NTU adds two more terminals for campus buses

By Cheryl Tee

The new terminals for the Red and Blue lines will be at Halls of Residence 13 and 14. PHOTO: ZHENG JUNCEN

Taking the campus bus? Pay attention to the destination signs.

Starting today (1 Nov), two new terminals will be added to the Campus Red and Blue lines at Halls of Residence 13 and 14 respectively, the NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU) said.

In an email to students on 28 Oct, NTUSU announced that there are now three possible places where the Campus Red and Blue lines may end: Halls 13, 14, and the Chinese Heritage Centre, where all campus bus services terminated previously.

“The additional terminals solve the issue of bus bunching to improve bus frequency,” said NTUSU vice president Low Choon Chye.

Bunching, which occurs when multiple buses arrive at the same time, was a common complaint among campus bus commuters earlier this semester.

Low said current bus routes and stops will not be affected by the new terminals.

Most students the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to said they felt the addition of the new terminals would benefit commuters.

“Since these changes lead to a more regular bus arrival schedule, they make it more convenient to travel around school,” said second-year School of Biological Sciences student Tan Chern Wey, 22.

He added: “I take both the Campus Red and Blue Lines to get to the Innovation Centre from Hall 13 whenever I have lessons. The improved frequency means that I can better plan my time to make sure I’m not late for class.”

First-year School of Humanities and Social Sciences student Lydia Ng, 19, said that the changes were unlikely to confuse commuters, as all campus bus drivers place destination signs at their front windows before ending their shifts.

However, others said the new terminals should have been located away from student housing to avoid disturbing residents.

“My room faces the road, so there’s already a lot of noise from passing vehicles,” said Hall 14 resident Kirmaine Chen, 19.

The first-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student added: “With a new terminal point right in front, the additional noise from parking buses will affect my concentration levels and distract me from studying.”