Transport planning is an unenviable task of balancing the needs of commuters with the efficient use of resources. While unprofitable and underutilized bus routes have been curtained in the past, the recent move to amend Services 22, 65, 66 and 506 has struck discord with residents of Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah, Bedok and Tampines, with members of the public calling for a stop to these arrangements.
The implemented amendments
As announced on 22 November 2021, Bus Services 22 and 506 would be amended to terminate at Eunos and Serangoon respectively. Bus Service 65 would be amended to cover lost sectors of Service 22 between Tampines Regional Centre and residential blocks along Tampines Avenue 4. In addition, Bus Service 66 would be shortened to Beauty World, removing its Beauty World – Bedok sector.
Prior to the opening of the Downtown Line (DTL), residents of Bedok and Tampines Towns have long relied on a combination of the East West Line (EWL), Circle Line (CCL) and other major trunk bus services to travel to and from the city and residential towns in the Northern and Western regions of Singapore. As commuters have been used to having direct bus options, public reactions to these bus route cutbacks were overwhelmingly negative, as seen from reactions to the Facebook posts from SBS Transit over the route changes to Bus Services 22, 65 and 506, as well as from Tower Transit Singapore over the route change to Bus Service 66.
On the same day when the amendments were first publicised, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) published posters on their Facebook page and Instagram account regarding the planning of bus routes and why bus routes are amended from time to time, indirectly hinting at the rationale behind the route changes due to take place as part of the Downtown Line Stage 3 bus rationalisation.
Our take on Service 506
Reasons for retaining Service 506
Many residents of Bukit Batok and Bedok Reservoir rely on Service 506 as the most direct and fastest option between the Eastern and Western regions of Singapore. The loss of Service 506 will mean the loss of a direct bus service between the East and West. Despite charging higher fares as an Express service, most people see the higher fares as a worthwhile expense, with the benefit of a direct bus link between the far ends of the island.
For Bukit Batok and Bedok Reservoir residents, the alternatives offered to Service 506 include transferring to Service 5 at Jln Toa Payoh, or Service 59 at Lor 6 Toa Payoh, or transferring to the MRT for “long haul travel”. However, the need to transfer between multiple bus routes or between bus/train is an added inconvenience to Bukit Batok and Bedok Reservoir residents. This also increases travel time to destinations in the East and West of Singapore. It should also be noted that travelling along the EWL and DTL between the eastern and western regions of Singapore requires passing through many major MRT stations the City, which increases overcrowding on both MRT lines.
Reasons for amending Service 506
1. Availability of existing public transport connections
The Eastern region of Singapore already benefits from relatively strong public transport connections. Apart from alternative rail connections via the Circle Line (which bypasses the City), several full-day bus services like Services 5, 59, 966 and 985 offer direct connections between the East and West, such as Bedok Reservoir, Toa Payoh, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Batok, Eunos and Marine Parade.
Currently, LTA’s approach to building up the public transport network revolves around the hub and spoke model, where the rail network forms the backbone of the public transport network, and feeder bus services connecting these transport nodes with residential estates. This concept allows more origin and destination pairs to be served, by transferring between different modes of public transport (bus or train) that can be maintained at high frequencies.
2. Duplicity of existing bus routes
Service 506 is fully duplicated by other bus routes along key sectors of its route, such as:
- Service 5: between Jln Toa Payoh and Jln Eunos / Bedok Reservoir Rd
- Services 8, 59: between Lor 6 Toa Payoh and Jln Eunos / Bedok Reservoir Rd
- Service 45, 46: between Bedok North Ave 3 and Upp East Coast
- Service 25, 46: between Bedok South Ave 3 and Upp East Coast
By using other trunk bus services plying the expressway to the City, destinations served by Bus Service 506 can be reached from Bedok Reservoir with 1 transfer, or from Bedok North / South with two transfers at most.
3. Ridership decline post-DTL3
After the DTL Phase 3 opened in October 2017, there was a sharp decline in ridership for bus services that run parallel to the MRT line.
The low ridership is evident from ground observations, with only small numbers of passengers taking Service 506 along the PIE express sector between Bedok Reservoir and Toa Payoh. Furthermore, most passengers do not travel beyond Bedok Reservoir, and are thus travelling along sectors duplicated by Service 25, 45 or 46. The LTA would have access to accurate ridership data through farecard information when passengers tap in and tap out on the card readers when boarding and alighting.
On the other hand, Services 5, 8 and 59 remain well patronised after the opening of the DTL3, and thus were not earmarked for rationalisation.
4. In line with bus rationalization efforts over the years
The rationalization of Bus Service 506 is in line with LTA’s past efforts to rationalize bus routes following the opening of new rail lines. For example, many bus services along the Serangoon Road corridor were curtailed or discontinued following the opening of the North East Line (NEL) in 2003.
However, rationalization efforts in recent years have been far less aggressive, with measures limited to reducing the number of high-capacity buses on MRT-duplicating bus routes, as was the case for the Downtown Line Stage 2 and 3.
Main Article: Rationalisation of Bus Service Operations
Route amendment to Services 22 & 65
The route amendment to Service 65 is necessary to bridge lost bus connections between Tampines MRT and Tampines Ave 4, with the route cutback of Service 22 to Eunos.
However, the amended Service 22 heavily duplicates existing Service 61 between Ubi Ave 2 and Eunos, which already experiences low utilisation along the specific sector. As a result, the amended Service 22 is expected to suffer from similarly low demand between Eunos and Ubi. Moreover, Service 63/63M already operates at a much higher frequency, making it more favoured as a connection between Eunos and Ubi. This situation mirrors the amended route of Service 76 to Eunos via Sims Ave/Geylang Rd in 2016, which heavily duplicated the routes of Services 24, 28, 154 and 155.
Alternatives
One alternative is to amend Service 22 to serve Ubi Ave 3, connecting the factories along Ubi Ave 3 to Eunos MRT station. This amendment will help to alleviate the high passenger demands of Services 58 and 137, and reduce its route duplication with Services 61 and 63/63M.
Another alternative is to extend the route of Service 22 to Bedok, replacing the deleted sectors of Service 66 between Ubi Ave 2 and Bedok. However, alternative bus services such as Services 60, 87 and 228 already offer connections between Bedok Reservoir Rd and Bedok, while residents and workers along Ubi Ave 2 tend to prefer travelling to nearer MRT stations such as Ubi, MacPherson, Eunos and Paya Lebar to transfer to the MRT.
Route amendment to Service 66
The last amendment involves curtailing Service 66 from Jurong East to loop at Beauty World, removing the Beauty World – Bedok sector. This route amendment is most easily justified, given its duplication with the current Downtown Line and other bus services along Dunearn Road / Bukit Timah Road, Little India, MacPherson Road / Estate, Ubi Avenue 2 and Bedok Reservoir Road. The amended Service 66 calls at Bus stop 42079 (Opp Pei Hwa Presby Pr Sch) for easy transfers to southbound bus services.
One criticism of this move is the reduction of connectivity between Beauty World, Little India, MacPherson Estate and Bedok, but these sectors are also covered by Services 65, 67, 170 and 228.
Alternative bus routes are:
- Services 67, 170: Between Beauty World and Newton
- Services 77, 970: Between Beauty World and Bukit Timah (up to Sixth Ave)
- Services 157, 174, 852, 961/961M: Between Beauty World and Bukit Timah (up to Adam Rd / Farrer Rd)
- Service 65: Between Bedok Reservoir / MacPherson Estate and Little India
- Services 60, 87, 228: Between Bedok and Bedok Reservoir
Continued on Page 2:
- Parliamentary Question (PQ) filed by Member of Parliament (MP) Gerald Giam (Jan 2022)
- Committee of Supply (COS) Debates over matters concerning the Ministry of Transport (Mar 2022)
- Parliamentary Question (PQ) filed by Member of Parliament (MP) Gerald Giam (Jan 2024)
I kind of feel that this rationalisation would be more palpable if they can prove that actions are being taken to alleviate concerns to affected residents. As a long time resident living in the Bedok Reservoir area, this is where LTA fell short.
Myself, the losses of 66 and 506 were not as drastic as compared to the loss of 22. Going westwards, I know where to transfer to connecting bus routes, but it’s going eastwards where my concerns were never addressed. There is still demand for connections between here and Tampines, but the problem I keep bringing up is the awful frequencies of 21 and 65, both routes are vulnerable to bus bunching. In addition, expecting us to walk long distances from our homes in hot and humid conditions just to stand in a train to our destinations? A very hard pass at such a prospect. The reason why Kaki Bukit and Bedok North MRT stations are not well utilized is their positioning: too out of reach for certain residents, and bus connections to these stations take too many unnecessary twists and turns to reach them.
Like I said, if they had proven that they are taking actions to alleviate concerns about the changes, we would have been more accepting. For instance, they can show that they are reducing the frequency ranges of 21 and 65 in the off peak hours to address the bus bunching issue. Even better, since you want commuters to take the DTL3, how about incentivising residents by actually running trains at lower frequencies during off-peak periods? However, we never got that here. Hence, we get the feeling that our transport options are worse off, expecting to either wait 20+ minutes for 21 or 65 to arrive, or to walk a long distance in hot and humid conditions to an MRT station, and then expect to stand for the whole ride.
Overall, I have accepted the changes here, albeit begrudgingly cause I’m still bitter about my transport options eastwards to Tampines. I will still observe frequencies of 21 and 65 here, cause I’m still left wanting with regards to the loss of 22, and if they want proof, I will gladly give them so we can reopen this issue again later on.
Correct, not done since 21 oct 2017. Should be done when had the chance.
This may have partially contributed to the reason the public transport satisfsction went down in 2021, because of those amendments in dec 2021.
I boarded Svc 506 & Svc 22 today.
My observations:
Svc 22: Ridership really drop since not only Downtown Line open but there are many duplication of services to AMK
Heavy Duplication Route:
Svc 24: AMK Interchange – Boundary Rd/Upper Paya Lebar Road – Junction of Ubi Ave 2/Upper Paya Lebar Rd
Indirect Duplication Route:
Svc 76: From AMK to Upper Paya Lebar Road & Terminate at Eunos Interchange (Alternative service for passengers other than Svc 24)
Svc 22 should be extended to somewhere else rather than Eunos Interchange or maybe can be like looping around Geylang Serai Area, similar to Service 23.
As for Service 506:
It really provides a quicker alternative to Svc 105 from Jurong East till Serangoon. Demand maybe not much but really provides alternative to the following services:
Svc 105 – Serangoon to Jurong East
Svc 142 – Toa Payoh to Upper Serangoon Rd stretch.
I know the many duplication of services to AMK from eunos other than 24 & 76 are: 13, 25 & 55.
Please keep in mind 24 is a faster route to Eunos than the amended 22.
Dear LTA ,
I Take Bus Service 66 to go From Bukit Timah to Eunos & Bus Service 506 from Bukit Batok Stn To Upper East Coast Park. If Bus Service 66 gets Shortened to Beauty World , Then I Either have to take Bus Service 67 or 154 where both of these Buses have Really High Demand. For Bus Service 506 , i Have to go to Bukit Timah & Take Bus Service 67 which also have High Demand. The Chances For Me to Find a Seat for these Buses is Very Rare & I don’t like changing Buses here and There. Also , Some of The Buses Frequency is Horrible & I Have to Wait For like 20-40 mins.
For Bus Service 506 : Please Keep Bus Service 506 running from Jurong East to Upper East Coast , Even It May not have High Demand , Still Please Don’t Amend Bus Service 506 as Taking Bus Service 985 & Changing to 966 & then going to Marine Parade & Taking Bus Service 853C is Too Long Already & This Bus Service only Serves Bedok Reservoir MRT , so it doesn’t count as it is Duplication of DTL 3. Now There are Bus Services 25 , 45 & 46 to go from Bedok North/South Ave 3 to Upper East Coast , But Think about it , Bus Service 25 is Duplicating Bus Service 55’s Route from Ang Mo Kio to Eunos & Bus Service 45 is Duplicating Bus Service 24’s Route from Ang Mo Kio to Paya Lebar. So Possibly These two Buses may get Re-routed & Bus Service 46 has Ridiculous Demand during Peak Hours as This is meant as Bedok School Bus. So Bus Service 506 still needs to Ply The Route from Jln Toa Payoh to Upper East Coast.
For Bus Service 66 : Bus Service 66 is really Beneficial to me. If Bus Service 66 gets Shortened , Then i Have no Bus Service to go from Bukit Timah to Bendemeer & for Eunos , i Can Take Bus Service 154 , but still Bus Service 154 has High Demand Along the Bukit Timah Sector & along the Ubi/MacPherson Estate & Paya Lebar Areas & Sometimes only Single Deckers come. I Mean I can also Take Bus Service 67 but it has High Demand & Sometimes only Single Deckers comes & The Bus will be full & i have to Wait for the next one. So Please Don’t Shortened Bus Service 66 to loop at Beauty World. Maybe Instead, Bus Service 66 can still run from Bedok to Jurong East , but Ply Sims Ave/Geylang Road , Kallang MRT , Boon Keng Road , then linking up to Bendemeer & Jln Besar.
Another reason for amending service 506 is to provide better connectivity from Toa Payoh and the west to Upper Serangoon Road.
I agree that service 22 should be amended away from Ubi Ave 2. Although commuters travelling between Serangoon and Ubi would lose this direct bus option, they can still commute via MRT to Ubi MRT Station. Alternatively, they can take one of the many services available from Serangoon to Opp Trinity @ Paya Lebar, followed by a transfer to service 8 to Ubi Ave 2.
In fact, I feel that service 22 is worth discontinuing if service 853 is amended to serve Ang Mo Kio MRT Station (along Ave 3) and St 42, between Ave 6 & 8. This ensures that if service 22 were to be discontinued, passengers still have a direct connection between Ang Mo Kio MRT/Ave 8 and Serangoon MRT/Ctrl.
Service 22 can be discontinued altogether because of heavy duplication along the AMK-Eunos sector by services 24 and 76, along the Serangoon – Paya Lebar Rd sector by services 43, 58, 70 & 158, and along the Eunos-Ubi Ave 2 sector by services 61 & 63.
Govt seem to forgot that the population is increasing due to influx of new citizens.They also missed out that the trains is breakdown prone.
22 part i agreed.66 should terminate further than Beauty World.
66 can go Marina Centre using Dunearn Rd, Stevens Rd and 171 old route.
I prefer 66 to end at Shenton Way.
Why:
1. Non-availabity of full day routes (CDs do start and end near Tanjong Pagar).
2. Duplication of EDS start n destination as 41.
Overall, I think 66’s route could amend via SIM and AYE.
For 506, I have a comment.
Considering that it only serves Bedok Resevoir Station on the Downtown Line, it was taken into the blue by LTA planners of its insufficient demand on the expressway sector. However, 506 will duplicate 142 from Potong Pasir to before Toa Payoh Station and will duplicate service 105 in terms of start point and destination. I think either 506 or 105 get amended into Bidadari than the amendment to Serangoon makes a lot of logical sense but on terms of parking space, I think 506 gets amended into Bidadari ITH so that it wouldmake possible sense of serving new corners.
506 should merge with 116 and be withdrawn.
22 can extend to Changi Airport via Sims Ave E, New Upper Changi Rd, Upper Changi Rd East, PIE, ECP, Airport Blvd and PTB 3/1/2/4.
24 can simply be shortened to Kembangan MRT.
135 meanwhile can extend to Bedok via Sims Ave E and Chai Chee Estate.
Take note 22 and 506 have fleet of double decker buses watch the route suggestion first.