There is this rumor that i received on Monday afternoon that our very dear UDs in SMRT will all be withdrawn with effect frm 10 Nov. Which means to say, our dear UDs will disappear from our roads from 10 Nov onwards.

But then again, this is just a rumor that everyone has been discussing over the past few days of whether they will really w/d all of the UDs from the fleet when it is very clear to all that SMRT is now seriously shortage of buses at the moment. If they chose to w/d all UDs from monday (means last day of service is Sunday.), will the 30 odd OCs be able to cover up the duties left behind by the UDs ? What will happen to the traditional UD services like 852 / 980 / 975 ??? Though SMRT has been putting OCs on 925 as cameos, we could not rule out the possibility that OCs will appear on the mentioned services at all. But then, what will the chances be like ? 20% ? 10% ? or only even 5% ?

Even since CSS was closed down, CSS UDs were being absorbed into the mainstream SMRT fleet and has constantly been reciving complaints from BCs and passengers. I know they may look old and slow. But come on, they are only 15/16 years old. Even younger than our SBST Scanias N113s or the Merc 0405s which are still in service. I will never forget the wide legroom that the provided me (not forgetting the ultra-high wheel seats.. :P) and the fact that it was a pure Jap bus where the chassis to the bodywork are all being done in Jap.

With the Hinos gone...
UDs are leaving us real soon...

Will this be the end of Japanese Buses serving the public ??

Seriously,
I hate to see them goooo.



p.s. really do hope that the rumor is fake... :(