The BIG Breakdown or Meltdown
-
MRT is down again, third time this week.
Train services between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations were disrupted Saturday morning, in the third service breakdown this week for Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT).
In its latest update at about 10.55 am, SMRT said the southbound train service between Toa Payoh and Newton is now available.
The southbound service between Newton and Marina Bay stations is not available.
The northbound train service between Raffles Place and Jurong East stations is available.
The train service between Raffles Place and Toa Payoh stations is running at reduced frequencies, but the northbound train service between Marina Bay and Raffles Place is not available.
Bus bridging service is available between Ang Mo Kio and Bishan stations, between Ang Mo Kio and Raffles Place stations, as well as between Marina Bay and City Hall stations.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1171888/1/.html -
We are not perfect.
There is certainly room for improvement.
BUT we have to be reasonable to ourselves.
Nanjing is 6958 km square in area with a 8m population and
Singapore after reclaiming land from 580+ to 723 km square with a population of over 4m, are we talking about the same transport problem statement here?
I believe in Nanjang you can get a seat each time you get on the bus and rightfully so as they can afford to with that kind of vast land.
Do I want to get a seat and hv congested roads everyday on the road?
NO!
While it is great to learn from our neighbours and friends, it is also necessary to look at our own given conditions. Comparing will not get us far but acknowledging our constraints and make the best of it will. Is this not the same with parenting? Knowing what our kids are born with and make the best out of them instead of trying to be Mozart or Einstein when they are not and never will be?
As for the breakdown of our MRT, after over 20 years of pretty clean record of no major glitches and smooth ride, I find it acceptable for an error due to wear and tear. Any fatalities due to this? No, so don’t be so harsh on ourselves. Trauma, yes and SMRT has tried their part to reduce that. Even my small house of over 10 years is breaking down on me in every way you cannot imagine but I think it is normal wear and tear. I have been traumatized by my house breakdown for the whole year now but still I am glad that I am living in the comfort of my home.
There is one thing however I feel should not happen is the increase of the MRT price. -
taking northbound train from Bishan MRT today after 2pm, and found no fare was deducted......
fare deduction system also faulted or is it a complimentary trip today?? :? -
I am not sure that having a profit-making transport monopoly makes things more efficient. Profits can be reported after…
(1) squeezing maintenance budgets
(2) raising prices of tickets
We all know that ticket prices keep going up… even more frequently than rice prices go up. With this widespread breakdown, one might guess that maintenance and equipment renewal budgets have also been squeezed.
Other Singaporean profit-driven transport companies can also make profits by raising taxi fares and squeezing taxi drivers. Profit driven does not necessarily mean efficiency (especially when it is NOT a free market). It can mean EXPLOITATION. -
MRT is 24 years old. It’s time to have a major overhaul. Therefore it’s time for them to take out their reserves and give us another 24 years good service. This is reasonable expectation from commuters and only way to gain confidence and forgiveness for the recent breakdowns. The trains and tracks are giving them a sign, are they listening?
-
tutormum:
MRT is 24 years old. It's time to have a major overhaul. Therefore it's time for them to take out their reserves and give us another 24 years good service. This is reasonable expectation from commuters and only way to gain confidence and forgiveness for the recent breakdowns. The trains and tracks are giving them a sign, are they listening?
If they weren't so keen to report yearly profits, they would have had a more aggressive plan to replace old with new before this. This is Singapore. We are Singaporeans. When have we done things without planning? When have we begun to respond only when things go wrong?
It does seem that more and more things are done only when things go wrong. Anyone who manages an organisation that deals with technical equipment has a repair and replacement plan. The issue is whether the repair and replacement plan cut so close to \"barely necessary\" (so as to pad up profits) that things popped over to crisis levels. -
Not sure is it just me... Just now took train, when it stopped in between stations, I am wondering will the same happen to me - stuck in the train due to disruption. :shock: Thankfully, after few seconds the train move on.
Then again, another few stations, stopped again...
Again move on. :faint: After the couple of stopping in between the train move on. Husband ask why I make so much noise just for the few minutes stopping in the middle of station... -
I’m curious to see what headlines ST will have tomorrow…
-
Insider,
Singapore has lots to learn from her neighbours esp. how to cater to her people's needs. I was shocked when I took the bus in Taiwan cos it was quite empty. It seems that taking a bus there is the last resort. Most of them travel by motorcycles. Taking the bus in Japan is also a breeze cos the bus operates within a short range with ample information and yes, the announcement of the next stop. It's like taking feeder bus - short and comfortable ride. The only country that doesn't seem to depend on buses is Malaysia. Maybe cos it seems that everybody can afford a car. Correct me if I'm wrong, they seem to take cab more than bus.
OT, Taiwan has a system whereby all citizens are issued a health card which allows them to a limited number of free medical visits (I think 10 per year) to any public clinic. Once the quota is met, the patient has to pay. Honestly, to save on medical bills (the last time I visited a private doctor, the bill was about $30 which was years ago) and to avoid the long queue at poly clinics, I don't visit the doctor if I have a flu or fever. I usually self-medicate. Even DS3 rather go to school then see a doctor at the poly clinic. By the time he got to see the doctor and got a MC, it would be about 3 hours. He would rather go to school and ask for permission to go home when he felt the need to.
Singapore is too expensive for the common people. Everything increases and increases except our income. We pay world class prices but don't get world class service. :gloomy: :stompfeet: -
I still say the same thing: I believe in a country, there should be public funding for basic infrastructure and these should not be privatised for the benefit of all citizens (including the lower income group). Basic infrastructure should include healthcare, transportation, utilities, education, etc. Once privatised, these will become profit making commercial entities over time and there will be rising cost of living which can make it out-of-reach for the lower income group.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login