More reason for fare hike?

Everytime I see improvement in services touted in the news by half-private gahmen-owned companies, I sweat at the possibilities of another fare hike. Let’s put our hands together and pray.

SMRT to add 112 train trips on weekdays: “SINGAPORE: Starting from October 24, SMRT will add 112 train trips during weekdays to ease morning and evening peak hour rush.”

(Via CNA > Singapore News.)

Why not let private companies join in?

We seriously need more competitors to join in the fray of providing public transport in Singapore with the rising cost of living.

According to my past experience talking to uncle while doing despatch, he commented that it is possible for companies to provide cheaper service as compared to SMRT and SBS.

I think it is a good alternative to have. I seriously wouldn’t mind that. But still is this even a possible idea to start out with?

I think the worry for government is the consistency of the quality of the transport system in Singapore and the system to govern such companies. But still it’s something worth trying for the sake of Singaporeans right?

Going up: Bus fares for Premium Bus Services: ”

Everything seems to be going up nowadays, but the recent rise in premium bus fares somehow reminds me of the rise in ERP charges. Someone mentioned that ‘if motorists pay to use the road, they will be assured of a smooth ride’. It would have seemed that the public transport companies are taking the same stance, except that they are quoting ‘raising fuel costs’ as the main reason.

As with previous announcements on hikes of whatever nature, it is never complete without an face-palm statement, quoting Mr Ong Kian Ming, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, that ‘yes, bus operators are running a business, but it’s also a time to attract more people to switch to public transport’.

Right.

Premium bus fares to go up

By Yeo Ghim Lay

PREMIUM bus fares will soon go up, as operators here feel the pinch from higher fuel prices.

SBS Transit, which runs more than half of such services, will raise fares by 30 to 60 cents, up to a maximum of $3.60 per trip.

The fare hike will affect all of its 40 premium services. Details are being worked out.

Currently, a trip on an SBS Transit premium bus costs between $2.70 and $3.60.

A company spokesman said that its electricity and fuel costs have increased by 52.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year.

Rival SMRT has already increased fares for premium service 531, which travels the Simei to Central Business District route, from $3 to $4. Fares on its remaining premium services remain the same.

Smaller players Bus Hub and the Singapore School Transport Association have also applied to raise their fares by 50 cents to $1.

Bus Hub runs two premium services; the association has five.

The Public Transport Council (PTC), which approves bus-fare increases, said it ‘generally would not object to changes in premium bus services fares as operators make their own commercial assessments and risks to adjust their service pricing’.

Mr Ong Kian Min, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, hopes fares will not go up drastically.

‘Yes, bus operators are running a business, but it’s also a time to attract more people to switch to public transport,’ he said.

Premium services, a key plank of the Government’s push to get more commuters to take public transport, have been gaining in popularity lately: There are now 76 services, up from 42 in January.

This includes six new SBS Transit premium services to be rolled out on Monday.

ghimlay@sph.com.sg

Source: Straits Times Interactive, http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_252343.html

Article extracted on straitstimes.com on 28th June 2008

”

(Via Simply Me. Simply Jean..)

Is SMRT cheating us?

2-3 years ago, the ferquency of train is at 4-5 minutes but today, it is a common scene to see frequency at 8-11 minutes. 10 minutes interarrival of service should only apply to bus service.

During a casual chitchat, my friend pointed that back then the government should solve the traffic condition rather than encouraging people to take public transport. Right now, conditions for both train and road is equally bad.

It is a situation where you can only suck thumb and carry on with your life. Maybe the only way is to wake up early so as to take a earlier bus and avoid the congestion.

Guess what time is the picture taken?

it’s 12mn!

Rednano ad is just too irritating

In the SMRT train, it is quite often you wanna peer out of your windows to see which station you’re at but then when the advertisement is plastered at the whole wall, you just can’t see where you’re at.

People don’t need the whole wall to be plastered to know that it’s an ads. I hope they pull down the ads soon. It’s just too irritating.

This post is not targeting Rednano only but ads that plastered the whole wall. A better solution is to use materials that allow people to see whats going outside like what SBS bus always use.

Rantings on ads by SMRT and SBS

You must have often see the poster by SMRT and SBS to encourage people to ride with them to help create a greener environment - “go green with smrt“. Wah try to help and save the earth. My answer to them is that is they bloody need to increase the frequency of bus and train as it is getting absurdly long and packed.

It’s so crazy 9am in the morning to see the train packed like sardine without fail as well as having to wait 30-40mins for my dear bus 73 during working hours. I’ve shooted 3 complaint letter before but then did the situation improves? Yes for the very next week but a month after things still turn back to the same old thing.

Does this situation looks like a world-class transport system? Not to mention increasing the fare to so call improve the quality of service by what? Installing TV Mobile?

What the commuters need is not TV. What we need is for the frequency of bus and train to improve. We don’t want to be late for work. What’s the use of it when the commuters have to be worried of being late for work because just the service cannot handle the load.

I don’t quite like monopoly because this will lead to un-competitiveness and standard usually drop. And consumer is the one usually suffer on the other end while companies continue to make ever-higher profits.

Regarding to transport issue, is the premium bus service under SBS?

If it’s a yes, then we’re heading for disaster. We are too easily cheated and most importantly we are trained to suck thumb and accept the fact as it is.

SMRT doing it the Japan way

If SMRT wants to squeeze more profit, they should have do it the Japan way. Haha I don’t think anyone would wanna take train anymore in the future. But it’s freaking crazy to see the operators pushing people into the train. Awesome but I wouldn’t want to be one of them. This is what I called “pack like sardines”.

p.s: thanks for correcting me to change from china to jap