More SBS Transit WAB services from December November 29, 2009
Posted by hafizbam in Bus, Deployment Updates, SBS Transit.Tags: SBS Transit, wheelchair-accessible bus
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The following eight SBS Transit bus services will be formally classified as wheelchair-accessible effective 3rd December 2009:
13: Yio Chu Kang – Bishan – Upper East Coast Road
15: Pasir Ris – Kaki Bukit – Marine Parade Road
36: Changi Airport – Marine Parade – Tomlinson Road
52: Bishan – Upper Thomson - Jurong East
54: Bishan – Thomson – New Bridge Road
57: Bishan – HarbourFront – Bukit Merah
291: Tampines – Tampines Street 83 & 33
333: Jurong East – Jurong East Street 32
The launch date has been timed to coincide with this year’s World Disability Day.
There is no formal press release by the company yet, though you can see this update here.
SMRT, Brickston likely to run Singapore’s first hybrid buses November 15, 2009
Posted by hafizbam in Bus, Fleet News, Miscellaneous, Private operators, SBS Transit, SMRT, Something New, Transport Events.Tags: ALP Energy, Brickston Transport, hybrid bus, King Long, smrt buses, ST Kinetics
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LATEST UPDATE:
ST Kinetics has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between itself, King Long Singapore and Brickston Transport Services which will see Brickston becoming Singapore’s first bus company to trial a fleet of King Long low-floor city buses fitted with ST Kinetics’ hyPower hybrid electric technology.
Why private operator Brickston seems to be so keen in getting these low-floor city buses remains a question though, since it currently deals mainly with coach charter services such as worker transport. It could be just a way to reduce costs (since the hybrid bus has proven to be able to save up to 30% in fuel consumption) or the start of bigger things to come – like bidding for public bus services when the industry is opened up in the near future.
ST article photo, scanned by Lau Kai Guan.
THE DIESEL-ELECTRIC BUSES CONSUME 30% LESS FUEL AND ARE DISABLED-FRIENDLY
JUST a week after a taxi operator rolled out Singapore’s first hybrid taxis, two green buses are set to hit the roads here.
The buses, which run on a combination of diesel and battery power, are said to use up to 30 per cent less fuel than conventional ones.
As a result, their tailpipe emissions, which are harmful to the environment, will also be cut.
The buses, assembled in China, were the result of a joint venture led by ST Kinetics, a Singapore engineering company better known for its military vehicles.
ST Kinetics teamed up with two other companies to make the hybrid buses: Chinese bus-maker King Long, which supplied the chassis, and ALP Energy, which supplied the lithium battery management system.
The latter is owned by Singapore-born businessman Lim Loong Keng, who is now a Canadian.
ST Kinetics is currently in talks with two bus operators about running trials for the buses.
The Straits Times understands they are SMRT Corp and Brickston Transport, a company whose main business is ferrying factory workers.
ST Kinetics hopes to convince the two firms of the buses’ viability during the trial, and hopes they will order more such coaches in future.
Brickston’s owner Colin Gan, 50, is already swayed by the prospect of lower running costs. ‘First and foremost, it can save fuel. And then it’s also green.
‘I’ve told them, if everything is set, I’m prepared to take 10 coaches.’
An SMRT spokesman would say only that the firm was ’studying the feasibility of adding eco-friendly alternatives, including hybrid buses, to our bus fleet’.
ST Kinetics has dabbled in so-called ‘alternative energy’ vehicles in the past. Since 1997, it has invested more than $80 million in start-ups dealing with such vehicles in the United States, China and South Korea.
Last year, it had a commercial breakthrough when it delivered a fleet of hybrid baggage tow trucks to Changi Airport. In electric mode, the trucks were found to be suitable for the enclosed, air-conditioned areas they often operate in.
The two hybrid buses will be the first diesel-electric vehicles to ply public roads here. The hybrid cars and taxis here are petrol-electric.
Besides their green credentials, the buses also comply with the latest government requirements for public buses – they provide wheelchair-accessibility, for example.
The one drawback of the buses: Cost. At $500,000 apiece, they are between 25 per cent and 30 per cent more expensive than conventional buses.
Bus operators The Straits Times spoke to cited this as a potential hurdle to adopting the vehicles. The uncertainty of the new technology is another, they added.
However, ST Kinetics general manager Mah Chi Jui pointed out that the vehicles’ lower fuel costs mean long-term savings for the operators.
A bus company would take just three years to recoup the extra money spent on a green bus, he said.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s biggest bus company, SBS Transit, said it is also exploring the possibility of buying hybrid buses.
The company has some experience with green buses – SBS Transit already runs 12 compressed natural gas variants here.
In addition, its parent group, ComfortDelGro Corp, owns London public bus operator Metroline, which is currently trying out five hybrid buses there.
A ComfortDelGro spokesman said the London trials have been successful.
Between them, SBS Transit and SMRT operate close to 4,000 buses. There are another 2,500 or so private buses with 35 seats or more. The vast majority run on diesel.
- The Straits Times, page B1, Saturday November 14 2009
Eight more SBS Transit wheelchair accessible services October 18, 2009
Posted by hafizbam in Bus, Deployment Updates, SBS Transit.Tags: SBS Transit, wheelchair-accessible bus
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Official press release from SBS Transit.
The following SBS Transit routes will officially become wheelchair accessible bus (WAB) services from Monday 26 October 2009.
3 : Tampines – Pasir Ris – Punggol
27 : Hougang Central – Sengkang – Tampines – Changi Airport
34 : Punggol – Tampines – Changi Airport
53 : Bishan – Hougang South – Pasir Ris – Changi Airport
142 : Toa Payoh – Potong Pasir
293 : Tampines feeder service
358 : Pasir Ris feeder service
410 : Bishan – Upper Thomson Road feeder service
They join the other 22 SBS Transit services which are already WAB services:
2, 7, 12, 14, 21, 51, 64, 72, 76, 80, 123, 130, 143, 147, 174, 183, 185, 196, 198, 199, 232 and 268;
as well as 7 SMRT Buses WAB services:
171, 172, 189, 307, 811, 851 and 945.
Unlike wheelchair accessible bus routes in London where the whole bus fleet is as such once the route is converted to WAB, passengers-in-wheelchairs in Singapore still have to look out for the wheelchair logo decal to ascertain whether the bus they intend to board is meant for them.
Regular maintenance plus dual-depot controls and a relatively big fleet of non-wheelchair accessible buses still in operation can still mess up the WAB schedules from time to time, resulting in lengthened gaps between one WAB and another.
SBS Transit Premium buses to use Cecil Street October 4, 2009
Posted by hafizbam in Route Amendment, SBS Transit.Tags: SBS Transit, Premium Bus, shenton way, cecil street, robinson road, hub synergy point
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SBS Transit Premium buses will no longer serve Robinson Road.
In a move that is likely to reduce journey time and reduce congestion along Robinson Road, SBS Transit will be amending the route of all its 21 Premium bus services to serve Cecil Street instead of Robinson Road from Monday 5 October 2009.
As a result, the buses will call at three new bus stops along Anson Road and Cecil Street, but skip four bus stops along Robinson Road and outside Hub Synergy Point.
Whether this change will result in more smiles or frowns (from those who have to walk further to their offices as a result) remains to be seen.
Click here for the press release.
Singapore F1 Night Race: Road Access & Public Transport Guide September 14, 2009
Posted by hafizbam in Bus, Miscellaneous, Route Amendment, SBS Transit, SMRT, Transport Events.Tags: Bugis, bus service diversion, City Hall, CityLink Mall, Esplanade, F1 singapore, Formula 1, free shuttle bus, Land Transport Authority, LTA, Marina Square, SBS Transit, Singapore Flyer, Singapore Night Race, SMRT, Suntec City
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Essential information on F1 road closures and public transport changes from 23rd to 29th September:
- Land Transport Authority Press Release
- Road Access & Public Transport Guide
- SBS Transit train and bus services during F1 NEW!
- SBS Transit bus service updates during F1
- SMRT train, bus and taxi services during F1 NEW!
- SMRT train service extension schedule during F1 NEW!
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With less than two weeks left to the much anticipated Formula 1 night race at Singapore’s Marina Bay, much preparations for the event have been carried out, including joint press releases for bus service diversions by both SBS Transit and SMRT – one of the few instances where collaboration between the two is much appreciated.
As per last year, there will be similar road closures around the area. Buses will be diverted to ply the fringes of Suntec City; the nearest alternative convenient stops being those around North Bridge Road and Raffles City. There will also be special free bridging shuttle bus services connecting the Suntec City and Marina Square shopping centres to the nearest MRT stations at Bugis and City Hall, though you would be better off walking through the CityLink Mall.
And as always, SBS Transit will run special feeder bus services in selected housing estates to complement the last train timings.
Quoted from the LTA press release:
Public Transport
Q1. What are the public transport options available during the road closure period?
A The public transport system will continue to operate during the period of the road closure. The capacity of the MRT will be able to cope with the increase in numbers turning to the trains as a mode of transport during the period of the closure, although during peak periods some passengers may not be able to board the first train that arrives. LTA and the MRT Operators will monitor the train passenger loadings closely and make adjustments where possible.
Basic bus services serving the Marina Bay area will be diverted to ply the fringes of road closures. For the convenience of public assessing Marina Bay area, a free bridging bus service will be provided to connect City Hall and Bugis MRT stations to the area from 23 to 29 September 2009.
Q2. Which public bus services will be affected? What are their diverted routes?
A A total of 27 basic bus services will be affected by the road closures. These bus services will be diverted either to parallel routes or to the fringe of the road closures, such as the bus stops closest to the Suntec City / Marina Centre area that will continue to be accessible during the road closure. For commuters going to the Suntec City / Marina Centre area, the average walking distance is about 600-800 metres, and less than 400 metres via the free bridging shuttle bus service.
Q3. Will there be an increase in frequency of the MRT services to and from City Hall and Raffles Place MRT stations? Is this a safe frequency to operate at?
A We expect that there will be sufficient capacity to handle any increase in ridership from the road closures. However, as the NSEWL is already running at maximum capacity during the weekday peak-within-peak period of about half an hour in the mornings and evenings, commuters may experience some difficulty in boarding the first train to arrive at their station during the peak-within-peak periods. They should be able to board the next train, after a 2 to 3-minute wait.
For the other times of the weekdays as well as during the race weekend, LTA is working with the PTOs to run more train trips where possible to increase passenger capacity of our train network. LTA and the MRT Operators will also monitor the train passenger loadings closely and make adjustments where possible.
Our train systems are designed to operate safely at the planned frequencies.
Bridging service
Q4 What frequency will the bridging bus run at? Is this enough to cope with the expected increase in commuter traffic?
A The bridging service was planned to be operated at a frequency of 10 to 12 minutes if traffic enroute permits. As it would be faster on foot for most destinations in Marina Bay area, the bridging service will offer an alternative for the public, especially the elderly and those travelling with young children.
SBST iris NextBus during F1 race road closures September 9, 2009
Posted by hafizbam in SBS Transit, Transport Events.Tags: Suntec City, SBS Transit, Formula 1 race, F1 night race, iris NextBus, Marina Bay
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Good news for both car owners and public transport commuters. This year, there will less road closures in the vicinity of Suntec City/Marina Bay during the much anticipated Formula 1 night race later this month, though it is expected that bus services into Suntec City would most likely be diverted away from the area as per last year.
While the diversion and closure plans have yet to be released, bus operator SBS Transit has already announced the temporary suspension of its real-time bus arrival information facility during the F1 period.
The press release as follows:
Due to the F1 race road closures, 27 basic bus services – 10, 10e, 14, 14e, 16, 36, 56, 57, 70, 70M, 97, 97e, 100, 107, 107M, 111, 128, 130, 131, 133, 162, 162M, 195, 196, 196e, 502, 518 – as well as Nite Owl and Premium Services – will be affected. iris NextBus will not be available for these affected services from 23 to 28 September 2009.
iris NextBus users who send SMSes for any of the affected services during this period will receive an SMS to inform them that there is no bus arrival information. The incoming SMS will not be charged.
