LTA's Bus Service Enhancement Program - BSEP (Part 3)
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According to http://www.mytransport.sg/, there are currently 69 new bus services implemented under the BSEP, comprising of 32 trunk/feeder, 8 supplementary, 15 city-direct and 14 peak-period-short-services.
- Bus service 258 will be the 70th new bus service.
- The extension of bus service 49 will be the 71st new bus service.
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Originally posted by jurongresident:
According to http://www.mytransport.sg/content/mytransport/home/commuting/busservices/bsep.html, there are currently 69 new bus services implemented under the BSEP, comprising of 32 trunk/feeder, 8 supplementary, 15 city-direct and 14 peak-period-short-services.
Bus service 258 will be the 70th new bus service.
The extension of bus service 49 will be the 71st new bus service.
I would not consider peak-period short services as new bus services (to be precise, it is routes)...they just merely follow most of the route of their parent feeder services. Also, note that some supplementary services are just extension of operating hours and not new routes as they were originally introduced by the bus companies themselves before BSEP started.
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Originally posted by Gus.chong:
I would not consider peak-period short services as new bus services (to be precise, it is routes)...they just merely follow most of the route of their parent feeder services. Also, note that some supplementary services are just extension of operating hours and not new routes as they were originally introduced by the bus companies themselves before BSEP started.
Thanks for the clarification.I have researched further.
Apparently, supplementary bus services and peak-period-short-services are NOT new bus services.
Let me correct my statement.
There are currently 47 new bus services launched under the BSEP - 32 by the PTOs, 15 City Direct bus services.
- Bus Service 258 is the 48th new bus service.
- The extension of bus service 49 is the 49th new bus service.
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Beyond the extension of bus service 49, there are five confirmed new City Direct bus services and there are five confirmed new bus services by the PTOs. (as of 19/11/15)
After the above five new City-Direct bus services have been launched, there will only be new bus services by the PTOs as all the 20 City-Direct bus services would have been launched.
This means there will be twenty six new bus services (80 - 49 - 5) by the PTOs launched under the BSEP, after 22 November 2015.
The areas with new BTO (Build-To-Order) flats that currently have limited or no bus service are as follows:
- Punggol North-West.
- Seng Kang North-West.
- Hougang North (Buangkok).
- Yishun South.
- Yishun West.
- Sembawang South-East (Canberra).
- Woodlands South-East.
- Choa Chu Kang South.
- Bukit Batok North-West.
- Tampines West.
- Tampines North-West.
- Toa Payoh East (Bidadari)*.
While the list is not exhaustive, these twelve areas are where I think the new bus services are likely to be introduced.
The other areas are Changi Business Park, Seletar, Tuas, Bulim, Clean Tech Park, etcetera.
Meanwhile, I think there will be new bus services launched in developed areas (eg. Jurong, Bedok, etcetera.) to enhance bus connectivity there.
*Anyway, BSEP is only until year 2017. I do not think Bidadari is covered by BSEP, at least this round of BSEP.
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Originally posted by jurongresident:
Beyond the extension of bus service 49, there are five confirmed new City Direct bus services and there are five confirmed new bus services by the PTOs. (as of 19/11/15)
After the above five new City-Direct bus services have been launched, there will only be new bus services by the PTOs as all the 20 City-Direct bus services would have been launched.
This means there will be twenty six new bus services (80 - 49 - 5) by the PTOs launched under the BSEP, after 22 November 2015.
The areas with new BTO (Build-To-Order) flats that currently have limited or no bus service are as follows:
- Punggol North-West.
- Seng Kang North-West.
- Hougang North (Buangkok).
- Yishun South.
- Yishun West.
- Sembawang South-East (Canberra).
- Woodlands South-East.
- Choa Chu Kang South.
- Bukit Batok North-West.
- Tampines West.
- Tampines North-West.
- Toa Payoh East (Bidadari)*.
While the list is not exhaustive, these twelve areas are where I think the new bus services are likely to be introduced.
The other areas are Changi Business Park, Seletar, Tuas, Bulim, Clean Tech Park, etcetera.
Meanwhile, I think there will be new bus services launched in developed areas (eg. Jurong, Bedok, etcetera.) to enhance bus connectivity there.
*Anyway, BSEP is only until year 2017. I do not think Bidadari is covered by BSEP, at least this round of BSEP.
IMO, these will be some of the services required. Time period: 2017
1. Service to cater to Yishun Ave 1 & Yishun st 51 (feeder)
2. Service to cater to Canberra Estate (this will be a short trunk from Sembawang to Yishun via Canberra Estate - could also be 860 extension)
3. Connect Yew Tee and BPJ MRT, could extend further to Bukit Batok (177 can be extended and made full day, with 177M operating to MINDEF)
4. CBP service to Tanah Merah and beyond maybe to Bedok estate
5. CBP service to Punggol via Tampines
6. Feeder service to Matilda estate
7. 386 extension/diversion to cover Waterway HDB at Edgedale Plains end or new feeder to Edgedale Plains end (personally prefer the first)
8. Connect Buangkok Link HDBs with Buangkok MRT & maybe beyond to Sengkang west town. This is to complement 101 and provide closest MRT connection
9. Trunk service for Sengkang West town along West Way to connect to AMK or YCK (alternative to current sv 50 that is already crowded)
10. Feeder service connecting CCK Ave 7 and CCK Grove to CCK MRT (could also connect to BPJ MRT depending on routing)
11. Possible extension of sv 700 to CCK via Keat Hong
12. Trunk service to Segar/Senjar apart from 972 (could be diversion/extension of existing service such as 41/171)
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Extra registration on 2 Nov 2015:
(Skipped SBS3483X - SBS3486M, SBS3494P, SBS3497G)
SBS3487K
SBS3488H
SBS3489E
SBS3490A
SBS3491Y
SBS3492U
SBS3493SSBS3495L
SBS3496JSBS3498D
SBS3499B
SBS3500E -
Bus Service 258. The loading on bus service 258 is encouraging.
Even with double decker buses, the loading at Jurong West Street 81/82/75/64 is high towards Boon Lay Bus Interchange, and medium towards Joo Koon Bus Interchange. 
It is only the first day. 
When more people become aware of this new bus service, I expect an even higher loading. 
At Jurong West Street 81/71/61, the loading is low.
Nonetheless, during peak hours on weekdays, I expect it to be medium as a large number of people would use it to travel between Pioneer MRT Station and their homes. I am confident that the section of bus service 258 between Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Pioneer MRT Station is at least an investment that would neither gain nor lose value for the taxpayers; the amount of revenue collected would at least be the internal rate of return.
Whereas for the section of bus service 258 between Pioneer MRT Station and Joo Koon Bus Interchange, which is 6.3km (3.1 + 3.2) and constitutes to 45% (6.3 * 100 / 14) of the route, I think it is an investment that would likely subtract value for the taxpayers.
I have not seen the loading at that section yet, but based on my prior experience on bus service 193 at the same bus stops along Upper Jurong Road, the loading is likely between zero and low. 
I guess only up to around 5.625% of the total costs could be recovered from this section. 
In total, it is likely that the revenue collected on bus service 258 is only able to recover up to 70.625% of the costs; it is likely to operate at a loss of at least 29.375%.
I recommend that we extend the route of bus service 258 further on Upper Jurong Road and loop around Tuas Flyover.
This would enable bus service 258 to pick up around medium amount of loading from Singapore Discovery Centre and Pasir Laba Flyover, and collect revenue that is at least able to recover the costs of operating bus service 258 between Pioneer MRT Station and Upper Jurong Road. -
Originally posted by jurongresident: Bus Service
258.
The loading on bus service 258 is encouraging.
Even
with double decker buses, the loading at Jurong West Street
81/82/75/64 is high towards Boon Lay Bus Interchange, and medium
towards Joo Koon Bus Interchange. It is
only the first day. When
more people become aware of this new bus service, I expect an even
higher loading. At Jurong West Street 81/71/61, the loading is low.
Nonetheless, during peak hours on weekdays, I
expect it to be medium as a large number of people would use it to
travel between Pioneer MRT Station and their
homes. I am confident that the section of bus service 258 between Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Pioneer MRT Station is at least an investment that would neither gain nor lose value for the taxpayers; the amount of revenue collected would at least be the internal rate of return.
Whereas for the section of bus service 258 between Pioneer MRT Station and Joo Koon Bus Interchange, which is 6.3km (3.1 + 3.2) and constitutes to 45% (6.3 * 100 / 14) of the route, I think it is an investment that would likely subtract value for the taxpayers.
I have
not seen the loading at that section yet, but based on my prior
experience on bus service 193 at the same bus stops along Upper
Jurong Road, the loading is likely between zero and
low. I guess only up to around one-eighth of the
total costs (or 5.625%) could be recovered from this
section. In total, it is likely that the revenue collected on bus service 258 is only able to recover up to 70.625% of the costs; it is likely to operate at a loss of at least 29.375%.
I recommend that we extend the route of bus service 258 further on Upper Jurong Road and loop around Tuas Flyover.
This
would enable bus service 258 to pick up around medium amount of
loading from Singapore Discovery Centre and Pasir Laba Flyover, and
collect revenue that is at least able to recover the costs of
operating bus service 258 between Pioneer MRT Station and Upper
Jurong Road. Thanks for posting a quick update on the loading. It is not surprising that loading will be high towards Boon Lay Interchange. Surprise, surprise, why? It just copies route of 243W. This is the same argument of 143M/143/79. 143M can have some buses with very high loading, but then 143 at the back will be empty. 258 loading in this sector cannot be measured in isolation.
For 258 to be of use, the loading needs to be good between Joon Koon and Pioneer, and Pioneer and st 81. Otherwise it is a failed service. Actually, 258 could have just looped around Soon Lee / Kim Tian estate. Did not need to go to Joo Koon as you pointed out the loading in that sector is pretty low.
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Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:
Thanks for posting a quick update on the loading. It is not surprising that loading will be high towards Boon Lay Interchange. Surprise, surprise, why? It just copies route of 243W. This is the same argument of 143M/143/79. 143M can have some buses with very high loading, but then 143 at the back will be empty. 258 loading in this sector cannot be measured in isolation.
For 258 to be of use, the loading needs to be good between Joon Koon and Pioneer, and Pioneer and st 81. Otherwise it is a failed service. Actually, 258 could have just looped around Soon Lee / Kim Tian estate. Did not need to go to Joo Koon as you pointed out the loading in that sector is pretty low.
Actually... I feel that the total amount of revenue (around $130 - if there around twenty people per bus, each person pays around $0.50 on average, and each bus makes around 13 trips in a day) collected per bus on bus service 258 in a day is at least enough to recover the costs of fuel for the day.
The costs of 18-litre (assuming each bus refuel two times) fuel is around $11.70 (around $0.65 * 18). Maintenance costs should be up to $100. Bus driver costs should be up to $67. Total Costs per bus = $178.70.
Right now, on the current route, bus service 258 suffer a loss of $48.70 per bus (or around $300 in total) in a day.
Well, if we could extend the route of bus service 258 to collect revenue from another "pot of gold", I feel that bus service 258 can actually break-even, or even make profit (this one have to factor in costs of procuring and fitting the bus).
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Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:
Thanks for posting a quick update on the loading. It is not surprising that loading will be high towards Boon Lay Interchange. Surprise, surprise, why? It just copies route of 243W. This is the same argument of 143M/143/79. 143M can have some buses with very high loading, but then 143 at the back will be empty. 258 loading in this sector cannot be measured in isolation.
For 258 to be of use, the loading needs to be good between Joon Koon and Pioneer, and Pioneer and st 81. Otherwise it is a failed service. Actually, 258 could have just looped around Soon Lee / Kim Tian estate. Did not need to go to Joo Koon as you pointed out the loading in that sector is pretty low.
That's why for svc 258, the part between pioneer and joo koon is questionable. More importantly, the freq is 10-12 mins.. For people staying in st 81/75, I think many people will prefer to take to Boon Lay rather than to pioneer or even joo koon.
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Originally posted by jurongresident:
Actually... I feel that the total amount of revenue (around $130 - if there around twenty people per bus, each person pays around $0.50 on average, and each bus makes around 13 trips in a day) collected per bus on bus service 258 in a day is at least enough to recover the costs of fuel for the day.
The costs of 18-litre (assuming each bus refuel two times) fuel is around $11.70 (around $0.65 * 18). Maintenance costs should be up to $100. Bus driver costs should be up to $67. Total Costs per bus = $178.70.
Right now, on the current route, bus service 258 suffer a loss of $48.70 per bus (or around $300 in total) in a day.
Well, if we could extend the route of bus service 258 to collect revenue from another "pot of gold", I feel that bus service 258 can actually break-even, or even make profit (this one have to factor in costs of procuring and fitting the bus).
I have a suggestion!
Suggestion: Merge bus services 258 and 192.
Skip 192's independent section between Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Pioneer MRT Station. Skip 258's independent section between Joo Koon Bus Interchange and Upper Jurong Road. The combined bus service ply the entire Upper Jurong Road and then use AYE to Tuas Road, then continue on 192's route towards Tuas.
The combined bus service is very likely to at least break even. :)
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Originally posted by chickenlittle2:
For people staying in st 81/75, I think many people will prefer to take to Boon Lay rather than to pioneer or even joo koon.
If you take bus service 241 in the morning on a weekday, you would notice that when the bus is at the bus stop at blk 700+ along Pioneer Road North, there is a large number of people wanting to take the bus to Pioneer MRT Station.
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To cut long story short, rest assured, the loading on bus service 258 between Jurong West Street 81 and Pioneer MRT Station during peak hours should be around medium.
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Originally posted by jurongresident:
If you take bus service 241 in the morning on a weekday, you would notice that when the bus is at the bus stop at blk 700+ along Pioneer Road North, there is a large number of people wanting to take the bus to Pioneer MRT Station.
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To cut long story short, rest assured, the loading on bus service 258 between Jurong West Street 81 and Pioneer MRT Station during peak hours should be around medium.
Yes, I agree the link to st 81 and pioneer mrt stn is good but just that the freq is too long for such a trunk svc. In fact, taking Svc 243G to switch at that bus stop could still be faster. Of course, not to have some weird guy keep spamming and ranting to LTA/SBS to increase the no of trips for 179A, then it should make travelling more convenient than before.
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Originally posted by chickenlittle2:
Yes, I agree the link to st 81 and pioneer mrt stn is good but just that the freq is too long for such a trunk svc. In fact, taking Svc 243G to switch at that bus stop could still be faster. Of course, not to have some weird guy keep spamming and ranting to LTA/SBS to increase the no of trips for 179A, then it should make travelling more convenient than before.
Well, when I first saw the frequency of bus service 258, I was disappointed. I was expecting it to be like the other Jurong-Industrial bus services, which have frequencies of around 7 minutes during morning peak hours.
Nonetheless, I feel that bus service 258 could still be of good use for bus connection between Pioneer MRT Station and Jurong West Street 61/71/81 if we know the arrival times.
The "MyTransport" mobile phone application by the LTA informs us about the arrival times of bus services. Bus Service 258 arrival times are available. We could use that to check what time the bus would arrive and be at the bus stop when the bus is about to come. :)
I am looking forward to see the timetable of bus service 258 on SBS Transit website, so that I could go out at the right time and not have to wait long for the bus to come. :)
However, the mobile phone application and website require internet connection. Not everyone has internet connection.
It would be good if the bus arrival times for bus service 258 could be shown at the bus pole, like how the arrival times for express bus services are shown, so that more people can have access to the bus arrival times.
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Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:
Thanks for posting a quick update on the loading. It is not surprising that loading will be high towards Boon Lay Interchange. Surprise, surprise, why? It just copies route of 243W. This is the same argument of 143M/143/79. 143M can have some buses with very high loading, but then 143 at the back will be empty. 258 loading in this sector cannot be measured in isolation.
For 258 to be of use, the loading needs to be good between Joon Koon and Pioneer, and Pioneer and st 81. Otherwise it is a failed service. Actually, 258 could have just looped around Soon Lee / Kim Tian estate. Did not need to go to Joo Koon as you pointed out the loading in that sector is pretty low.
Went out to try bus service 258 to Joo Koon Bus Interchange. Around ten people board at Street 81 and that's about it. Almost everyone alighted at Pioneer MRT Station bus stop.
Between Pioneer MRT Station and Joo Koon Bus Interchange, there is absolutely no boarding or alighting.
At Joo Koon Bus Interchange, a few people alighted, but I can tell you, they are only there to see the bus interchange.
Board another bus 258. Same scenario. No boarding or alighting, until Street 81.
Really, I do not think many people know that there is this bus service 258. If there is strong awareness, the loading between Joo Koon Bus Interchange and street 81 would be stronger.
There are a lot of people taking bus 182 at Upper Jurong Road. These people will take 258.
There would have been a lot of people taking 258 from street 81 to Pioneer MRT Station, but after they know the frequency, I think they don't want already.
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Originally posted by jurongresident:
Went out to try bus service 258 to Joo Koon Bus Interchange. Around ten people board at Street 81 and that's about it. Almost everyone alighted at Pioneer MRT Station bus stop.
Between Pioneer MRT Station and Joo Koon Bus Interchange, there is absolutely no boarding or alighting.
At Joo Koon Bus Interchange, a few people alighted, but I can tell you, they are only there to see the bus interchange.
Board another bus 258. Same scenario. No boarding or alighting, until Street 81.
Really, I do not think many people know that there is this bus service 258. If there is strong awareness, the loading between Joo Koon Bus Interchange and street 81 would be stronger.
There are a lot of people taking bus 182 at Upper Jurong Road. These people will take 258.
There would have been a lot of people taking 258 from street 81 to Pioneer MRT Station, but after they know the frequency, I think they don't want already.
The industrial belt on Upper Jurong will need a bus service more to Pioneer MRT. But now you have 192, 258, 99 all serving Upper Jurong - a bit of an over kill. I agree with your suggestion. There was no need of a 258. 192 could have been diverted via st 75/81/71 to Pioneer MRT. Job would have been done.
Doesn't seem like a well planned route, but let's see in a month. If there is a sizeable population working at Joo Koon / JIS along st 75/81/71, they might prefer 258 to go directly to Joo Koon and change to 182/254/255/253/257 (I am not sure if these numbers would be high enough to warrant a dedicated service).
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Hi. I have created a video about bus service 258. I have uploaded it onto YouTube.
Here is the address:
Enjoy! :)
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Service 502 will be extended. dupdup77's objection is denied
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Originally posted by BusAnalayzer:
The industrial belt on Upper Jurong will need a bus service more to Pioneer MRT. But now you have 192, 258, 99 all serving Upper Jurong - a bit of an over kill. I agree with your suggestion. There was no need of a 258. 192 could have been diverted via st 75/81/71 to Pioneer MRT. Job would have been done.
Doesn't seem like a well planned route, but let's see in a month. If there is a sizeable population working at Joo Koon / JIS along st 75/81/71, they might prefer 258 to go directly to Joo Koon and change to 182/254/255/253/257 (I am not sure if these numbers would be high enough to warrant a dedicated service).
Considering that 192 and 258 serve BOTH Pioneer and Joo Koon MRT stations, why not divert one of them to serve Pioneer Rd Nth --> Kian Teck Way / Ave / Rd instead? Then Kian Teck gets covered, while only 3 pairs of bus stops along Upp Jurong Rd are skipped.
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Originally posted by AJQZC:
Considering that 192 and 258 serve BOTH Pioneer and Joo Koon MRT stations, why not divert one of them to serve Pioneer Rd Nth --> Kian Teck Way / Ave / Rd instead? Then Kian Teck gets covered, while only 3 pairs of bus stops along Upp Jurong Rd are skipped.
Well, if after a while bus service 258 still does not collect enough revenue in a day to break even the costs of operations, I feel that it would be wise to merge 258 with 192 (the new one), while re-route 192 to ply AYE towards Tuas Road, before it continues on the original route. The residential area and the industrial area can help the combined bus service collect revenue that can at least break even the costs of operations. :)
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Hi everyone. How is the extension of bus service 49? If you had tried it today, do share with us your experience on the extension. :)
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Originally posted by Haxx189SBS3296U:
Service 502 will be extended. dupdup77's objection is denied
Why do you think service 502 will be extended? Please provide at least one valid reason to support your claim.
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I have somehow anticipated one's comeback but sadly, no, someone just failed to see through his colours.
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Originally posted by Gus.chong:
I have somehow anticipated one's comeback but sadly, no, someone just failed to see through his colours.
I know right? I think a better way is to simply let him be. He only wants attention. So, let's play reverse psychology, where we keep asking him why he say this, why he say that. LOL. Eventually, he will become exhausted and would leave.
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Originally posted by jurongresident:
Well, if after a while bus service 258 still does not collect enough revenue in a day to break even the costs of operations, I feel that it would be wise to merge 258 with 192 (the new one), while re-route 192 to ply AYE towards Tuas Road, before it continues on the original route. The residential area and the industrial area can help the combined bus service collect revenue that can at least break even the costs of operations. :)
While you have suggested merging 192 and 258, I had to take some time figuring what will the route be and it turns out to be something like what is mentioned in the Joo Koon thread...I was wondering if you have read my comment from two weeks ago, but I will show you where it is again. Link is here.