Difference between revisions of "Singapore Shuttle Bus"

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Singapore Shuttle Bus (Pte.) Ltd. (SSB) came into existence as a result of the "Park and Ride" Scheme introduced by the government in 1975. The "Park and Ride" Scheme consisted of the restricted zone concept together with fringe carparks and area licensing. SSB operated the City Shuttle Service (CSS), which plied from the fringe carparks to the CBD zones. In 1976, CSS services were extended to the public housing estates. Up till the last day of operation, SSB provided regular bus services to and from the housing estates through the CBD.
{| cellpadding=3px cellspacing=0px bgcolor=#f7f8ff style="float:right; border:1px solid; margin:5px"
 
|-
!style="background:#ccf; border-right:1px solid" colspan=2|Singapore Shuttle Bus
[[Image:CSS_logo.gif|100px]]
|-
|align=right|Start of Operation:||16 May 1975
|-
|align=right|End of Operation:||29 April 2007
|-
|align=right|Operated by:||SMRT Corporation
|}


==History==
==History==
'''Date of Incorporation:''' 15 May 1975<br>
'''Singapore Shuttle Bus Pte. Ltd.''' (SSB) was incorporated on 16th May 1975 under the "Park and Ride" scheme introduced by the government. The "Park and Ride" Scheme was aimed at reducing city traffic congestion by encouraging car owners to park their vehicles at allotted fringe carparks and make use of the CSS services plying between the fringe carparks and the Central Business District. This, however, proved unpopular with the car owners and was abandoned on 12th June 1975. With the abolition of this scheme, SSB was called upon to provide regular bus services from the housing estates like Bedok, St Michael’s, Queenstown, Bukit Merah, Holland and Sin Ming to the CBD and vice versa and its route were reduced to 6 from an initial of 7 services.
'''Number of services (initial):''' 6<br>
'''Fleet Size:''' 60<br>
'''Operation Hours:''' 7.30 am to 7.30 pm<br>
'''Staff Strength:''' 60 odd<br>
'''Operation Mode:''' Two-Men Operation (driver and conductor)<br>
'''Bus Model:''' single door 25-seaters<br>
 
City Shuttle Service was incorporated on 15 May 1975 under the "Park and Ride" scheme introduced by the government. The "Park and Ride" Scheme was aimed at reducing city traffic congestion by encouraging car owners to park their vehicles at allotted fringe carparks and making use of the CSS services plying between the fringe carparks and the Central Business District. This, however, proved unpopular with the car owners and was abandoned in 1976. With the abolition of this scheme, SSB was called upon to provide regular bus services from the housing estates like Bedok, St Michael’s, Queenstown, Bukit Merah and Sin Ming to the CBD and vice versa.
 
In the initial period, SSB operated 6 out of a total of 9 CSS services, namely CSS services 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9. Starting with an initial fleet of sixty single-door 25-seater buses on 6 services, its fleet was slowly replaced by larger and more spacious buses in 1985. On 12 March 1987, SSB was acquired by Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd. On 2001, SMRT acquired TIBS and SSB becomes a subsidiary of SMRT.


==Recent History==
Initially, there were 11 services initially and had a different routing system for AM Peak, PM Peak and Off Peak, serving 16 fringe car parks, 7 city area terminus and 49 selected key bus stops, with an initial fleet of 60 single-door 25 seater buses. SSB operated 7 CSS services, while NTUC Comfort operates the 4 CSS services. A month later after the CSS services began its operation, the services had proven to be under-utilised and had to be extended over to serve the HDB new towns on 12th June 1975. The CSS fleet was slowly replaced by larger and more spacious buses in 1985, together with the trial of the first 2 air-con buses on CSS 8 during the same year.
'''Number of services:''' 1<br>
'''Operation Hours:''' 6.30 am to 7.30 pm<br>
'''Operation Mode:''' One Man Operation - Distance Related Fare<br>
'''Seating capacity:''' 45<br>


===Fares===
On 12th March 1987, SSB was acquired by Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd. CSS 9 was discontinued on 26th June 1988, citing high maintenance costs on CSS buses served by SSB and NTUC Comfort and low ridership on CSS 9. The last CSS service operated under NTUC Comfort, CSS 6, was discontinued on 1st July 1990.
SSB’s adult fares ranged from $0.60 to $1.20 for passengers paying by cash and $0.50 to $1.10 for ez-link card users. Singapore Shuttle Bus (Pte.) Ltd was the first bus company to extend concessionary fares to senior citizens.  


==Organisation==
TransitLink Farecards were accepted on CSS buses on 9th October 1995 and the roll out of Partial Air-Con (PAC) services was started on CSS 8, when the new batch of Nissan Diesel U31RCN (OAC) entered into CSS in 1993. CSS 5 was the first to receive the PAC status on 9th December 1996, when the TIBS DAF Hispanos, Hino HT238K & Nissan Diesel (OAC) were acquired by CSS, followed by CSS 2 & 7 in January 1997. Later on, when some of the NAC buses were retiring, CSS 3 was the last service to become PAC.


===Nature of Business===
On 3rd November 1997, with the implementation of the Travel Information System by the authority, the remaining 5 CSS services were then re-numbered to CSS 602, 603, 605, 607 & 608 respectively.
*To provide public transport from the housing estates to the CBD areas<br>
CSS services operated from interchanges and terminals like Bedok Interchange, Bukit Merah Interchange and Sin Ming Road Terminal. CSS services did not operate on Sundays and Public Holidays.  


===Facilities===
On 9th July 2001, SMRT had announced for the proposal of the acquisition and merger of TIBS & SSB and at the end of 2001, TIBS & SSB became a subsidiary of SMRT.
SSB’s bus depot was situated at Lorong 1, Geylang. The central workshop was at Ang Mo Kio which handled all the preventive maintenance, repair works and major component overhauls.


==Services (1975 - 2007)==
On 28th October 2001, the remaining NAC buses were fully withdrawn, together with the discontinuation of CSS 602.
===1975===
*Service 1 (NTUC Comfort): National Stadium - Holland Rd/Pierce Rd
*Service 2 (CSS)
**AM Peak: Holland Rd/Pierce Rd - Upper Cross St
**Off-Peak: Holland Rd/Pierce Rd - Robinson Rd
**PM Peak: Service 2A (Robinson Rd - Holland Rd/Pierce Rd); Service 2B (Empress Place - Holland Rd/Pierce Rd)
*Service 3 (CSS)
**AM/Off Peak: Chancery Lane/Dunearn Rd - Upper Cross St
**PM Peak: Service 3A (High St - Chancery Lane/Dunearn Rd); Service 3B (South Canal Rd - Chancery Lane/Dunearn Rd)
*Service 4 (NTUC Comfort): Clemenceau Ave/Newton Circus - Empress Plac


==1981==
SSB provided public transport from the housing estates to the CBD areas. Services operated from interchanges and terminals like Bedok & Bt Merah Interchanges and Holland Dr, St. Michael's & Sin Ming Rd Terminals. The services used to operate from 6.30am to 7.30pm and does not operate on Sundays and Public Holidays. With the closure of Holland Dr Terminal in 1998, CSS 602 was re-routed to start from Shenton Way Terminal and loops at Holland Dr.


[Section Incomplete]
SSB’s only bus depot was at Lorong 1 Geylang (GLDEP). The central workshop was at Ang Mo Kio Depot (AMDEP) which handled all the preventive maintenance, repair works and major component overhauls.


===References===
Prior to the discontinuation of CSS 608, these were the last of the CSS Nissan Diesel U31RCN buses to pass by the old National Stadium, Maxwell Rd and old Supreme Court Building. The bus fleet was downsized gradually within the last 3 years of its service until its discontinuation on 29th April 2007.
[[CSS Routes in 1975]]<br>
[[City Shuttle Services Guide 1981]]<br>


==Fleet==
The last CSS service, CSS 608, was initially slated to be discontinued on 31st March 2007. However, due to public appeals, the discontinuation date was pushed back to 29th April 2007.


==Withdrawal of CSS==
==Services==
(As of time of discontinuation)
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|-bgcolor=#808080
!<font style="color:white;">Service
!<font style="color:white;">Route
!<font style="color:white;">Discontinuation date
|-
!602
|Shenton Way - Holland Dr (loop)
|28 October 2001
|-
!603
|St. Michael's - Upp Cross St (loop)
|30 November 2003
|-
!605
|Sin Ming - Bt Merah
|5 September 2004
|-
!607
|St. Michael's - Eu Tong Sen St (loop)
|3 August 2003
|-
!608
|Bedok - Bt Merah
|29 April 2007
|}


The last day of operation for CSS 608 was originally meant to be on 31 March 2007. The last day of operation was therefore pushed back to 28 Apr 2007.
==Discontinuation==
[[Image:608-WithdrawalPoster.gif|right|thumb|150px|The Withdrawal Poster of CSS 608]]


Last CSS bus departing from Bedok Int: CSS195K<br>
* Last day of operation: 28 April 2007
Last CSS bus departing from Bukit Merah Int: CSS180C<br>
* Last SSB bus departing from Bedok Int: CSS195K
* Last SSB bus departing from Bukit Merah Int: CSS180C


[This section needs more info]
==See also==
* [[Singapore Bus Fleet#"CSS" registration number|CSS Bus Fleet]]
* [[CSS Terminal & Bus Stop Notations|CSS Terminal & Bus Stop Notations in 1975]]
* [[City Shuttle Services Route]]
* [[History of City Shuttle Services]]


==External Links==
[[Category: Buses]]
http://www.smrtbuses.com.sg/transport/ssb/DEFAULT.htm<br>
http://www.smrtbuses.com.sg/transport/ssb/shistory.htm<br>

Latest revision as of 21:40, 1 September 2023

Singapore Shuttle Bus

CSS logo.gif

Start of Operation: 16 May 1975
End of Operation: 29 April 2007
Operated by: SMRT Corporation

History[edit]

Singapore Shuttle Bus Pte. Ltd. (SSB) was incorporated on 16th May 1975 under the "Park and Ride" scheme introduced by the government. The "Park and Ride" Scheme was aimed at reducing city traffic congestion by encouraging car owners to park their vehicles at allotted fringe carparks and make use of the CSS services plying between the fringe carparks and the Central Business District. This, however, proved unpopular with the car owners and was abandoned on 12th June 1975. With the abolition of this scheme, SSB was called upon to provide regular bus services from the housing estates like Bedok, St Michael’s, Queenstown, Bukit Merah, Holland and Sin Ming to the CBD and vice versa and its route were reduced to 6 from an initial of 7 services.

Initially, there were 11 services initially and had a different routing system for AM Peak, PM Peak and Off Peak, serving 16 fringe car parks, 7 city area terminus and 49 selected key bus stops, with an initial fleet of 60 single-door 25 seater buses. SSB operated 7 CSS services, while NTUC Comfort operates the 4 CSS services. A month later after the CSS services began its operation, the services had proven to be under-utilised and had to be extended over to serve the HDB new towns on 12th June 1975. The CSS fleet was slowly replaced by larger and more spacious buses in 1985, together with the trial of the first 2 air-con buses on CSS 8 during the same year.

On 12th March 1987, SSB was acquired by Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd. CSS 9 was discontinued on 26th June 1988, citing high maintenance costs on CSS buses served by SSB and NTUC Comfort and low ridership on CSS 9. The last CSS service operated under NTUC Comfort, CSS 6, was discontinued on 1st July 1990.

TransitLink Farecards were accepted on CSS buses on 9th October 1995 and the roll out of Partial Air-Con (PAC) services was started on CSS 8, when the new batch of Nissan Diesel U31RCN (OAC) entered into CSS in 1993. CSS 5 was the first to receive the PAC status on 9th December 1996, when the TIBS DAF Hispanos, Hino HT238K & Nissan Diesel (OAC) were acquired by CSS, followed by CSS 2 & 7 in January 1997. Later on, when some of the NAC buses were retiring, CSS 3 was the last service to become PAC.

On 3rd November 1997, with the implementation of the Travel Information System by the authority, the remaining 5 CSS services were then re-numbered to CSS 602, 603, 605, 607 & 608 respectively.

On 9th July 2001, SMRT had announced for the proposal of the acquisition and merger of TIBS & SSB and at the end of 2001, TIBS & SSB became a subsidiary of SMRT.

On 28th October 2001, the remaining NAC buses were fully withdrawn, together with the discontinuation of CSS 602.

SSB provided public transport from the housing estates to the CBD areas. Services operated from interchanges and terminals like Bedok & Bt Merah Interchanges and Holland Dr, St. Michael's & Sin Ming Rd Terminals. The services used to operate from 6.30am to 7.30pm and does not operate on Sundays and Public Holidays. With the closure of Holland Dr Terminal in 1998, CSS 602 was re-routed to start from Shenton Way Terminal and loops at Holland Dr.

SSB’s only bus depot was at Lorong 1 Geylang (GLDEP). The central workshop was at Ang Mo Kio Depot (AMDEP) which handled all the preventive maintenance, repair works and major component overhauls.

Prior to the discontinuation of CSS 608, these were the last of the CSS Nissan Diesel U31RCN buses to pass by the old National Stadium, Maxwell Rd and old Supreme Court Building. The bus fleet was downsized gradually within the last 3 years of its service until its discontinuation on 29th April 2007.

The last CSS service, CSS 608, was initially slated to be discontinued on 31st March 2007. However, due to public appeals, the discontinuation date was pushed back to 29th April 2007.

Services[edit]

(As of time of discontinuation)

Service Route Discontinuation date
602 Shenton Way - Holland Dr (loop) 28 October 2001
603 St. Michael's - Upp Cross St (loop) 30 November 2003
605 Sin Ming - Bt Merah 5 September 2004
607 St. Michael's - Eu Tong Sen St (loop) 3 August 2003
608 Bedok - Bt Merah 29 April 2007

Discontinuation[edit]

The Withdrawal Poster of CSS 608
  • Last day of operation: 28 April 2007
  • Last SSB bus departing from Bedok Int: CSS195K
  • Last SSB bus departing from Bukit Merah Int: CSS180C

See also[edit]