Mrt Disruption Thread (compiled)

[Guest Guest]

The cheebye PTC is conspicuously missing from the "action"

They only know how to spring up to raise fares and keep quiet when serious issues need to be addressed and responsibility accounted for.

Singapore is better off without these parasitic irresponsible useless "committees" whose goals are purely self serving.

[matthewleon]

  On 4/22/2012 at 1:26 PM, Guest 2 said:

The last line is cute he where got time to sue you? People busy preparing GP paper retake lah..........don't disturb him, don't know how many tries liao, fail again har, cry also no tears come out (just pee and poo out......cannot control bowel mah............. )

Don't sue me also hor..........

Haha, it sounded more like KI paper to me :-)

Where "correlation does not denote causation" and "Occam'a Razor taken to the extreme" are almost the basic critical thinking that many demonstrate in their essays ;-)

[Guest DreamIsJustDream]

  On 4/18/2012 at 2:51 AM, Guest said:

I agree too! As for government conspiracy, if it is true, their current plan to change travelling patterns might just not be that efficacious. In order to ameliorate the peak hour problems, there must be a more comprehensive plan to change current employers to cooperate with government to allow employees to either work at home or arrive work at a later time, not the usual 8 or 9 a.m sharp

Dream on, Singapore can never become like European countries who are more focused on quality of life, family-oriented. A good example is Denmark (though they have high taxes, it seems like their citizens are much happier)

[Guest babooshame07RejectedToPost]

SMRT ‘counseled’ PRC bus driver for giving free ride to PRC female passenger

SMRT has ‘counseled’ one of its ‘precious’ PRC bus driver for giving a free ride to a PRC female passenger after receiving numerous complaints from irate netizens.

The Temasek Times published a letter a week ago about a Singaporean who were told to ‘get lost’ by a PRC woman who forced her way up bus service 962 at Sun Plaza from the rear door and then sat down without paying.

When he complained to the bus captain about the woman, he pretended not to hear anything and drove off.

“I told the bus captain about the free ride, but he didn’t care and drove off. I thought this would only happen in the 80s or 90s. I don’t think she and the bus captain are locals. Singapore is not their home, they just don’t care about Singaporeans,” the man who is known as ‘Donny’ wrote on STOMP.

In response to queries from the media, SMRT replied that it has ‘counseled’ the PRC bus driver and appropriate ‘disciplinary actions’ have been taken without elaborating more on it.

It also thanked ‘Donny’ for reflecting the incident online and ‘apologized’ for any inconveniences caused.

[Guest babooshame07Dejected]

SMRT fined $300 for overcrowded buses (do you think it is too little?)

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. Public-listed company SMRT which rakes in millions of dollars in profits each year is fined ‘only’ $300 for persistent overcrowding on its bus service 925 despite the operator being fined for it four times before.

During the latest review of bus service standards between June and November last year, the Woodlands-Choa Chu Kang service was found to be bursting at the seams on three occasions in

SMRT will be fined $300 in total for it, which is not even a ‘touch’ on its ‘wrist’, let alone a ‘slap’.

The ‘punishment’ meted out to SMRT set many tongues wagging with some netizens speculating that it’s the real reason behind SMRT’s dismal performance lately:

[Guest pa poo xhame]

Lui Tuck Yew: I was ‘gravely concerned’ over the spate of disruptions

Four days after SMRT suffered another MAJOR breakdown on the Circle Line with services suspended for more than two hours, Transport Minister Lui Tuck finally gave his take on the matter.

Speaking at the sidelines of an event at National Junior College, Mr Lui expressed his concern at the recent spate of disruptions in the last few days which has made a mockery out of Singapore’s public rail system.

“I was gravely concerned over the spate of disruptions. It has inconvenienced many, many commuters greatly. It has angered many commuters and rightly so because they expect and deserve a much more reliable service than what has been delivered over the course of the past week,” he said.

Mr Lui added that he was told by SMRT’s management that a team of experts – made up of manufacturers and train providers – has been set up to not only look at the train disruptions but potential problems.

“They will be able to tell us more about what are some of the series of faults and problems that the trains will face as they age. And then with that information that we get from them, together with the builders of the train systems, we will be in a better position to prepare ourselves for potential vulnerable areas, potential faults that may not even be surfacing to the extent that we would see in the future.”

With public confidence in SMRT at an all-time low, it will take more than a few blanket reassurances from Mr Lui to regain their trust.

Mr Lui has earlier said in Parliament that ‘minor’ disruptions less than 30 minutes are ‘unavoidable’:

“We will try and minimise as much as possible the major disruptions and to keep them in check. But I think it is unavoidable that a system that is as heavily utilised as ours is today will not face any disruptions. Every day there are about 2.7 million passenger trips. We are running thousands of train trips for more than 18 hours a day. And I dare say that there is no way you can prevent disruptions from occurring.” (Hope they can resolve it ASAP!)

With train services breaking down, disrupted or delayed almost every other day, Mr Lui may need to change his definition of ‘major disruptions’ pretty soon.

[Guest peekaboo]

Why it’s time to consider nationalizing our metro train system

(Is this a good idea? Become a system like NTUC Union)

The fact that our metro train system has become an integral part of our daily landscape moving millions of pax trips cannot be over emphasized. There will be more train lines opening up soon with the billions of public funds committed to it’s network expansion. It is now timely for a thorough review and revamp of the entire rail system i.e. the model of full or partial privatization or nationalization in the form of setting up a Statuatory Board to run the entire rail network system autonomously and independently without any third party interference!

Obviously the current model of fully privatized business entity with LTA as the regulator doesn’t seem to work anymore. The natural tendency for a private enterprise to aim for maximum profits and minimum costs by cutting down on expensive assets maintenance & operation costs is clearly in conflict resulting in our present sorry state of affairs. If there is no problem then why this high powered COI lasting 6 weeks parading in a public court? Whilst the COI is in progress to probe into the system’s failure on last Dec, yet the trains are still breaking down even more frequently.

The instabilty and unreliablity of the rail network is so obvious to the public that any more self- denial simply won’t assuage an irate discerning public. A re-think and revamp of our current model is therefore timely. Already universities and polytechnics are arranging for alternative transport on exams period just in case. The trust is no longer there!

There are advantages of nationalization. Instead of the LTA as regulator telling the train operator what to do and how to run the trains now the stat board will decide everything on its own. The blaming game stops there and now. As it is from the on going court case, LTA and SMRT getting first class expensive lawyers to ‘finger pointing’ each other. Pushing blame to each other to the chagrin of an appalled public! WTF! The commuting public actually suffer and at the losing ends with two fellows fighting over whose faults or incompetency that resulted in our current mess!

ALAN TANG made a comment on facebook. :clap:

[Guest peekaboo]

BIG CASE (LRT DISRUPTION)

Another train disruption: LRT train stalled between Bukit Panjang and Senja LRT stations (22nd Apr'12)

One day after Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew ticked off SMRT for the recent spate of breakdowns, a LRT train stalled in Bukit Panjang today causing distressed passengers to be evacuated from it.

According to a netizen, he saw two LRTs stopped somewhere in the middle of Bukit Panjang and Senja stations today. A fire engine, red rhino and ambulance were also on standby in the vicinity:

Another commuter Teo Wei Shen added:

“Service A is disrupted; Services B and C (via BP7 Petir) are available. One vehicle has broken down and another vehicle has coupled to the broken down vehicle, likely to be sent back to depot. It appears to be the exact same section of track where a vehicle’s guide wheel disloged about 10 years ago.” :yuk:

Passengers were forced to alight from the stalled train and walk back to the LRT station: 好可怜啊 !(sad case, walk on unsheltered open track)

As usual, there are no public statements from SMRT as its management has long run out of excuses to cover up for its gross incompetence.

The Temasek Times (censored due to site rules) is the FIRST news site in Singapore to report on the latest SMRT cock-up as such ‘minor’ disruptions continue to get censored by the state media.

Comment: 地铁局是否有买乘客人寿保险!意外谁负责?

[Guest peekaboo]

Update:

11 passengers affected by train fault at Bukit Panjang LRT

Train service was disrupted at Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) Service A and Service C routes on Sunday afternoon due to a train fault between Bukit Panjang and Senja stations.

Staff were on site to attend to 11 passengers who were affected by the train disruption, according to a SMRT spokesperson.

BPLRT Service B was disrupted for nine minutes between 5:11pm to 5:20pm to facilitate Service A's detrainment to Senja. BPLRT Service C resumed operations at 5:40pm and Service A resumed at 7:15pm.

The affected passengers alighted from the train safely and walked on a 1.5-metre wide emergency walkway for about 150 metres to Senja station. The walkway, according to the SMRT spokesperson, is safe and is regularly used by staff for maintenance work.

At the same time, passengers onboard another affected train had to alight so that their train could be used to push out the stalled train.

Announcements were made at all BPLRT stations and Twitter was used to update commuters throughout the incident.

SMRT apologised for the inconvenience caused to commuters.

[babooshame07]

  On 4/22/2012 at 3:27 PM, peekaboo said:

Update:

11 passengers affected by train fault at Bukit Panjang LRT

Train service was disrupted at Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) Service A and Service C routes on Sunday afternoon due to a train fault between Bukit Panjang and Senja stations.

Staff were on site to attend to 11 passengers who were affected by the train disruption, according to a SMRT spokesperson.

BPLRT Service B was disrupted for nine minutes between 5:11pm to 5:20pm to facilitate Service A's detrainment to Senja. BPLRT Service C resumed operations at 5:40pm and Service A resumed at 7:15pm.

The affected passengers alighted from the train safely and walked on a 1.5-metre wide emergency walkway for about 150 metres to Senja station. The walkway, according to the SMRT spokesperson, is safe and is regularly used by staff for maintenance work.

At the same time, passengers onboard another affected train had to alight so that their train could be used to push out the stalled train.

Announcements were made at all BPLRT stations and Twitter was used to update commuters throughout the incident.

SMRT apologised for the inconvenience caused to commuters.

I am scared that this will happen to my train journey, I have a fear of heights

[qedcwc]

All recently affected services are the ones operated by SMRT, though Bukit Panjang LRT has been problematic since its inception.

Rather unnerving when commuters are made to walk on that LRT track, considering it doesnt have any side rails like SBS' Sengkang and Punggol LRT tracks...

[babooshame07]

SMRT on LRT train disruption: The walkway is ‘safe’ to walk

Following our exposure of a shocking scene in which passengers are forced to walk on LRT track after a LRT train stalled between Bukit Panjang and Senja LRT stations, SMRT has issued a public statement reassuring Singaporeans that the walkway is ‘safe’ to walk. (pic above by Izzy Hazip)

Instead of taking responsibility for the latest train disruption, thick-skinned SMRT heaped generous self-praise on its ‘double-quick’ response time in ‘attending’ to the stranded passengers as if it is some major crisis.

“Within five minutes, our staff attended to the affected passengers, while the air-conditioning and lights remained on throughout,” it said in a statement to the media.

The passengers were asked to leave the train and walked on a 1.5-metre-wide emergency walkway for about 150 metres to Senja station under the ‘escort’ of two SCDF officers.

It is not known if the passengers were given discounts off their fares for walking part of their journey home.

Despite genuine concerns about the safety of doing so, SMRT proclaimed:

“The walkway is SAFE and is regularly used by its staff for maintenance work.”

However, some netizens remain skeptical on Facebook:

“is it a SOP to allow stranded passengers to walk on the rail? How sure are they that it is safe to walk like that? if a passenger decided to commit suicide by jumping down? what if there is a lightining strike?? what if someone has phobia of height?” – Terence Lim

“wont you fall down? like acccidentally fall down?!?!!?!?!?looks very DANGEROUS” – Fang Jun

“definitely very dangerous…what if suddenly raining and very windy….suspect people also can fly…very sure there must be other alternative to rescue passengers…” – Salbiah Ali

[babooshame07]

  On 4/23/2012 at 1:46 AM, qedcwc said:

All recently affected services are the ones operated by SMRT, though Bukit Panjang LRT has been problematic since its inception.

Rather unnerving when commuters are made to walk on that LRT track, considering it doesnt have any side rails like SBS' Sengkang and Punggol LRT tracks...

I will cry for mummy if I have to do that, imagine a parent pushing a baby pram or stroller, a wheelchair user or even people who are blind, walking and pushing along the track, feeling the cool breeze on their faces. (Just don't look down)

[babooshame07]

SBS to raise S’porean bus drivers' salaries by 16%

(Will it attract Singaporeans? Will the quality of drivers be better? Will my bus and mrt fares increase considerably due to wage increase?)

New Singaporean bus drivers can now expect a basic salary of S$1,600 compared to the current S$1,375.

In a bid to attract more Singaporean bus drivers, SBS Transit will increase the starting pay of new Singaporean drivers by 16 per cent from next month onwards.

According to local media reports, new Singaporean bus drivers can now expect a basic salary of S$1,600 compared to the current S$1,375.

With overtime pay and allowances, drivers can earn about S$2,250 a month in gross salary in their first year of service, SBS Transit said.

The existing 1,900 Singaporean bus drivers will also get to take home an additional S$225, reported The Straits Times. Non-Singaporean drivers will get a smaller increase of between $75 and $150.

The raise will benefit over 5,300 bus drivers.

The transport operator’s announcement comes after the government announced in this year’s Budget it would set aside S$1.1 billion to fund a significant expansion of bus capacity.

It was reported last month that the National Transport Workers' Union was also in talks with SMRT to raise salaries for its bus drivers to match that of SBS Transit's.

[Guest Guest]

Remember every time when PTC raised the fares, they ALWAYS cite increased operational and maintenance costs as the rationale?

Turns out, as revealed in Court, that SMRT did not raise their maintenance budgets for a good 10 years!

It is time for a thorough investigation into PTC, all of its members, especially those affiliated with the transport operators to make them answerable and accountable for their past actions.

[merlinkun]

Let's not forget they claim giving polytechnic student the actual student price means they will suffer annual loss.

[Guest Guest]

That was a convenient excuse, not a rationale!

These people should be executed.

[Guest Guesty]

Excuse me, it is maintenance cost.

Maintain their high salary and bonuses.

Maintain their high lifestyle.

Maintain their perks.

Maintain the same level of service without saying improvement...

Maintain their leisure time.......

Maintain their low productivity.......

Maintain status quo...

They did not say maintenance as in after sales servicing of the system technically.

Yes, maintenance is expensive......

[Guest WC]

Read the PTC Annual Report. The one and only one is for 2010/2011. No report for 2011/2012 ?!

http://www.ptc.gov.s...nnualReport.htm

This one and only annual report posted -- only bugged on Fares and Bus services. There is no mention about MRT services, and suddenly MRT services have deteriorated overnight ?! These Higher Beings must have their eyes wide shut and ears sealed all these while.

TS, you're right. If now all men are pointing fingers at SMRT now, the Land Transport watchdog - PTC and even the LTA should also take the blame.

[Guest Guest]

With the quality we enjoy now, the public transport is dirt cheap.

[Guest huh]

  On 5/15/2012 at 4:07 AM, Guest said:

With the quality we enjoy now, the public transport is dirt cheap.

dirt cheap = no minimum expectation?

Dirt cheap to you (and most of us) but to some, its not. Read on this recent news in TR which you may never imagine is happening.

A homeless woman in dire straits walked 24km with her 2 daughters from Yishun to Chai Chee, stopping to rest at the void deck at nightfall, planning to walk another 6km to Tampines the next morning to seek help from a relative.

Tipped off by grassroot volunteers, Minister of State and Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade GRC BG (NS) Tan Chuan Jin approached the family and accompanied them for a few hundred meters as he profusely advised them to accept his assistance.

BG (NS) Tan narrated this incident on his facebook with a heavy heart (edited for clarity).

On late Wednesday (11 Jan 2012) night, he was doing house visits at Chai Chee, and was about to call it a day when he was informed by a grassroot leader about a homeless lady who was putting up at the void deck of Block 26 with her 2 daughters. He rushed over with a few volunteers and discovered that the family was sleeping on a mat. Beside them was a load of personal items on a trolley.

He woke them up and asked if there was anything he could do to help. According to the woman, she was recently divorced and unable to go home. On that day, she had wanted to seek assistance from a relative who was residing at Tampines and planned to walk there with her 2 daughters.

Hearing this, BG (NS) Tan advised the woman to apply for assistance from the relevant agencies and also offered to arrange for transport to send them to the relative’s place but the woman rejected it. Despite repeated offers of assistance from BG (NS) Tan, the woman insisted that they were good on their own and started walking away.

BG (NS) Tan subsequently called the police and followed the woman for a few hundred metres hoping to convince her to accept his assistance but again his offer was repeatedly rejected. It was only after the police arrived that the woman agreed to letting the police sent her and her daughters to the relative’s place.

According to BG (NS) Tan, the woman was 46-years-old and her 2 daughters were 16 and 14-years-old respectively. Both the daughters have stopped schooling and the 14-year-old daughter is an unwed single mother who gave birth to a child at the age of 13.

According to Google map, the distance from Yishun to Chai Chee is about 24km and from Chai Chee to Tampines is about 6km, by foot.

.

Editor’s note:

1. During a Parliamentary session recently, MPs are encouraged to report person(s) needing assistance to the relevant agency, it is not known if BG (NS) Tan had done so and if any agency are following up on the matter.

2. The team at TR Emeritus (TRE) is concerned that the 2 daughters have stopped schooling at the young age of 16 and 14-years-old and would like to appeal to the relevant agency to please look into this.

3. Of another concern in this case would be the fact that the youngest 14-year-old daughter reportedly gave birth at the age of 13 which unless she is legally married, whoever got her pregnant with or without her consent would have committed an offence of Rape under section 375 of the Penal Code, that carries a maximum imprisonment term of up to 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine or to caning.

Since the police was involved in this matter indirectly (of sending them to the relative’s place), did the police smell a rat and proactively launch an investigation into an alleged offence of Rape? Rape of a minor is a very serious criminal offence and the ignorance of her mother (by not reporting or failing to report) should not be an excuse for the police to not take any action considering that it is a seizable offence, against a minor who needs to be protected at all cost.

.

TRE was unable to confirm at print time if there was any subsequent follow-up by BG (NS) Tan or the relevant agencies to the woman’s plight and would like to appeal to readers with information to please update us through our online web form.

[Guest Guest]

  On 5/15/2012 at 4:16 AM, huh said:

dirt cheap = no minimum expectation?

Dirt cheap to you (and most of us) but to some, its not. Read on this recent news in TR which you may never imagine is happening.

A homeless woman in dire straits walked 24km with her 2 daughters from Yishun to Chai Chee, stopping to rest at the void deck at nightfall, planning to walk another 6km to Tampines the next morning to seek help from a relative.

Tipped off by grassroot volunteers, Minister of State and Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade GRC BG (NS) Tan Chuan Jin approached the family and accompanied them for a few hundred meters as he profusely advised them to accept his assistance.

BG (NS) Tan narrated this incident on his facebook with a heavy heart (edited for clarity).

On late Wednesday (11 Jan 2012) night, he was doing house visits at Chai Chee, and was about to call it a day when he was informed by a grassroot leader about a homeless lady who was putting up at the void deck of Block 26 with her 2 daughters. He rushed over with a few volunteers and discovered that the family was sleeping on a mat. Beside them was a load of personal items on a trolley.

He woke them up and asked if there was anything he could do to help. According to the woman, she was recently divorced and unable to go home. On that day, she had wanted to seek assistance from a relative who was residing at Tampines and planned to walk there with her 2 daughters.

Hearing this, BG (NS) Tan advised the woman to apply for assistance from the relevant agencies and also offered to arrange for transport to send them to the relative’s place but the woman rejected it. Despite repeated offers of assistance from BG (NS) Tan, the woman insisted that they were good on their own and started walking away.

BG (NS) Tan subsequently called the police and followed the woman for a few hundred metres hoping to convince her to accept his assistance but again his offer was repeatedly rejected. It was only after the police arrived that the woman agreed to letting the police sent her and her daughters to the relative’s place.

According to BG (NS) Tan, the woman was 46-years-old and her 2 daughters were 16 and 14-years-old respectively. Both the daughters have stopped schooling and the 14-year-old daughter is an unwed single mother who gave birth to a child at the age of 13.

According to Google map, the distance from Yishun to Chai Chee is about 24km and from Chai Chee to Tampines is about 6km, by foot.

.

Editor’s note:

1. During a Parliamentary session recently, MPs are encouraged to report person(s) needing assistance to the relevant agency, it is not known if BG (NS) Tan had done so and if any agency are following up on the matter.

2. The team at TR Emeritus (TRE) is concerned that the 2 daughters have stopped schooling at the young age of 16 and 14-years-old and would like to appeal to the relevant agency to please look into this.

3. Of another concern in this case would be the fact that the youngest 14-year-old daughter reportedly gave birth at the age of 13 which unless she is legally married, whoever got her pregnant with or without her consent would have committed an offence of Rape under section 375 of the Penal Code, that carries a maximum imprisonment term of up to 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine or to caning.

Since the police was involved in this matter indirectly (of sending them to the relative’s place), did the police smell a rat and proactively launch an investigation into an alleged offence of Rape? Rape of a minor is a very serious criminal offence and the ignorance of her mother (by not reporting or failing to report) should not be an excuse for the police to not take any action considering that it is a seizable offence, against a minor who needs to be protected at all cost.

.

TRE was unable to confirm at print time if there was any subsequent follow-up by BG (NS) Tan or the relevant agencies to the woman’s plight and would like to appeal to readers with information to please update us through our online web form.

I suggest you spend more time hunting for such needy case around your estate and report to the relevant department than doing cut and paste to argue a point over and over again. Its stale and boring.

[fab]

Privatise the profit, socialise the cost.

[Guest guest2]

  On 5/15/2012 at 4:30 AM, Guest said:

I suggest you spend more time hunting for such needy case around your estate and report to the relevant department than doing cut and paste to argue a point over and over again. Its stale and boring.

Please do as you've preached. Do ya? Thanks.

[Guest ATS]

  On 5/15/2012 at 4:30 AM, Guest said:

I suggest you spend more time hunting for such needy case around your estate and report to the relevant department than doing cut and paste to argue a point over and over again. Its stale and boring.

You are indeed quarrelsome, you love picking bitch fights with others all the time, be it in Trevvy or BW.

[XiaoMessy]

  On 5/14/2012 at 3:27 PM, merlinkun said:

Let's not forget they claim giving polytechnic student the actual student price means they will suffer annual loss.

+1

[joshboy]

our transport is cheap and considered good compared to many other countries. Not to mention we dont have "blackholes" - places that cannot be reached by public transport. So i think its well done. But of course the recent breakdown, we need to brushup on that

[Guest Guest]

  On 5/20/2012 at 5:01 PM, joshboy said:

our transport is cheap and considered good compared to many other countries. Not to mention we dont have "blackholes" - places that cannot be reached by public transport. So i think its well done. But of course the recent breakdown, we need to brushup on that

no blackholes? u sure? have u been to HKG? Used their public transport?

[gstc82]

Hk? Many times, mtr don't go deep into the heartlands.

[Guest gstc seow]

  On 5/21/2012 at 12:39 AM, gstc82 said:

Hk? Many times, mtr don't go deep into the heartlands.

Yeah yeah, we all know you are a PAP grassloots member.

This is not a PAP or political forum, quit bringing govt propaganda here!

[gstc82]

U flatter me! I had commited more sins that I will make yeow shin leong look like. Virgin choir boy. No way will the pap accept my membership even if I offer my body n be a slave boy to teo see luck.

[Guest MIB]

being a grassroot member is flattery meh ? no thanks.