SMRT   

SMRT

Thursday:  29 APRIL 2010  CLOSING

S$2.260  +S$0.060

DOW  PHOBIA

 

Sometimes, the Math doesn’t add up

PTC chairman Gerard Ee explained that those who will end up paying more are mostly those taking a long journey.

Since fares are based on distance, this seems to make sense.  Or does it?

Is it fair that a commuter taking a long trip from point X to point Y will now have to pay more under the new distance-based fare system? The distance between X and Y has not changed. And the penalties for transfers have also been removed.

So, essentially, it has just become more expensive to travel the same distance from X to Y.

To put a dollar value to the concessions of the public transport operators, it was reported that it will cost SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit, some $32 million, split almost evenly between the island’s two main public transport providers.

But as SBS Transit chief executive Gan Juay Kiat acknowledged: “We believe that it will lead to an overall increase in public transport travel and are confident that this increase may more than offset the costs that we have to bear as a result of the change.”

So what is the big deal about the $32-million figure if the increased ridership is expected to “more than offset” the concessions given?

Big numbers = small savings?

Here are some other “big numbers” to consider.

Last year, SBS Transit, which also runs the North East Line (NEL) line, earned net profits of $54.6 million on revenues of $697.1 million — or about 8-per-cent margin on revenue.

SMRT reported net earnings of some $162.73 million on revenues of $878.95 million, a margin of 18.5 per cent.

Surely, the pair could have offered better savings to the commuter?

Especially since they expect overall ridership to increase as a result of the new fare system.

As one commuter pointed out, when Hong Kong’s two major train operators, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, merged, fare concessions amounted to HK$600 million or more than $120 million.

Cuts amounted to more than 10 per cent for long-distance travellers with more than half the commuters using Octopus smart cards enjoying 5-per-cent reductions in travel costs.

Now, that’s what I call meaningful savings.

Surely we can do better than Hong Kong?

The writer is editor-at-large at Today.

 

We believe that it will lead to an overall increase in public transport travel and are confident that this increase may more than offset the costs that we have to bear as a result of the change.

Mr Gan Juay Kiat,

SBS Transit chief executive

 

F

While, the move to do away with transfer penalties is to be commended, the savings seem low. Commuters will save, on average, 2.5 per cent or about 48 cents a week (or just about $25 a year), according to the Public Transport Council (PTC).

And not all commuters will enjoy savings — some 34 per cent will see an increase of about 31 cents a week (or $16 a year).

On top of this, the 15-month fare discount of 3 per cent to help commuters tide over the global economic downturn, will come to an end.

T h e s av i n g s a re based on the maximum adjustment allowed by the PTC — calculated using a formula which takes into account the change in the consumer price index (CPI) and the change in average monthly earnings over the preceding year.

This formula has worked well in most years, coupled with discounts, it has helped to cushion fare increases that might have otherwise been out of sync with the peaks and troughs of the island’s economic cycle.

However, in a year like this, when the PTC is making a major change, and a planned one at that, to implement distance-based fares across the public transport system, perhaps it should have considered a one-off tweak to the formula — to make the savings more substantial.

rom July 3 commuters will not have to pay a penalty when they transfer from one bus to another or from a train to a bus or vice versa. This is when the distance-based through-fare system to make transfers more seamless in Singapore’s hub-and-spoke public transport system takes effect.

pharoah88      ( Date: 26-Apr-2010 16:30) Posted: Comment &analysis today Monday April 26, 2010   page 12 Operators should offer better savings The move to do away with transfer penalties is commendable, but savings offered to commuters seem low Conrad Raj conrad@mediacorp.com.sg leejlk      ( Date: 21-Apr-2010 17:22) Posted:     Top Idea Land Transport PTC announces shift to full distance ‐based fares This July, the average bus and train fare will be cut by 2.5%, according to the Public Transport Council (PTC), when it completely cuts over to the new distance We maintain BUY on SMRT with a target price of $2.47 and HOLD on ComfortDelgro with a target price of $1.72. ‐based fare system. Previously, commuters who switched modes of transport were hit as they had to pay full fares on both portions, effectively a transfer penalty. In the past two years, they received some reprieve in the form of transfer rebates. With a full distance‐based system, this rebate will be removed but the commuter will only need to pay for the exact distance travelled.

 

Comment

&analysis today Monday April 26, 2010   page 12

Operators should offer better savings

The move to do away with transfer penalties is commendable, but savings offered to commuters seem low

Conrad Raj

conrad@mediacorp.com.sg

leejlk      ( Date: 21-Apr-2010 17:22) Posted:     Top Idea Land Transport PTC announces shift to full distance ‐based fares This July, the average bus and train fare will be cut by 2.5%, according to the Public Transport Council (PTC), when it completely cuts over to the new distance We maintain BUY on SMRT with a target price of $2.47 and HOLD on ComfortDelgro with a target price of $1.72. ‐based fare system. Previously, commuters who switched modes of transport were hit as they had to pay full fares on both portions, effectively a transfer penalty. In the past two years, they received some reprieve in the form of transfer rebates. With a full distance‐based system, this rebate will be removed but the commuter will only need to pay for the exact distance travelled.

 

I would think LTA should look into covering up "stretch by stretch" on  those ground level tracks to minimise the

noises of trains.  

MikeL2009      ( Date: 22-Apr-2010 10:20) Posted: Nothing to be puzzled about. Fares are not their only income source. Their income from retail space has been increasing over the years. Also, with extra barricades being up at some stations, there is more advertising space for added vitamin M from HPB. See that cereals and brown rice heatlh ads?  Vested! knightbridge      ( Date: 21-Apr-2010 22:34) Posted: I don't understand why?? Everytime they annouce that there will be savings for commuters by changing a scheme.. Next moment record profit for the next qtr.. Irony... But i am vested in SMRT

 

Nothing to be puzzled about. Fares are not their only income source. Their income from retail space has been increasing over the years. Also, with extra barricades being up at some stations, there is more advertising space for added vitamin M from HPB. See that cereals and brown rice heatlh ads?  Vested!

knightbridge      ( Date: 21-Apr-2010 22:34) Posted: I don't understand why?? Everytime they annouce that there will be savings for commuters by changing a scheme.. Next moment record profit for the next qtr.. Irony... But i am vested in SMRT leejlk      ( Date: 21-Apr-2010 17:22) Posted:     Top Idea Land Transport PTC announces shift to full distance ‐based fares This July, the average bus and train fare will be cut by 2.5%, according to the Public Transport Council (PTC), when it completely cuts over to the new distance We maintain BUY on SMRT with a target price of $2.47 and HOLD on ComfortDelgro with a target price of $1.72. ‐based fare system. Previously, commuters who switched modes of transport were hit as they had to pay full fares on both portions, effectively a transfer penalty. In the past two years, they received some reprieve in the form of transfer rebates. With a full distance‐based system, this rebate will be removed but the commuter will only need to pay for the exact distance travelled.

 

I don't understand why?? Everytime they annouce that there will be savings for commuters by changing a scheme.. Next moment record profit for the next qtr..

Irony... But i am vested in SMRT

leejlk      ( Date: 21-Apr-2010 17:22) Posted:     Top Idea Land Transport PTC announces shift to full distance ‐based fares This July, the average bus and train fare will be cut by 2.5%, according to the Public Transport Council (PTC), when it completely cuts over to the new distance We maintain BUY on SMRT with a target price of $2.47 and HOLD on ComfortDelgro with a target price of $1.72. ‐based fare system. Previously, commuters who switched modes of transport were hit as they had to pay full fares on both portions, effectively a transfer penalty. In the past two years, they received some reprieve in the form of transfer rebates. With a full distance‐based system, this rebate will be removed but the commuter will only need to pay for the exact distance travelled.

 

 

Top Idea Land Transport PTC announces shift to full distance ‐based fares This July, the average bus and train fare will be cut by 2.5%, according to the Public Transport Council (PTC), when it completely cuts over to the new distance We maintain BUY on SMRT with a target price of $2.47 and HOLD on ComfortDelgro with a target price of $1.72. ‐based fare system. Previously, commuters who switched modes of transport were hit as they had to pay full fares on both portions, effectively a transfer penalty. In the past two years, they received some reprieve in the form of transfer rebates. With a full distance‐based system, this rebate will be removed but the commuter will only need to pay for the exact distance travelled.

 

Voices

¡

have your say email your letters to voices@mediacorp.com.sg ¡ join the community www.todayonline.com/voices

today Wednesday April 21, 2010 page

Only some routes to be split

Different communities being consulted before final decision is made.

(Is this ASTRO-TURBING ?)

(Ask the  REAL PASSENGERS  DIRECTLY,  nOt cOmmunitiess hErE  and  thErE ? ? ? ?)

Letter from Helen Lim

Deputy Director, Media Relations

Land Transport Authority

WE REFER to “What next for the less able if cross-country bus routes are scrapped?” (April 14).

There have been public concerns that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be splitting up or phasing out all long distance bus services going forward. This is not so.

We are only re-looking long bus routes with known reliability issues and where there are sensible mid-points to break them so that overall, more commuters benefit.

Findings from our annual Public Transport Customer Satisfaction Survey (WHAT is the POPULATION SIZE and COMPOSITION ????) showed that waiting times and reliability of bus services continue to be key service attributes that can be further improved.

Long bus routes are particularly susceptible to traffic delays and disruptions from boarding/alighting activity, and therefore suffer from poor service reliability.

Take, for example, a bus service running from east to west through the city centre.

If there are delays due to traffic congestion and high boarding and alighting activity in the east, commuters waiting to travel west from the city will find their bus service frequency adversely affected by these disruptions, especially during peak hours.

Based on our analysis of some problematic

(Is this VERIFIED  BY  PASSENGERS ? ? ? ?) long routes, the travelling patterns of commuters show that the majority alight before or at the city centre and not beyond. This means there is room to achieve better service reliability to benefit the majority of commuters using the service if these routes are split.

By splitting an unreliable long service into two complementary services, we can achieve better reliability for the two services by optimising the two routes.

Moreover, with the introduction of distance- based fares come July, commuters travelling the same distance will pay the same fare for the same type of service, regardless of whether they travel direct or make transfers.

However, there are also many long bus routes that do not face reliability problems and are not being considered for splitting, such as those running along the Tampines Expressway corridor, or where the ridership is well distributed along a substantial portion of the entire route.

The LTA has not finalised (Should be VOTED by PASSENGERS ? ? ? ?) the routes to be split, nor where they should be split at, as we are still in the midst of the central bus planning consultation process.

The LTA is consulting the different communities

(Is this ASTRO-TURBING ?)

(Ask the  REAL PASSENGERS  DIRECTLY,  nOt cOmmunitiess hErE  and  thErE ? ? ? ?)

island-wide so that we are able to take into consideration the feedback of the different commuter groups and carefully evaluate and reconcile the different views, before finally making any route changes.

We are mindful that there will be commuters, including the disabled, who need to travel across the split sector and will be affected.

As part of our review  ( WHY YOUR VIEW and  nOt  PASSENGERS'  VIEWS ? ? ? ? ), we will take into consideration their alternatives, overall journey times, fares and ease of transfers before making any recommendations.

Only some routes to be split

12

pharoah88      ( Date: 10-Apr-2010 17:02) Posted: Mr. Kunwar Bir Singh will  make  a  BETTER BUS-ON  MINISTER OF TRANSPORT pharoah88      ( Date: 10-Apr-2010 17:00) Posted: ST Forum Apr 9, 2010 SPLITTING BUS ROUTES Why it won't help   I HAVE followed with interest ideas on reorganising bus routes ('Government to review long bus routes'; March 29). There was a suggestion to split longer routes in two, but I fail to see how it can improve services or encourage more people to take buses. It would further stress the already bursting MRT system as people on long routes will take the train instead. At present, most buses which ply long routes are also de facto feeder services in the areas they serve. This is because most buses on long routes alternate between major and minor roads, and follow a winding route. This means a longer transit time. Splitting bus routes will only increase transit time and worsen the problem. A better solution may be to make a clear distinction between feeder services and buses on long routes. This way, buses on long routes will go on only major roads and not wind around HDB townships. Hence fewer buses will be required on longer routes. These extra buses can then be diverted to act as feeder services, which will be strengthened to take passengers from inside housing estates to MRT stations and major roads. This solution may be more complicated than simply splitting long routes, but I feel it is worth a look by the authorities.  [NOTE:  use mOre BRAIN  POWER  and  TALENT  MATTER] Kunwar Bir Singh

 

Aiyoh, din know u are such a true blooded patriotic singaporean ! Respect respect !

pharoah88      ( Date: 17-Apr-2010 22:51) Posted: i am nOt  sO  impOrtant. if  i am,  such thing  wOn't happen because  i am  nOt  CINE. Complacency Incompetence Negligence Exuberance Directors and Management are CINE nOwadays the buses are easy to drive. autO gear;  pOwer  steering;  air-con. I agreed, these foreign tOlent  [nOt  tAlent] drivers purposely want to make Singaporeans suffer.     niuyear      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 13:53) Posted: Pharoah88, are you in the public transport council?   **My only complaint is : (only to those bad drivers) dont jerk the bus and drive the bus properly like when they drive their own dicky!! How many old folks and pregnant ladies nearly fell while drivers jerk the bus.  Even a strong guy on that bus, needed 2 hands to hold the railings to prevent from falling.   **My most wanted action :  Instal CAMERAS in the BUS and MRT Trains!!!!!

 

fare savings of up to 41 per cent for commuters

SMRT  revenue  and  profits  will  FALL  up  tO  41%

 

Eleven new stations of the Circle Line, stretching from Dhoby Ghaut to Bartley, will begin operations on Saturday with fare savings of up to 41 per cent for commuters. The Bras Basah Station, which was officially opened on Friday, is described as an ‘architectural marvel’.

It is said to be the deepest underground MRT station ever built in Singapore, boasts a 41m escalator — the longest in any MRT station — and a unique reflecting pool on the roof.

 

i am nOt  sO  impOrtant.

if  i am,  such thing  wOn't happen

because  i am  nOt  CINE.

Complacency

Incompetence

Negligence

Exuberance

Directors and Management are CINE

nOwadays the buses are easy to drive.

autO gear;  pOwer  steering;  air-con.

I agreed, these foreign tOlent  [nOt  tAlent] drivers purposely want to make Singaporeans suffer.

 

 

niuyear      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 13:53) Posted: Pharoah88, are you in the public transport council?   **My only complaint is : (only to those bad drivers) dont jerk the bus and drive the bus properly like when they drive their own dicky!! How many old folks and pregnant ladies nearly fell while drivers jerk the bus.  Even a strong guy on that bus, needed 2 hands to hold the railings to prevent from falling.   **My most wanted action :  Instal CAMERAS in the BUS and MRT Trains!!!!!

 

wiat till their pregnant wives meet the same types of driver while on the bus and got herself miscarriage.........LMAO man!

niuyear      ( Date: 16-Apr-2010 13:52) Posted: Got people wrote in to straits times Forum already (it was 2 or 3 mths ago) Got feeling some bad drivers purposely jerk the bus and some even peep thru the rear mirror see how the passengers react. Cameras can solve all the problems.   Salute      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 21:43) Posted: Hi, can you write to forum about the jerky busese. Many feel that I ever confront the driver. one indian driver was able to drive smoothly after that< but there are a couple of chinese drivers said bcs of this type of new bus. To me it.s an effort as the buses of those I have brought up the problem to the drivers were the same models. sigh!!!how come SBS mgt doesn't bother

 

Got people wrote in to straits times Forum already (it was 2 or 3 mths ago)

Got feeling some bad drivers purposely jerk the bus and some even peep thru the rear mirror see how the passengers react.

Cameras can solve all the problems.

 

Salute      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 21:43) Posted: Hi, can you write to forum about the jerky busese. Many feel that I ever confront the driver. one indian driver was able to drive smoothly after that< but there are a couple of chinese drivers said bcs of this type of new bus. To me it.s an effort as the buses of those I have brought up the problem to the drivers were the same models. sigh!!!how come SBS mgt doesn't bother   niuyear      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 13:53) Posted: Pharoah88, are you in the public transport council?   **My only complaint is : (only to those bad drivers) dont jerk the bus and drive the bus properly like when they drive their own dicky!! How many old folks and pregnant ladies nearly fell while drivers jerk the bus.  Even a strong guy on that bus, needed 2 hands to hold the railings to prevent from falling.   **My most wanted action :  Instal CAMERAS in the BUS and MRT Trains!!!!!

 

Hi,

can you write to forum about the jerky busese. Many feel that I ever confront the driver. one indian driver was able to drive smoothly after that< but there are a couple of chinese drivers said bcs of this type of new bus.

To me it.s an effort as the buses of those I have brought up the problem to the drivers were the same models.

sigh!!!how come SBS mgt doesn't bother

 

niuyear      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 13:53) Posted: Pharoah88, are you in the public transport council?   **My only complaint is : (only to those bad drivers) dont jerk the bus and drive the bus properly like when they drive their own dicky!! How many old folks and pregnant ladies nearly fell while drivers jerk the bus.  Even a strong guy on that bus, needed 2 hands to hold the railings to prevent from falling.   **My most wanted action :  Instal CAMERAS in the BUS and MRT Trains!!!!!

 

If instal cameras, more expensive fares... dunno they will consider cameras though i think it is good to detect weird people or terrorists..

weird people - eating on the bus despite various warnings from drivers and ignored the warnings

these people must be banned from taking buses.

Once i was told got one 50 plus auntie, eat in the bus almost every day and occupied the seat.  She is the one must be nabbed.

 

alexmay      ( Date: 15-Apr-2010 15:09) Posted: The next review is in June??? If so, brace for fare hike??

 

The next review is in June??? If so, brace for fare hike??

 

Pharoah88, are you in the public transport council?  

**My only complaint is : (only to those bad drivers) dont jerk the bus and drive the bus properly like when they drive their own dicky!!

How many old folks and pregnant ladies nearly fell while drivers jerk the bus.  Even a strong guy on that bus, needed 2 hands to hold

the railings to prevent from falling.

 

**My most wanted action :  Instal CAMERAS in the BUS and MRT Trains!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Voices  today Thursday April 15, 2010  page20  i SAY

Murali Sharma

What about some comfort?

However, there are areas outside

the spectrum of frequencies and mechanical safety

that go towards a comfortable and safe journey.

A commuter needs to enjoy his journey —

that is the raison d’etre of a public transport company.

I

Every six months the Public Transport Council

conducts a service performance survey on buses.

The review seems to concentrate on passenger loading, bus breakdowns,

accidents, frequency of service, departure and arrival times.

However, there are areas outside

the spectrum of frequencies and mechanical safety that

go towards a comfortable and safe journey.

A commuter needs to enjoy his journey

— that is the raison d’etre of a public transport company.

A passenger must have enough leg room to get a comfortable ride.

Many seats are fitted too close to one another,

so that the hapless passenger is constrained to sit hunched.

Seats should be carefully spaced to avoid discomfort.

No doubt some spaces that cannot be used for sitting will result

but these can be used for placing bags and other articles.

A passenger should also be able to rest his elbow on the window sill.

Some sills are too narrow to allow for this.

Further, the “pillars” on windows are placed haphazardly

and prevent a commuter from placing his elbow on the sill.

These “pillars” should be re-positioned to just behind each seat

so that the space beside a passenger seat is clear.

Advertisements that occupy a substantial part of the windows,

robbing commuters of the chance to look out at the passing scene should not be allowed.

Advertisements should be only on the metal body of the buses and

not occupy any part of the windows.

On many buses, advertisements on the entire rear wall cuts off light.

The air-conditioning quite often does not serve its purpose as well,

ie to maintain internal temperature at a comfortable level.

It is always too warm or too cold.

One should not be sweating at the end of a longish journey or be freezing.

In some buses with a split-level floor,

the blower ducts in the front part of the vehicle are

too high for a passenger to adjust.

As for safety, the most dangerous seat on the bus is

the one just after the exit.

The grab bar in front of this seat is usually too far front

for a sitting passenger to grab in case

the driver applies the brakes suddenly.

In the event, it is likely that the passenger will be thrown forward violently

and hurt himself.refer to “Only one case of non-compliance” (April 6).