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Withdrawal of Bus Services 700 & 700A, Launch of Bus Service 972M & Amendment to Bus Service 171
30 August 2020
On Sunday, 30 August 2020, as part of the modified Downtown Line 2 Bus Service Rationalisation plan:
- Bus Services 700 & 700A will be withdrawn. The last day of service would be on Saturday, 29 August 2020.
- Bus Service 171 from Yishun Bus Interchange will be shortened to loop at Bukit Panjang MRT Station, no longer serving Marina Centre Terminal.
- New Bus Service 972M will be launched from Bukit Panjang – Orchard Road (Loop) via Newton MRT, plying the routing originally planned for Service 972 via Dunearn Road / Bukit Timah Road and Scotts Road.
See also: Renumbering of Express Bus Service 971E to Trunk Bus Service 971 on 31 August 2020.
Operator Posters
![[Updated Poster] Withdrawal of Bus Services 700 & 700A](https://landtransportguru.net/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Aug20_Service-700-700A-Withdrawal_updated-212x300.jpg)
Former Changes
Originally planned to take effect from Sunday 16 August 2020:
As part of the Downtown Line 2 Bus Service Rationalisation:
- Bus Services 700 & 700A would be withdrawn, with the last day of service on Saturday, 15 August 2020.
- Bus Service 171 from Yishun Bus Interchange will be shortened to loop at Bukit Panjang MRT Station, no longer serving Marina Centre Terminal.
- Bus Service 972 will be amended to serve Newton MRT Station, via Dunearn Road / Bukit Timah Road and Scotts Road.
In addition, Short Trip Service 972A will also be amended to serve Newton MRT Station via Dunearn Road and Scotts Road.
Due to the controversy over Bus 700 withdrawal and Bus 171 & 972 amendment, the plan to implement the changes on 16 August 2020 was scrapped, with the modified plan to be implemented from 30 August 2020 instead.
Operator Posters (Withdrawn)
![[Withdrawn Poster] Bus 171: Route Amendment to loop at Bukit Panjang](https://landtransportguru.net/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Aug20_Service-171-Amendment-212x300.jpg)
![[Withdrawn Poster] Bus 972: Route Amendment to Newton MRT](https://landtransportguru.net/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Aug20_Service-972-Amendment-212x300.jpg)
![[Withdrawn Poster] Withdrawal of Bus Services 700 & 700A](https://landtransportguru.net/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Aug20_Service-700-700A-Withdrawal-212x300.jpg)
25 thoughts on “Withdrawal of Bus Services 700 & 700A, Launch of Bus Service 972M & Amendment to Bus Service 171”
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When they start removed the 3 peak hours double deckers commuters already complain but again they fall into deaf ears.Then they reduced the fleet from 20 to 17 buses.DTL2 still not making profits as claimed by both LTA & SBST.So let be it,Who knows they will introduce a new bus service in future to Orchard?
??? There weren’t any DD demand for 700 even when those DDs were allocated to 653 interlining duty
Why are so many people asking for 171 to merge with 180?? The bus fleet and loading on both sides are so different for heaven’s sake! Even an extension to Bt Batok via 176/177’s route is more reasonable than that!
Maybe 171/983 merger more suitable?
Forget about merger. LTA not a fan of long haul trunk services. What do u think?
The present LTA is unlike its predecessor in the past. Last time several routes were (in)famously merged. 14 and 51 present route was the result of such policies. Others include 28, 100, 145, 166, 176 and 197.
I refer to the media reports about people opposing the removal of bus services 700 and 700A, as well as the amendment of 171 and 972.
Actually, when I first learn about this, my reaction as “finally”. The MRT Downtown Line stage 2 opened on 2015, December 27, almost 5 years ago. When the stations open, bus services were amended to connect the surrounding areas to the stations.
Naturally, bus service loading would be reduced, as people would switch to the MRT service.
This move is good, as it helps to optimise resources.
Nonetheless, the MRT Downtown Line stage 2 occasionally operates at capacity. If bus service 972 remains the same, without making it go a longer route between Bukit Panjang and the city, it would be helpful. I believe other than bus service 972, there other bus services that can be amended to compensate the removal of bus services 700 and 700A.
Whereas for the removal of bus services 700 and 700A, and the amendment of bus service 171, I have nothing to say.
I believe this is the first step of resources optimisation. There are other areas where the resources can be optimised, such as the Tuas industrial area (to optimise the use of the MRT East West Line Tuas West Extension), and bus services with relatively low ridership (for example: bus service 258 and 974) which can be consolidated with other bus services to optimise resources.
Optimising resources would help to reduce the costs of running the public transport services, which helps to reduce the reliance of public funds to subsidise the public transport industry.
I am not happy with 171 being shortened to Bukit Panjang because I usually take 171 whenever I go to Orchard Road.
You may take the bus to town like I do. But others may not.
972 should extend to Kampung Baru, 190 amended to Shenton Way during weekdays and loop at Suntec City on weekends (as 190M). 171 should merge with 180. Maybe it may get extended to Beauty World next time.