Types of Bus Service Route

Broadly speaking, there are 2 main categories of service routes. The acquired technical jargon will be – inside line and outside line (direct translation from Mandarin, “nei xian and wai xian”).

After my POP, I am stationed at Woodlands Regional Interchange, WRI. WRI hosts some 22 bus service route and maned by some 700 strong BC. In my early months of my work, I have the opportunity to expose myself to both types of services. Both have its unique features of difficulties and challenges.

The “internal line” will bore me to tears. The routine is so monotonous with round trips that lasted about 33mins or so. Each day, I have to do a “45 degree forward park” 12 times and “reverse backward” the bus 12times at the Interchange Parking Lot. Some much shorter services will have some 20 round trips per shift. What a big diff, previously, during while still working from the office desk; I only need to park my car once or twice at the HDB MSCP per day. After doing my second route service for close to 7 long months, in early July, I was assigned to do Svc858, an outside trunk line.

The external-line is more challenging and I actually begin to fall in love with it. However, it has a lot of risk and fear factor; unpleasant situation of fatal accident, erratic pax behavior and action; and been subjected much unpredictable traffic conditions.

On 19^th July 2015 (3^rd Day of Hari Raya Puasa), I witnessed a very unfortunate event of fatal accident, and the scene stay in mind for the entire day each time I closed my eyes. The fatal accident occurred right in front of Khatib MRT station; having collided with a van, the biker got killed on the spot and lying on the other left lane. I saw the unfortunate event (the biker’s body) twice on that day. One on my way driving to Changi Airport, east wise, on the opposite side of the road, I saw the dead body lying on the road, and on my way back to Woodlands from Changi Airport, I literally, drove the bus side by side within 0.5M with the demised person. I guess the least I can do at that moment, in a silent and a simple prayer for this dead person.

On 22th July 2015, I put on another cap, besides working as an official BC; I drove the public commuter bus almost like a F1 driver. At 2300hr while at WRI berth, a Filipino young maiden broad Svc858 bound for Changi Airport. She has two piece of luggage with her. She was seated directly at the back of me, a blind spot seat. Certainly near, Yishun Sport Hall, she lean over to my left shoulder and asked me; Uncle, how long more to go to reach Changi Airport. I told her, it depends on the traffic condition.

Looking at my watch and it is close to 0000hr, I told her, if will take about 35mins to 45mins. (Depending on where you are alighting). The bus will first called at T3, then T1 and finally at T2. Along the way, there will be 3 security safety checks!! She told me that, she needs to check the plane for Manila flight at 0055hr. with less than 60mins to catch her plane home, her predicament is fully understandable. Since the bus has a speed limiter, the max speed, I can go is 60km/hr. However while, the bus is in the down slope motion, and because of Newton’s Law on momentum; the bus black box will it buzz, and buzz until I intentionally slow the bus down.

At midnight, the traffic is light in the TPE highway, and been fully mindful of road safety, I just let the buzzer go on and go. I guess I will be given a pep talk for speeding pretty soon by my supervisor. At worst case, I may be getting a verbal warning. However, at that moment, I am glad that I have truly embraced the value of “safely”, moving people and enhancing lives. I hope she managed to catch the plane for her much awaited homecoming, ya.

Furthermore, due to the ongoing construction and building of new under-ground MRT lines, services that traveling above it or at the proximity to this under-ground lines, will have frequent journey disruption and service delays. Take Service 178 for example, that plying along the old Woodlands Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road, road diversions and new road been paved almost every other months is a norm. All in, this makes driving very difficult at times and certainly needs tons of patient seating and holding the steering wheel and handbrake stick.

The minimum requirement for a BC to be fully certified as BC grade 1 staff level; is to master and familiar with at least 2 revenue-able service routes. Soon, with more and more new township and neighbourhood coming out; I think here in Singapore, the number of bus service routes will have to increase and this can translate into learning more and more revenue-able service routes to come for all BC.

a complementary idea for “CET”, continuous education and training!