SBS Transit, SMRT submit applications for fare adjustment

[3Boys]

limlim:

I disagree. If the company posted zero profits or losses, surely the majority of the public would be agreeable to a fare hike. On the other hand, they might even welcomed a fare hike as it could lead to better quality of service. And snowman could bring in all his arguments and many pple would be interested to read.

And surely there will not be so much complaints.

Errr....I think that's your opinion only, not sure you can really speak for the majority of the public. When the company is loss making and tries to raise fares, just wait to see the crying and teeth-grinding.

Why do we have to wait fort eh company to be loss making before we take action. As I said, it only costs a family of 4 something between $60-$80 per month for the 'profits'. Is that an unreasonable price to pay to ensure a sustainable rail system?

[concern2]

3Boys:

limlim:

I disagree. If the company posted zero profits or losses, surely the majority of the public would be agreeable to a fare hike. On the other hand, they might even welcomed a fare hike as it could lead to better quality of service. And snowman could bring in all his arguments and many pple would be interested to read.

And surely there will not be so much complaints.

Errr....I think that's your opinion only, not sure you can really speak for the majority of the public. When the company is loss making and tries to raise fares, just wait to see the crying and teeth-grinding.

Why do we have to wait fort eh company to be loss making before we take action. As I said, it only costs a family of 4 something between $60-$80 per month for the 'profits'. Is that an unreasonable price to pay to ensure a sustainable rail system?

Basically for me, if the fares aren't increasing, I really won't bother to look at how much profit the co. is making. The fares increase, together with ev. else, yet salary not increasing, that becomes a problem.

I see new buses and I wonder if it is quality that is more important or quantity. I still have memories of private buses being allowed to run as public buses, and that helped during peak hours.

When TV mobile were installed, I fretted at their redundancy, and wondered whether that's the kind of 'improvement' talked about with the fare hikes.

And I wonder how many people who invest in the company actually use the public transport as their main means of transport.

[blueblue]

$60-$80 for family of four per month? I am a stay at home mum now.


I used to pay more than $80 per month for my transport and that was more than 4 years ago…

[3Boys]

blueblue:

$60-$80 for family of four per month? I am a stay at home mum now.


I used to pay more than $80 per month for my transport and that was more than 4 years ago......

$60-$80 towards profits, or $15-$20/month.

[concern2]

Why not allow private companies to "support" conjested lines?

[hquek]

Kudos to snowman for his insights, I never would have gone into such technical details.


All the talk about profits, I had this sudden thought. Profit is a mathematical figure derived from revenue minus cost. That’s the easy part. the tough part is what goes into cost. If a company depreciates its vehicles over 10 years, vs another that depreciates over 5 years - the first one will report higher profits becos depreciation is lower but end up there may be other side effects - aging fleet, increasing maintenance. My very limited knowledge is that companies generally have some flexibility to determine what their policies are. So is profit really such a good ballpark? Money that has to be spent on buying new vehicles/equipment don’t go into cost - it’ll show up later under depreciation.

Costs are increasing, raw materials (steel, rubber, etc) price increase, oil price increase. All this is happening on a global scale. Staff in the transport co are also hoping for increment. If fares were to remain stagnant, but the public still clamour for more buses to be put on the road, more trains to be made available - what’s going to give? Are the operators going to be able to replace the aging fleet?

Of course, I will kena hit by the increased costs, and for that I won’t be happy. Just as I had to accept the recent electricity tariff hike, I guess I’ll have to suffer this also. But hopefully, govt will come up with something to ensure that the genuine poor is buffered against these increases.

[Daddy D]

concern2:

Why not allow private companies to \"support\" conjested lines?

Then SMRT, SBS will lose their monopoly... less profit... don't think the shareholders will be pleased. Unless LTA or whoever-is-in-charge say so?

[concern2]

Ya, Daddy D, that only goes to show that the concern is not really for the sake of the society as a whole but for the pockets of the minority, right? The power of MONOPOLY.

[limlim]

3Boys:

limlim:

I disagree. If the company posted zero profits or losses, surely the majority of the public would be agreeable to a fare hike. On the other hand, they might even welcomed a fare hike as it could lead to better quality of service. And snowman could bring in all his arguments and many pple would be interested to read.

And surely there will not be so much complaints.

Errr....I think that's your opinion only, not sure you can really speak for the majority of the public. When the company is loss making and tries to raise fares, just wait to see the crying and teeth-grinding.

Why do we have to wait fort eh company to be loss making before we take action. As I said, it only costs a family of 4 something between $60-$80 per month for the 'profits'. Is that an unreasonable price to pay to ensure a sustainable rail system?

Is it? if the mass public is really like that, all the charities can close down already.

Pple are generally kind to those who are needy, not those who are filthy rich and greedy. Just look at NKF for reference.

[3Boys]

limlim:

Is it? if the mass public is really like that, all the charities can close down already.
Pple are generally kind to those who are needy

Really? What's the statistic for public charitable donations in Singapore, compared with other countries?

Also, will they consider a loss-making public transport behemoth draining tax-money to be needy and an entity worthy of sympathy?? I doubt it.

:offtopic: