The full title was initially intended to be "Has BSEP resulted in more congested bus interchanges/terminals?", but due to word limit for thread titles, we'll just stick with infrastructure.
I feel that this issue does deserve a thread of its own given its great disparity compared to other issues related to BSEP such as its overall benefits and disadvantages to bus service standards.
Since 2012, the BSEP has saw the introduction of more than 50 new/amended bus services around Singapore to enhance connectivity between residential estates, industrial estates, the CBD and MRT/LRT stations.
However, the addition of more bus services may also have resulted in greater congestion in existing bus interchanges/terminals. While interchange expansions have been announced for Punggol, Sengkang & Tampines and other bus interchanges/facilities are only used temporarily: to be replaced by possibly larger or unfortunately smaller-sized bus interchange/terminal facilities.
Excluding the addition of BSEP buses to existing non-BSEP services, the BSEP saw the addition of the following list of bus services to the following bus interchanges/terminals:
Bus Interchanges
Certain interchange i wander they manage to fit the bus services like 120,121,122 at NBR. SBW got a lot of space so no worries. WRI cant fit anymore buses already. 904 is enough. CCK gonna explode already like Tampines. Bishan also.
But i kept wondering if they keep adding buses on already congested interchange, wouldnt it be inconvenient for the BC to rush time and then have to wait behind HC buses like bendies and DDs and especially peak hour where buses have to wait at most 5 mins just to get to their berth or their rest time or meal time.
Originally posted by SBS7557R:The full title was initially intended to be "Has BSEP resulted in more congested bus interchanges/terminals?", but due to word limit for thread titles, we'll just stick with infrastructure.
I feel that this issue does deserve a thread of its own given its great disparity compared to other issues related to BSEP such as its overall benefits and disadvantages to bus service standards.
Since 2012, the BSEP has saw the introduction of more than 50 new/amended bus services around Singapore to enhance connectivity between residential estates, industrial estates, the CBD and MRT/LRT stations.
However, the addition of more bus services may also have resulted in greater congestion in existing bus interchanges/terminals. While interchange expansions have been announced for Punggol, Sengkang & Tampines and other bus interchanges/facilities are only used temporarily: to be replaced by possibly larger or unfortunately smaller-sized bus interchange/terminal facilities.
Excluding the addition of BSEP buses to existing non-BSEP services, the BSEP saw the addition of the following list of bus services to the following bus interchanges/terminals:
Bus Interchanges
- Bedok: 35/35M (as additions)
- Bishan: 50
- Boon Lay: 256, 258 (loop)
- Bukit Batok: 990
- Bukit Panjang: 972, 979
- Choa Chu Kang: 301, 983
- HarbourFront: 123M (123/124 as SBST's additions)
- Hougang Central: 102, 116, 324
- Joo Koon*: 258 (99, 182/182M, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257 as SBST's additions)
- Jurong East: 41, 49, 143M
- Punggol: 50, 117, 118, 119, 382G/382W, 386
- Sembawang: 117
- Sengkang: 371 (with 119 taken out)
- Tampines: 4, 20
- Toa Payoh: 141
- Woodlands Regional: 904
- Yishun: 103, 803, 860
Bus Terminals
- Changi Business Park*: 47, 118
- Kent Ridge: 201 (with 189 ceased to loop)
- Lorong 1 Geylang: 11 (with additions), 140, 141
- New Bridge Road: 120, 121, 122
*New interchanges/terminals added after the implementation of BSEPHas the LTA failed to consider whether existing bus interchanges/terminals will become more congested with the addition of more bus services under the BSEP? Feel free to discuss the traffic conditions and space constraints of any of the above bus interchanges/terminals, as well as measures that can be implemented to improve the conditions.
35 and 35M operate at different timings, therefore overall it is still considered one service at any point of time and did not add on to the total services operating before the extension.
Boon Lay Interchange overall has two fewer bus services as 182/182M, 254, 255 and 257 were taken out as well.
As for Bukit Panjang, I agree there is more confusion and congestion, but due to DTL2, the bus services may be spreaded out among the bus stops built, though whether the confusion issue will be settled still remains to be seen in 2016.
Changi Business Park can still hold two more services, though it occurs to me that BSEP mostly operate services to new areas; this is what I suppose SBS Transit may have also intended to do.
I would agree overall BSEP has led to more congestion at certain interchanges.
Apart from what you have listed, they have randomly added many buses to certain services that were doing fine just to please MP or crowds to show improvement.
Classic example is 222/285/291/293 that all received PPSS + got many fleet add. Through lot of observations, most of this seems unecessary causing severe bunching, empty buses and wasted resources.
I support introduction of new services, though some have been poorly planned, while the recent lot is quite decent (think LTA has some what learned from its mistakes).
Sorry, but, no.
Our Singapore Government already know that there would not be enough capacity at the bus interchanges, terminals and depots to accomodate every new bus service and the net increase in number of buses. That is why they have constructed new bus depots (and bus parks), and are constructing more. That is why they have constructed Changi Business Park Bus Terminal, and are constructing more. That is why they are constructing extensions at some bus interchanges and terminals in the East, and I belive they will upgrade the capacity of bus interchanges and terminals in the West in tandem with developments as currently there is no need.
In other words, your argument is not valid.
Well IMO, the only congested interchange i feel is Boon Lay, so many bus svcs but parking lot wise also very bad. You look at the End on berths, during peak hour 198 can come in 5 buses at once and no place to even alight the passengers (dont mention parking for breaks) then some 198 still need change to 198A and still is all about waiting for its turn to go in and park for a good 5 to 10 mins before it departs. Every svc only got 2 lots def no space.
As for the boarding side, parking also limited. Peak hour come, 3 or 4 buses doing alighting the rest all queue outside until the library there.
Punggol is now a mayhem... It now handles triple the amount of buses as compared to 2011
This is adding on to non-BSEP svcs, i.e. svc 82 and 84.
I really hope Punggol will get a new ITH.
Isnt Buangkok under planning/construction? If so I recommend several services eg. 118 to divert there to free up space for Punggol.
BSEP svcs in Tampines dont even have proper boarding berths... While PSR still has ample space to spare
Some of the bus interchanges are already in a big mess. This was even before the implementation of BSEP.
Woodlands Regional Interchange, the only underground bus interchange, has seen plenty of bendies and rigids trying to clear the load of pax heading to Republic Poly. Service 902 maintains at least 3 O405G Hispano Habits along with 4 A22s. Service 966 used to be spammed with a number of rigids initially, but has since changed from full fleet A22s into a mix of E500s and A22s.
Another bus interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange has its share of problems. The berth closest to Northpoint Shopping Centre had been allocated to Service 800, 804 and later 804A (now 806). Service 804 in particular, has a very heavy loading near North View Secondary. Service 804A was introduced to counter that. Service 804 had also been upgraded into full fleet bendies. Service 806 has went the same way, full fleet bendies as well. In view of the heavy loading on 804 and 806, 800 was moved to another berth sharing with service 856 and 859. Being one of oldest interchanges, Yishun Bus Interchange was not equipped to handle massive buses. Moreover, 800, 804, 806, 856 and 859 had bendies deployed with 3 services having full fleet bendies. 859 was reduced to full fleet rigids.
Originally posted by SMB128B:Punggol is now a mayhem... It now handles triple the amount of buses as compared to 2011
This is adding on to non-BSEP svcs, i.e. svc 82 and 84.
I really hope Punggol will get a new ITH.
Isnt Buangkok under planning/construction? If so I recommend several services eg. 118 to divert there to free up space for Punggol.
BSEP svcs in Tampines dont even have proper boarding berths... While PSR still has ample space to spare
If Punggol Terminal is a mayhem, then what is Bukit Panjang Terminal?
Service 4 and 20 has boarding berths shared with 3 other services, just that there are no proper queues for them.
Originally posted by SMB145B:If Punggol Terminal is a mayhem, then what is Bukit Panjang Terminal?
Service 4 and 20 has boarding berths shared with 3 other services, just that there are no proper queues for them.
Svc 4 and 20 dont even have proper seats and queues etc... The queue for svc 20 often stretch to Mcdonalds, and collides with the queue for Mcdonalds... In the long run its gonna cause many accessibility problems...
Svc 4 is equally bad especially at PM peak. Queues for svc 4 and 28 often gets too long and mixed up.
Wait for next year lo for the extension,Im sure at least 4 service can shift there..
Originally posted by SMB128B:Svc 4 and 20 dont even have proper seats and queues etc... The queue for svc 20 often stretch to Mcdonalds, and collides with the queue for Mcdonalds... In the long run its gonna cause many accessibility problems...
I always wonder why they put 20 in that berth... It could have jolly well used berth B6 which was for svc 8.
Svc 20 could have shifted to CBP and loop at Tampines liao, its better that way or extend the service beyond Tampines
Originally posted by carbikebus:Wait for next year lo for the extension,Im sure at least 4 service can shift there..
Long time ago should have shift the svcs alr... Svc 20 clearly could be extended to PSR for higher catchment... Also can serve Tampines what!
Tampines traffic alr clogged like crazy... With extension ah...
Haiz...
Originally posted by array88:
I always wonder why they put 20 in that berth... It could have jolly well used berth B6 which was for svc 8.
You mean the sawtooth birth that svc 8 used to use for a short while?
Svc 8 can extend to Pasir Ris also...
There is a berth used by service 31A.
Originally posted by SMB128B:You mean the sawtooth birth that svc 8 used to use for a short while?
Yes... Although that berth is now used by 31A, I believe can squeeze in one more svc.
Originally posted by TIB 585L:Svc 20 could have shifted to CBP and loop at Tampines liao, its better that way or extend the service beyond Tampines
I believe 20 still loops at CBP in order to serve both Changi South Ave 4 and Changi Business Pk.
Originally posted by SMB145B:...O405G Hispano Habits along with 4 A22s. Service 966 used to be spammed with a number of rigids initially, but has since changed from full fleet A22s into a mix of E500s and A22s. Another bus interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange has its share of problems....
(Incomplete quoting due to site rendering error, will repair it later)
There is really a much easier way to settle this for Yishun - just direct some of the load to Khatib MRT, so commuters who just want to transfer between MRT and buses to home / work can do so at Khatib. Instead of the need to crowd at Yishun. (Probably the same at Woodlands / Admiralty / Marsiling. It just shows poor utilizing of bus-MRT system.)
Which is what I had in mind when I suggested this route enhancement.
Originally posted by SMB145B:Some of the bus interchanges are already in a big mess. This was even before the implementation of BSEP.
Woodlands Regional Interchange, the only underground bus interchange, has seen plenty of bendies and rigids trying to clear the load of pax heading to Republic Poly. Service 902 maintains at least 3 O405G Hispano Habits along with 4 A22s. Service 966 used to be spammed with a number of rigids initially, but has since changed from full fleet A22s into a mix of E500s and A22s.
Another bus interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange has its share of problems. The berth closest to Northpoint Shopping Centre had been allocated to Service 800, 804 and later 804A (now 806). Service 804 in particular, has a very heavy loading near North View Secondary. Service 804A was introduced to counter that. Service 804 had also been upgraded into full fleet bendies. Service 806 has went the same way, full fleet bendies as well. In view of the heavy loading on 804 and 806, 800 was moved to another berth sharing with service 856 and 859. Being one of oldest interchanges, Yishun Bus Interchange was not equipped to handle massive buses. Moreover, 800, 804, 806, 856 and 859 had bendies deployed with 3 services having full fleet bendies. 859 was reduced to full fleet rigids.
The new Yishun temp interchange is much smoother than the original one. Even though the number of services has increased + frequency of buses, it doesn't seem a huge mess. One of the reasons is many of the bendies have been replaced with rigids and sv 856/857 have got DDs. So fewer bendies, fewer problems.
WRI also major issue is because of bendies.
Originally posted by carbikebus:Svc 8 can extend to Pasir Ris also...
No need. Too long a route and how will you extend to Pasir Ris. Connection between ave 7 and Temasek will go. There is 15 from Temasek to Pasir Ris.
Originally posted by shellstation:Svc 4 is equally bad especially at PM peak. Queues for svc 4 and 28 often gets too long and mixed up.
Actually sv 4 and 39 queues can be interchanged. 39 seldom has people in its queue. sv 4 has long queue and can get longer in eve after 19/37 cease to operate.
Originally posted by array88:I believe 20 still loops at CBP in order to serve both Changi South Ave 4 and Changi Business Pk.
If has to start from CBP Terminal, can do CBP and Changi South in both directions.