Training Bus

When I see a training bus, I kind of get happy.
In my mind, I equate that to bus drivers which will lead to more frequent bus services.

In reality, I don't know.
Maybe it's to replace bus drivers who have retired or have left the job.




The reason I took this photo was because we usually equate SMRT to the train.
Train and the words on the bus says "Training bus". Get it? hehe.

Bus Ticket Machine... and lamenting about 'to be' transport price increase

If you take public transport in Singapore during peak hours, it is difficult to get up a bus or train.

Many people can't get up the bus for 2 reasons:
1) There are no more space in the bus because bus frequency isn't as frequent as they say it is, it is really full at the earlier stops.
2) People in the bus refuse to move to the rear of the bus where they are still standing space. I have no explanation for this. (I realise this is not unique to Singapore, I was in Spain, and people also don't move to the back!)

This morning, the bus I was on was very packed as usual. The bus driver yelled a few times for passengers to move inside, and after a few yells, people started moving in. I am so thankful for the bus drivers that yell. I managed to get up the bus because of the yelling.

I stood beside the ticket issuing machine when I got up. It was too packed to move in further. I have nothing to do so I flipped out my phone and took a photo of the ticket issuing machine. I think the colour's nice! The design's also nice ya! Practical too as it doesn't drop on the floor unlike the previous model.



I read the news later in the day and realise that the two public transport companies are seeking to raise fare prices. I know for sure the folks who take public transport will get angry! Packed buses, buses that don't arrive on time. (ok, not all the time, but still not good enough since the last fare increase.....)

In a country that loves press releases, you know the words they are going to use to say they have 'no choice'. The same old excuse, escalating oil prices, productivity, cost pressures etc. The only word they did not use this time is "unprecedented"! 

Opening of new lines used up more electricity for the trains. Hmm. Didn't they report an increase in ridership? Doesn't that means they are collecting more fares? (Let's hope Minister Khaw will blog about this, he is not the minister in charge, but it seems his blog is powerful now and he is logical though not all the time)

When they say they are buying new buses, that I accept. The new buses are cleaner and more comfortable. But they seem to break down! I saw 2 new buses broke down in the last 2 weeks on my way home.

Anyway, you can tell the government your views. Go to http://www.reach.com.sg they are asking members of the public to voice out.



If you like reading, may I suggest the annual reports for these two companies.

SMRT 2010 Annual Report
http://www.smrt.com.sg/investors/documents/annual_reports/2010/pdf/SMRT_Summary_low_res.pdf
Revenue - $895.1m
PATMI - $162.9m

SBSTransit 2010 Annual Report
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/download/SBST_AnnualReport10.pdf
Revenue - $720.9m
Profit after Tax - $54.3m

Change Makers

If you are one of those who take the NUS Internal Shuttle Bus service, you would have realised they have re-wrapped the buses with new advertisement.

The internal shuttle buses are getting bigger and better. These Scania K230UB with bodyworks by SC Auto Industries are great and comfortable. (I am a closeted bus fan! haha)



The only problem is like any other buses in Singapore, people do not move in.
If only they can be like what is said on the bus advert, be change makers, move to the rear of the bus! LOL

SBS Transit Service 95

For students, staff and academics who works in NUS, buses seems to be an obsession.
The buses are always so packed, so any higher capacity buses are always much appreciated.

Buses, food and the occasional freebies that is around campus seems to be a good distraction to studies and the obsession to get papers published in the Rank 1 conferences. 



During lunch time these few days, people have been talking about the new double decker buses.
SBS Transit is now deploying the Volvo B9TL (Wright Eclipse Gemini 2) buses on Service 95!

The latest model of double deck buses around Singapore and the design is very roundish. Even the interior has everything round. These buses are comfortable!


Thanks to Otterman who spotted it and notified me for a stakeout.
This photo was taken on 1 March 7:35 PM.

Remember to tap in and tap out

In the beginning there was only 1 sign. The sign (on the left) that said:
Remember to tap in and tap out. Maximum fare will be charged if you forget to tap out on exit.



Then they discovered that passengers were too obedient!
They were tapping in and tapping out as asked, because the sign says maximum fares will be charged. But at the wrong timing.

Then they came out with a big NOTICE.

SMRT Bus with the Singapore Flag Design

Spotted this bus when I looked out the window this morning.
Isn't this the bus that was featured on the TV news about "Fly Our Flag" yesterday?
 



These bendy buses is the perfect choice for the flag wrap eh?
It is long enough to make it look so nice.

You can't hide from the bus....

The new buses these days have surveillance cameras everywhere. You can see around 5 inside the bus, and a few more outside the bus.



Can you see the camera?
It's for catching other vehicles on the road that's not giving ways to buses!

TV Mobile.

TV shows on buses. Some people hate it, but some like it. For most people, we have got used to it! For me, I seem to enjoy it more and more. It does entertain you on long rides.




I realised something. The newer SBS Transit buses do not have TV Mobile, it's only the older fleet that's rickety that has it.

You can see the condition of this bus. LOL! They even have a paper to hold the rear view mirror in place for the bus driver.

Bus Tracking Project - ShuttleNet

Few days ago, I saw one of the wifi routers around. Ah... saw another router hanging at another bus stop. With hints from the notice there, I found out it's the ShuttleNet project by the Communications and Internet Research Lab at the School of Computing, NUS.




It's dangling very dangerously isn't it?

If you are bored and want to find out where the Internal Shuttle Buses in NUS are right now, click here. It shows that these dangling stuff works!

What do you do on a bus?

In Singapore, about 1500 of the buses have television sets installed. This is an example of one taken yesterday. It is called TV Mobile.



It is a digital television broadcast and can be picked up if you have a digital receiver. Read more about it at www.tvmobile.com.sg

Does the city you live in have similar tv sets on buses? Or you prefer a peaceful bus ride and not being bombarded by advertisements ;-)

Bus number 888, must be lucky day!

Today, colleagues and I took a cab out for lunch, and after lunch we thought... hmmm... maybe we should just take a bus back to office. We boarded the bus and falfway through, colleague said, wah.... this bus has a very good license plate number!

This is photo of an older series bus. The newer buses are more comfortable and allows wheelchairs. (definitely not this one)



Back to the 'Good number' thingy... Let's zoom in... It is SBS888G, a triple 8! A number chinese would associate with prosperity!



Just thought that it was interesting. Any of you out there who are into these numbers thing? Well, I am not.


Today's newspaper did have a good news about buses. A few days ago, I posted a photo that says free Wifi on Singapore buses, well, the free Wifi officially starts today!

The bus services that have Wifi are: Services 12, 14, 30, 51, 65, 72, 80, 88, 96, 143, 147 and 179. I should go try it soon. But I realize I now prefer GRPS which is on demand. How do you use wifi on your phones? For me, it's for the addiction to Facebook! Urrghh...

Double Deck Buses

This is a photo of a double deck bus in Singapore. I used to like going to the upper deck, but nowadays I seem to prefer the lower deck. I wonder why... (old age? haha...)



Does you city have double deck buses? In Singapore, one of the two major bus companies, SBS Transit has quite a few of these double decks.