Tan Kin Lian - Perspectives Public transport to Johor Bahru
The Land Transport Authority operates 3 trunk services to Woodlands Checkpoint, namely 160, 170 and 850 and an express service 170X between Kranji MRT and Larkin Terminal in Johor Baru. 

The 3 trunk services probably started in the days before the MRT system. It brought people from various parts of Singapore to Woodlands Checkpoint and onwards to JB Checkpoint. 

Three major changes occurred in recent years:

a) The MRT system has expanded considerable to cover all parts of Singapore
b) More people now travel to JB using the MRT system, instead of the trunk services
c) LTA implemented a combined fare system covering all bus and train services. 

To rationalize the public transport to Johor Bahru, I suggest the following steps

a) Provide more buses for the express service 170X to cater to the people traveling by MRT
b) Encourage the travelers to take 170X from Kranji. 
c) Make 170X the sole service between Woodlands Checkpoint and JB Checkpoint, i.e. the 3 trunk services do not need to cover this route.
d)  Reduce the number of buses on 170X that travel the segment to Larkin, based on demand. This allows more buses to cover the stretch between Kranji and JB Checkpoint. 

This will allow more buses to be provided for 170X to meet increased demand. As it is the primary service to JB Checkpoint and it covers only 2 stops, it is easy to respond to changing demand. 

If the public transport is rationalized, more workers from Malaysia may opt to use public transport, rather than use motor cycles to travel in Singapore.

Tan Kin Lian 

 

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