Amendments to Express 520
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Today, I saw that cardboard posters about service 520 were put up at bus stops, but I was travelling home on 806, and couldn't get a good look at it.
Do anyone know what is it about? I hope it is high time it is withdrawn....its a blood- sucking service that is not even fast at all. -
Hey,
Im not sure if the poster i saw was about 520. But I think it should be.. Im not sure how are the 520 loads doing, could you u brief me?
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It could be another service 521 >> 963 thing. I hope it will be extended to serve Sembawang, but it's just a hope anyway.Originally posted by TIB1186Z:Today, I saw that cardboard posters about service 520 were put up at bus stops, but I was travelling home on 806, and couldn't get a good look at it.
Do anyone know what is it about? I hope it is high time it is withdrawn....its a blood- sucking service that is not even fast at all. -
Basically, during the peak hours, the load is not fantastic, but all I can say is that during the evening peak, about half of the seats are taken at Khatib MRT in a Hispano 0405. I have seen buses with only 3 pax when 520 goes onto SLE during the morning peak.Originally posted by TropicalSQ744:Hey,
Im not sure if the poster i saw was about 520. But I think it should be.. Im not sure how are the 520 loads doing, could you u brief me?
However, Bendys are commonly deployed during the morning peak, but I think its the case of like using Double Decks on svc 501 or 502 during normal times.
It takes a loop round the entire Ring Rd, and is super curcitous, hence the fare goes sky high, and it takes a very long time to reach Chinatown. -
Ic.. I totally agree, TIBS is showing us that it is cash greedy by putting 520 on a feeder route which not only wastes time but also cheats those passengers who do not know it is an express service.Originally posted by TIB1186Z:Basically, during the peak hours, the load is not fantastic, but all I can say is that during the evening peak, about half of the seats are taken at Khatib MRT in a Hispano 0405. I have seen buses with only 3 pax when 520 goes onto SLE during the morning peak.
However, Bendys are commonly deployed during the morning peak, but I think its the case of like using Double Decks on svc 501 or 502 during normal times.
It takes a loop round the entire Ring Rd, and is super curcitous, hence the fare goes sky high, and it takes a very long time to reach Chinatown.
Plus now with the NEL, I'm not surprised that TIBS is reviewing its operations on 520, considering that taking the NEL to Dhoby Ghaut and then MRT to Yishun would take almost the same time as 520 or maybe be even faster. The bendies on 520 during morning peak is definately a waste of resources. With service 39 coming up now, TIBS should transfer those bendies to 969 in order to compete with SBS. -
FYI 520 have NOT have had any bendies since beginning of this year already... so all talk about 520 bendies going to 969 or any other service is just castles in the air because 520 has NO bendies at all!
And in case you dont know, 520 draws buses from the 851 fleet to operate during the morning and evening peak hours. Each of these buses revert back to 851 after one trip on 520. These are usually Dennis Lances or O405 CAC's.
And I end the speculation here - 520 is to be withdrawn on 24th Aug. Thats what is said in that poster some of you saw from faraway but could not see clearly.
And ya lay your hands off my 851 bendies will ya?
Those buses should remain in 851 where they are REALLY needed and not go to 969 to join in some wasteful tit-for-tat fight with SBST. -
Originally posted by AntiDennisLance:FYI 520 have NOT have had any bendies since beginning of this year already... so all talk about 520 bendies going to 969 or any other service is just castles in the air because 520 has NO bendies at all!
And in case you dont know, 520 draws buses from the 851 fleet to operate during the morning and evening peak hours. Each of these buses revert back to 851 after one trip on 520. These are usually Dennis Lances or O405 CAC's.
And I end the speculation here - 520 is to be withdrawn on 24th Aug. Thats what is said in that poster some of you saw from faraway but could not see clearly.
Hello, have u been out these few months and have a good look at the EDS? Or did u mistaken the Bendys as those from svc 811?
I am very very very damn certain that svc 520 has Bendys almost every Saturday morning for the first 3 months of the year..........unless my eyesight is so bad that i see "520" as "806""800""806"..
In fact, TIB1058, 1019 and some 11XX Bendys are regulars on svc 520.
And ya lay your hands off my 851 bendies will ya? Those buses should remain in 851 where they are REALLY needed and not go to 969 to join in some wasteful tit-for-tat fight with SBST. -
There u said it yourself - first 3 months of the year. Now it is August. So it is true that 520 have no Bendys.Originally posted by TIB1186Z:Hello, have u been out these few months and have a good look at the EDS? Or did u mistaken the Bendys as those from svc 811?
I am very very very damn certain that svc 520 has Bendys almost every Saturday morning for the first 3 months of the year..........unless my eyesight is so bad that i see "520" as "806""800"&q uot;806"..
In fact, TIB1058, 1019 and some 11XX Bendys are regulars on svc 520.
What you observed were Saturday treats - 1058 is permanently on 812 and 1019 is permanently on 854. They were merely cameos and do not belong to the 851/520 fleet. 1138 is permanently 851 so there is no suprise that once in a blue moon it appears on 520.
I take 520/851 almost every morning so I definitely know better.
If you dont believe me, I invite u for one weekday morning and one Saturday morning to sit with me at a 520 bus stop, sip coffee/tea with breakfast and talk about buses while spotting the whole 520 fleet. You will be appalled to find that they are mostly Dennis Lances with almost every seat filled by the time they leave Yishun. -
Aiya Gerald, don't need to get so work up lahz! So Sv. 520 is to be withdrawn 2 weeks from now? Actually I support withdrawal of ALL express services, they are Express in NAME only, and charge insane fares when I can take the MRT down faster and cheaper.
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No lah I am not worked up... just want to debunk some myths regarding that Bendy on 520 thing.Originally posted by SBS9818A:Aiya Gerald, don't need to get so work up lahz! So Sv. 520 is to be withdrawn 2 weeks from now? Actually I support withdrawal of ALL express services, they are Express in NAME only, and charge insane fares when I can take the MRT down faster and cheaper.
520 is actually quite useful... when you are in a hurry to get home and is totally anti-MRT. But as you said the downside is that it is ridiculously expensive plus the 20 minutes headway if you just missed one.
Now that 520 is going to be withdrawn, 851 should be having a less constantly changing fleet. -
Express 520 will be operating its last day of service on Saturday 23 August. I believe the reason why it is to be withdrawn is to reduce waste of resources, due to the duplication of route of service 851, and Little India, Bugis Junction, Chinatown is easily accessible by MRT.
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Express 520 will be operating its last day of service on Saturday 23 August. I believe the reason why it is to be withdrawn is to reduce waste of resources, due to the duplication of route of service 851, and Little India, Bugis Junction, Chinatown is easily accessible by MRT.
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I think the bus companies shouldn't call any of their services Express anymore...with traffic jams and top speed restriction of only 60kmh even on expressways, which's rediculous.
Melbourne's(Aus) public buses are allowed to travel on Freeways(expressways) just like any other vehicle with speed limit of 100kmh, and some services are indeed express coz they travel on Freeways and have limited stops during peak hours, yet they did not call it Express or charge higher fares... -
Yes, esp some svc such as "Express" 502 that does not even goes on expressway and only skips a few bus stops.Originally posted by SBS3688Y:I think the bus companies shouldn't call any of their services Express anymore...with traffic jams and top speed restriction of only 60kmh even on expressways, which's rediculous.
Melbourne's(Aus) public buses are allowed to travel on Freeways(expressways) just like any other vehicle with speed limit of 100kmh, and some services are indeed express coz they travel on Freeways and have limited stops during peak hours, yet they did not call it Express or charge higher fares...
Some normal trunk svc travel much faster than express services, such as 969,965,161,168,858,36 etc.
Express services are just to earn back their cash after purchasing new buses fast, for example, VSOs like SBS9888 and 9800 were put on express 502 and 501 when it was first introduced and continue until it was withdrawn, and SBS2888 still remains with express 518. -
Express 502 after amendment is HARDLY express anymore.Originally posted by TIB1186Z:Yes, esp some svc such as "Express" 502 that does not even goes on expressway and only skips a few bus stops.
Some normal trunk svc travel much faster than express services, such as 969,965,161,168,858,36 etc.
Express services are just to earn back their cash after purchasing new buses fast, for example, VSOs like SBS9888 and 9800 were put on express 502 and 501 when it was first introduced and continue until it was withdrawn, and SBS2888 still remains with express 518. -
Remember the SBS svc390 incident few years back??
many people complained abt this service withdrawal...
and SBS Leisure introduced the AIRBUS which eventually received poor response and was withdrawn....
SBS later played ard with the alternatives to the airport with svc16, 16E&36..... -
I dun recall anything abt svc 390....Can anyone pls tell me abt the route?Originally posted by SBS3688Y:Remember the SBS svc390 incident few years back??
many people complained abt this service withdrawal...
and SBS Leisure introduced the AIRBUS which eventually received poor response and was withdrawn....
SBS later played ard with the alternatives to the airport with svc16, 16E&36.....
I still recall that a lot of advertising went into the blue Airbuses.....response initially was quite good but tapered off sharply after some time, and a lot od $ was spent advertising the unique"kneeling" of the bus chassis.
However, I still recall vividly abt. svc 16E with its Volvo Mk 3s, and svc 36 seemed like a premier svc when it was first introduced not very long ago.....used all the new buses at that time like 9xx Mk4s, SBS1688T etc. -
Service 390 was withdrawn in 1993. It is a full-air-con service. It's route: Changi Airport PTB Coach Park - Tomlison Rd [loop]Originally posted by TIB1186Z:I dun recall anything abt svc 390....Can anyone pls tell me abt the route?
I still recall that a lot of advertising went into the blue Airbuses.....response initially was quite good but tapered off sharply after some time, and a lot od $ was spent advertising the unique"kneeling" of the bus chassis.
However, I still recall vividly abt. svc 16E with its Volvo Mk 3s, and svc 36 seemed like a premier svc when it was first introduced not very long ago.....used all the new buses at that time like 9xx Mk4s, SBS1688T etc.
Changi Airport PTB 1 and 2, Airport Blvd, ECP, Temasek Blvd, Raffles Blvd, Raffles Ave, Stamford Rd, Orchard Rd, Penang Rd, Somerest Rd, Orchard Link, Orchard Blvd, Tomlinson Rd, Tanglin Rd, Orchard Rd, Bras Basah Rd, Raffles Blvd, Republic Blvd, ECP, Airport Blvd and Changi Airport PTB 1 and 2.
Current service 36 is former service 16E, with a change in route to become mostly similar to former service 390. -
Hmmmm.... I see that it does not operate from the basement terminal like the rest.....and SBST added in the MArine Parade sector to generate more pax and $$, but it also makes it very convenient and fast for pax to go from the city to Marine Parade straight.Originally posted by tranquilice:Service 390 was withdrawn in 1993. It is a full-air-con service. It's route: Changi Airport PTB Coach Park - Tomlison Rd [loop]
Changi Airport PTB 1 and 2, Airport Blvd, ECP, Temasek Blvd, Raffles Blvd, Raffles Ave, Stamford Rd, Orchard Rd, Penang Rd, Somerest Rd, Orchard Link, Orchard Blvd, Tomlinson Rd, Tanglin Rd, Orchard Rd, Bras Basah Rd, Raffles Blvd, Republic Blvd, ECP, Airport Blvd and Changi Airport PTB 1 and 2.
Current service 36 is former service 16E, with a change in route to become mostly similar to former service 390.
Thanks very much for the info, but is it a normal trunk svc or express, and what buses does it use? Scania L113s or the usual Volvos? -
In my memory, service 390 uses Scania N113 OACs throughout it's lifetime with SBS. Only services 16 and 16E uses Volvo MK3s. If I'm not wrong, Scania N113s also appeared on service 16 and 16E.Originally posted by TIB1186Z:Hmmmm.... I see that it does not operate from the basement terminal like the rest.....and SBST added in the MArine Parade sector to generate more pax and $$, but it also makes it very convenient and fast for pax to go from the city to Marine Parade straight.
Thanks very much for the info, but is it a normal trunk svc or express, and what buses does it use? Scania L113s or the usual Volvos? -
Sv. 390 used OAC N113CRBs during the last days of its life. XYZ will be able to give you the regos. I thought Sv. 390 turned into Sungei Rd from Selegie Rd?
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I never remembered svc 390 going to Sungei Rd...I don't know whether you've mistaken svc 23 for 390??Originally posted by SBS9818A:I thought Sv. 390 turned into Sungei Rd from Selegie Rd?
anyway; svc 23 plys bet Tampines interchange via PIE, Bendemeer Rd, Serangoon Rd, before looping at Sungei Rd; which's in front of Sim Lim Sq bus-stop before turning back to Little India... -
I know Sv. 23 route quite well, I take it often. Not sure about Sv. 390 though, will have to check it out again.Originally posted by SBS3688Y:I never remembered svc 390 going to Sungei Rd...I don't know whether you've mistaken svc 23 for 390??
anyway; svc 23 plys bet Tampines interchange via PIE, Bendemeer Rd, Serangoon Rd, before looping at Sungei Rd; which's in front of Sim Lim Sq bus-stop before turning back to Little India... -
The earliest I could recall (I think was in 1990 - I was only 9 yrs old then - just after SBS increased fares from 80c to 90c), Sv 390 plied between Changi Airport and Grange Road terminating at Pierce Road Carpark. I'm not sure when Sv 390 was amended to loop at Tomlinson Road.Originally posted by SBS9818A:I know Sv. 23 route quite well, I take it often. Not sure about Sv. 390 though, will have to check it out again.
Svc 23 used to loop at Tomlinson Road too before it was amended later on to loop at Rochor Canal Road. -
Svc 390 did use Mercedes Benz MB O405 (Walter Alexander bodies) for a while. I recall riding on them (Changi Airport - Tomlinson Road - back to Changi Airport for only 45cents) before validators were installed in them. (MB WAs had no floor riser where the validators were placed. Being young then, I remember my feet were hanging in the air)Originally posted by off_service:In my memory, service 390 uses Scania N113 OACs throughout it's lifetime with SBS. Only services 16 and 16E uses Volvo MK3s. If I'm not wrong, Scania N113s also appeared on service 16 and 16E.
Before that Volvo Mk IIs (both with Duple Metsec and Walter Alexander bodies) were deployed on Svc 390.
Earlier than that, I have no idea which buses were used on Svc 390. Perhaps someone older than me could answer that.