SINGAPORE — Foodies, nature lovers and those simply curious about the Bukit Timah area took full advantage of the free rides on the first day of Downtown Line 2 (DTL2) operations today (Dec 27).

By 3pm, more than 97,000 people had hopped onto the entire line — including DTL1, which opened in 2013 — for a ride, said SBS Transit, the operator of the line. To assist commuters, about 360 staff were deployed for duty, said spokesperson Tammy Tan.

The typically sleepy Beauty World Centre saw an injection of life, with the Beauty World Station located next to it a key draw of the 12-station DTL2.

Dunearn resident Ong Mei Lin, 51, who heads to the nature trails at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve every weekend, felt that the DTL2 would be “an added boost” to the area. She said: “Already it looks so different, there’s some life to the area. Usually it’s quite quiet.”

Bus driver Ong Kim Seng, 58, who lives in Sengkang, said he had come down specially to explore Bukit Timah. “If there wasn’t the DTL2, I wouldn’t even consider coming down this area at all … Maybe I could try going to Botanic Gardens more often,” he said.

Residents also welcome the added convenience. Manager Yeo Lee Lit, 41, says it will be much easier for his 13-year-old son to travel to Catholic High School by himself when he enters Secondary One next year, adding that he was “excited” to see the area being rejuvenated. “I think there will be new developments in my area … It’ll be much more lively,” he said.

Others, such as nearby resident Mr Khoo Gee Hwee, 49, would also consider switching from driving to train travel.

“I might go to Orchard more often (with the train) … Jams can get so bad and parking is so difficult,” he added.

DTL2 connects to the six stations on DTL1 plying the Marina Bay area, which have an average daily ridership of 67,000 as of the first quarter of the year. The whole DTL, including the third phase opening in 2017, is expected to have a daily ridership of 500,000.

By mid-afternoon, crowds at Beauty World Station had swelled such that lines formed at the gantry area. But nearby businesses took a more wait-and-see attitude on the impact on their takings. Mdm Jenny Chua, who works at Beng Beng Medical Hall, said in Mandarin: “Young people won’t really care … They’re more likely to go to places like Jem or Lot One … This is a place for the elderly.”

Mr Samsudin Mohamed, 45, operations manager at Al-Azhar Eating Restaurant along Cheong Chin Nam Road, was more hopeful: “We usually hear complaints about a lack of parking spaces among our regular customers, so the (DTL2) might hopefully improve business.”

At Stevens Station, which has separate gantries leading to platforms for trains going towards either Chinatown or Bukit Panjang, there was some confusion among older commuters, despite prominent signage explaining the difference. Retiree Anthony Chong, 77, said it was “messy” and it would take some time for him to familiarise himself with the signage.

The free rides will last until Jan 1. Today also marked the implementation of a 1.9 per cent reduction in public transport fares.