Hi guys,
"The LTA has come up with a new initiative to allow students to keep track of bus arrivals. It's called : 'The Bus Arrival Information on SMS".
It allows you to check bus arrival times on a real time basis for both SBS Transit and SMRT services. The Bus Arrival Information on SMS service was launched by LTA on 17th October 2008.
Currently only available at selected bus-stops along the academic belt (from Clementi MRT Station to Bukit Batok MRT Station via Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) as well as from Buona Vista MRT Station up to Nanyang Technological University (NTU)) from 4am to 1am daily.
This service is free during the 6 month trial period from October '08 to March '09. Thereafter, service is chargeable. Each SMS request sent to 77722 will be considered as 1 SMS and standard telco charges apply.
Check out http://www.publictransport.sg/public/ptp/en/Mobile.html for the instructions.
Along with this new initiative, LTA also launched a one-stop online portal – http://www.publictransport.sg which provides round-the-clock integrated public transport information.
For more information on these services, visit http://www.publictransport.sg."
Information Extracted From: LTA and Public Transport@SG
Perhaps those who have tried the service can post their comments and share their experiences and views here.... Haha
Originally posted by lianamaster:Hi guys,
"The LTA has come up with a new initiative to allow students to keep track of bus arrivals. It's called : 'The Bus Arrival Information on SMS".
It allows you to check bus arrival times on a real time basis for both SBS Transit and SMRT services. The Bus Arrival Information on SMS service was launched by LTA on 17th October 2008.
Currently only available at selected bus-stops along the academic belt (from Clementi MRT Station to Bukit Batok MRT Station via Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) as well as from Buona Vista MRT Station up to Nanyang Technological University (NTU)) from 4am to 1am daily.
This service is free during the 6 month trial period from October 08 to March 09. Thereafter, service is chargeable. Each SMS request sent to 77722 will be considered as 1 SMS and standard telco charges apply.
Check out http://www.publictransport.sg/public/ptp/en/Mobile.html for the instructions.
Along with this new initiative, LTA also launched a one-stop online portal – http://www.publictransport.sg which provides round-the-clock integrated public transport information.For more information on these services, visit www.publictransport.sg."
Information Extracted From: LTA and Public Transport@SG
Quite good huh, SBST the iris charge money 5 cent then this one free.I will support this programme.
Originally posted by SBS8033D:Quite good huh, SBST the iris charge money 5 cent then this one free.I will support this programme.
Well...
The catch is that not all bus-stops have this service. Currently, the few bus-stops that are in pilot test are those located along the routes along NP, NUS and NTU. Once the pilot test is over, I am sure LTA will impose a surcharge equivalent or higher than SBST's IRIS system. So sian...
This renders what I made useless :(...or maybe I could modify it to use LTA's information :o.
.
Originally posted by Vigelic:i don't think LTA will impose any surcharge if they roll it out. i mean, it's like they are trying so hard to make public transport better than driving so they wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot right.
what did n4l make?
Apparently, from the news I get, there will definitely be a surcharge after the trial period of 6mths. It's a matter of how much.
Originally posted by Vigelic:i don't think LTA will impose any surcharge if they roll it out. i mean, it's like they are trying so hard to make public transport better than driving so they wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot right.
what did n4l make?
Originally posted by n4l:
It's really amazing how techies can really come up with their own methods to complement the methods adopted by the local govt. agencies. U guys are really something... Too bad that I am lousy in this field, otherwise I can devise some IRIS system myself .. Haha...
Originally posted by lianamaster:
It's really amazing how techies can really come up with their own methods to complement the methods adopted by the local govt. agencies. U guys are really something... Too bad that I am lousy in this field, otherwise I can devise some IRIS system myself .. Haha...
I haven't got the time to work on it with the coming exams. Shall have time to work and improve it :)..
Meanwhile I've only opened it to several people.
Tried the new SMS service at around 1:45pm along AYE at bus-stop opp ITE Dover.
I wouldn't say that the service is 100% accurate 'cos in my sms it said that service 197 is Arr but I had to wait for like 3 mins before it really arrived. I feel that SBST's IRIS is slightly better but since the current LTA's version is free... I'm ok with it..
woot
On trial when SBS's IRIS up for 21 mths le
anyway why choose e acad belt of NP/ SP/ NUS & NTU?
Originally posted by ^tamago^:even iris will also show Arr when it might take 3 mins to come. just to be safe.
Oic... Thanks.
Originally posted by lianamaster:Tried the new SMS service at around 1:45pm along AYE at bus-stop opp ITE Dover.
I wouldn't say that the service is 100% accurate 'cos in my sms it said that service 197 is Arr but I had to wait for like 3 mins before it really arrived. I feel that SBST's IRIS is slightly better but since the current LTA's version is free... I'm ok with it..
I think it's already listed somewhere (I think SBST website) that "arriving" is from time T to T+3 minutes.
However, I still doubt the accuracy... because...
LTA SMS-BA: 151 (13 minutes)
SBS Transit iris: 151 (7 minutes)
Originally posted by sbst275:woot
On trial
when SBS's IRIS up for 21 mths le
anyway why choose e acad belt of NP/ SP/ NUS & NTU?
cos there's a concentration of tertiery institutions in the west?
Originally posted by service_238:
cos there's a concentration of tertiery institutions in the west?
Yes.... Interestingly although there are more tertiary institutions and factories in the West, there's certainly no doubt that there are more good food and shopping centres in the city and the East..... Haha
Originally posted by lianamaster:
Yes.... Interestingly although there are more tertiary institutions and factories in the West, there's certainly no doubt that there are more good food and shopping centres in the city and the East..... Haha
If not how the MRT make money? more peeps live in the east study and work in the west.
Originally posted by off_service:I think it's already listed somewhere (I think SBST website) that "arriving" is from time T to T+3 minutes.
However, I still doubt the accuracy... because...
LTA SMS-BA: 151 (13 minutes)
SBS Transit iris: 151 (7 minutes)
Oic...
Actually I tried the SMS service again this afternoon at about 3pm. I was intending to board service 198 from bus stop opp ITE Dover. I stood at the bus-stop and I SMSed for the info. It mentioned that 198 was arriving in 6 minutes. So, I decided to take the time to open my bag for a quick bite of my sandwich, thinking that 5 mins is enough time to finish that up. Never did I expect once I had my first bite, the bus (SBS 2653 D) come already. Aiyo... now have to stuff everything in my mouth. Looks like there's certainly no 100% accuracy in estimation of bus timings.... Haha...
Originally posted by lianamaster:Oic...
Actually I tried the SMS service again this afternoon at about 3pm. I was intending to board service 198 from bus stop opp ITE Dover. I stood at the bus-stop and I SMSed for the info. It mentioned that 198 was arriving in 6 minutes. So, I decided to take the time to open my bag for a quick bite of my sandwich, thinking that 5 mins is enough time to finish that up. Never did I expect once I had my first bite, the bus (SBS 2653 D) come already. Aiyo... now have to stuff everything in my mouth. Looks like there's certainly no 100% accuracy in estimation of bus timings.... Haha...
like what off_service said.. SBST's iris is more accurate though not 100% accurate at times.
There are too many points of failure, they have no way to control buses on the road and SMS delay problem. This SMS program is to generate additional revenue for them and excuse to increasing bus fare again :< this FANTASTIC program even has a website to support it (publictransport@SG). Maybe very soon they will launch another SMS program for us to vote for best bus service like Singapore Idol. GOOD $$$ ha…
Originally posted by super2501:There are too many points of failure, they have no way to control buses on the road and SMS delay problem. This SMS program is to generate additional revenue for them and excuse to increasing bus fare again :< this FANTASTIC program even has a website to support it (publictransport@SG). Maybe very soon they will launch another SMS program for us to vote for best bus service like Singapore Idol. GOOD $$$ ha…
Well... I tried the service at school and so far it's working well... But of course, when it comes to technology like this, nothing is 100% reliable.
I guess the LTA gave a 6-month free trial mainly because they want to use this period to gather any complaints/feedback so that they can iron out any technical difficulties or problems that might arise along the way; so that by the time they fully implement it across the island, hopefully the service will be efficient and accurate.
That's how they tested the ez-link system as well. They don't roll out a new system without any trial testing. Of course, errors are inevitable.
Hence, these 6 months are crucial to the success of the new system. If anyone has any problems, don't hesititate to let them know so that they can tweak the problems asap, especially during the 6mth buffer period.
I wonder why such service can get disrupted? BTW.. service is FREE for now.
Last few chances to SMS for bus arrivals for free...
So far so good, I would say... though also not 100% accurate...
The SMS never come back to me after the first 1 or 2 months of trial. I gave up after the 2nd SMS never came back.