong West. There is a lunatic who keeps checking on bus services 179 and 179A.

  Rest assured, the bus service standard in Jurong West is in good hands. You just need to focus on doing well in your studies. :)

   

  The same goes for me, actually. I am a Polytechnic student moving on from year two to year three. As I move on to year three, I have decided that it is best that I stop writing in forums and really concentrate on my studies... I will leave soon.