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Fix-its for Singapore's Public Transport system

In its push to achieve a seamless and reliable public transport system, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has helped implement / mandate (with the public transport operators) several measures.

 

They include:

1. more regular bus services;
2. more regular MRT services;
3. more regular MRT services during lunch hours for workers in the city;
4. increased transfer rebates between buses / trains, making it cheaper for commuters to transfer between ;
5. more bus lanes;
6. all-day bus lanes within the City area;
7. increasing the number of bus lane operation hours;
8. ERP gantries to stem out congestion in the more crowded roads;
9. increased maintenance costs of private vehicle ownership so that people turn to public transport (I’m just putting this in tongue-in-cheek);
10. increased congestion on the roads so that private transport speeds are now equalized with public transport (again, tongue-in-cheek)

  

However, looking at the above list, which of the measures have really succeeded? By success, I mean, which of the measures have been felt by the common folk on the ground?

I leave it to the people who read this to think it through.

 

My own opinion is that while SMRT’s efforts are getting more recognized by the man-in-the-street (judging from its increase in ridership) I am not trying to give a pat on the back to them here. Its response to the increase in its ridership has been disappointing to say the least. Anyone who takes the trains now would know what I am talking about.

 

1. The waiting times are too long - and I am not even talking about off-peak hours. Even during the 7-8pm period, the waiting time can be up to 7mins! Is this reasonable?
2. The waiting times displayed on the signboards are not accurate. Ever felt that the 3 mins shown on the signboard feels longer than just 3 mins? Is LTA going to force SMRT to do anything about it, or the top officials in the ministry, regulatory agencies and transport companies just don’t take rides everyday to share the common man’s misery? (Hello, wake up please!)

Finland’s bus timings (at least in Oulu) are almost impeccable. They have a table on the internet that states when buses come (e.g. 5.13pm, 5.49pm etc) and they do arrive within the minute! Probably because winter there is very cold and people do not expect to wait too long in the cold? Or maybe, an operator that really cares?

3. The trains are packed to the door. Again, I am not griping just about the peak hours. I just took a train last Sunday at around noon, and it was so packed that I think at the most 2 more people could squeeze in from my door! I would like the CEO of SMRT to take her own trains to see what kind of policies she is implementing is really working the way she wants? Miss Saw, any comments? Or you’re only bothered about your shareholders?

 

I would like to suggest some improvements for the transport companies:

1. Bus companies should look into having mini buses for existing popular routes and increasing regularity of these services even for non-peak hours.

Having said that, I understand bus companies have to balance their operational costs versus profits. However, my opinion is that while it will hurt operational profit in the short term, the availability of regular bus services will, over time, ingrain in people the idea that driving is not much better off, since regular bus services (say every 5-10 mins) can get them to their destination in a comparably quick time as well. Comfort is not compromised as well, as regular bus services would help ensure most people would get seats on their rides. This in turn, may aid the bus companies in their cause to raise fees – I would be more than willing to support them if I can see something substantial, not easing 99% ridership to 92% - that’s bullshit to me.

2. If (1) cannot be done by the existing bus operators, the government should “liberalize” the markets to force the incumbents to work out something viable. Introduce a few more operators and give some routes to them, and force an artificial oligopoly of sorts. This will definitely help SBS and SMRT to wake up to the fact that someone out there can think better than them. At least it helped SingTel to streamline operations, and lower phone ownership costs to consumers.
3. There has been some hoo-ha over SMRT removing seats in some cabins for newer trains to ensure that their trains can pack in more people. While there is nothing wrong with this commercial decision, commuters would naturally feel indignant? What if I told u, in order to make your existing car a seven-seater, I remove all the seats and ask u to stand? While the analogy may not be very appropriate, I hope it drives home a point.

SMRT can take a leaf out of the Japan Railway trains. Their seats can be folded up during the morning and evening peak hours to make room for more people to be “packed” into the trains. I guess the rationale being old or handicapped people are less likely to take public transport during these hours. When it is during off-peak hours, the seats can be unlocked and people can then get a comfortable ride. For people who prefer to sit and don’t need to take the train during peak hours would then also avoid taking the trains then. Sounds like a good plan, right?

  

I hope that SMRT, TIBS, and ComfortDelgro can sit up and take notice of the pains felt by the people taking their transport. In your cause to fight for higher fares, do not compare yourselves to other transport systems like those in Finland, Japan etc. You have NO REASON to charge like they do simply because you are not up to standard yet.