The BIG Breakdown or Meltdown
-
Lilac66:
If she can/could solve the problems, we won't be seeing problems todayLatest: The CEO has stated that she will not resign. She claimed that she cannot just leave when there are so many issues that need to be ironed out.
Good! Solve the problems then leave. :rahrah:
from one Metro to another metro, sigh! -
Straits Times reported...
\"Under her leadership, SMRT's net profit grew from $56.8 million in 2002 to $161.1 million this year. Rail ridership has also gone up, averaging a combined 1.79 million a day in September.\"
Profits can be increased by raising prices and
(1) enslaving the market
(2) feeding the slaves less
SMRT enslaved the market by taking away bus frequency along parallel routes so as to ensure packed buses when a bus DOES make the route. These long waits discourage people from taking the bus in favour of MRT. At one time, they wanted to take away long haul buses. Had they succeeded, more people would have chosen to take MRT instead. http://openkitchenconcept.blogspot.com/2011/12/transportation-woes.html. Our transport system has very little redundant routes to give commuters viable alternatives, and taxi fares keep going up. All this, plus the added fact that Singapore's population has gone up very fast in a short time, means that more people will take the MRT.
No wonder ridership went up.
SMRT can feed the slaves less (figuratively) by cutting back on maintenance efforts as well as by refusing to spend on more trains. We do know that it has refused to spend on new trains (new tracks too?) even though our population has gone up by A LOT.
All these push up PROFIT. This CEO was told to push up PROFIT. She is only doing what she needs to do to push up PROFIT. A profit-making monopoly doesn't get more efficient. The monopoly maintains its inefficiency. It merely learns to EXPLOIT in order to generate profits. -
Sorry, pardon my ignorance. I still cannot understand why public transport becomes a business n to generate good profit? Them why call PUBLIC transport?
According to ST report, rail claw dislodge. Why does this happen? Not stated. How often they did maintenance and routine check? Why was this not spoted? -
daisyt:
sorry, is an honest mistake, let's move onSorry, pardon my ignorance. I still cannot understand why public transport becomes a business n to generate good profit? Them why call PUBLIC transport?
According to ST report, rail claw dislodge. Why does this happen? Not stated. How often they did maintenance and routine check? Why was this not spoted?
ooooops, can't move on, the train got no power, spare batter / back up UPS also no maintenance ... -
So, before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, do we know if not-for-profit mass transit systems are better run than for-profit transit systems?
Putting on my flame-retardant jacket now..... :siam: -
verykiasu2010:
orhh yah, tio liao la....
sorry, is an honest mistake, let's move on
ooooops, can't move on, the train got no power, spare batter / back up UPS also no maintenance ...
so many peeple cowpehcowboo wat har?
maintain this tat, maintain simi la? spare battery/UPS no working?
salary and bonus big big can oredy, tio bo? -
3Boys:
So, before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, do we know if not-for-profit mass transit systems are better run than for-profit transit systems?
Putting on my flame-retardant jacket now..... :siam:
How about Singapore's own SBS Transit BEFORE privatisation? We had a reputation back then for having a comprehensive and efficient public transport system.
I was their consultant for over a year and I saw how things changed AFTER privatisation. Maintenance budget shrank. Training budget shrank. Bed bugs began to appear in buses, and repairs were left so late that newspapers highlighted them. And now, bus drivers lose their way!! Meanwhile, CEOs report PROFITS and take home FAT paychecks eh?
Maybe SBS Transit was not PROFIT-efficient, but it sure was efficient in how it moved Singaporeans from home to work, and it sure did help build our reputation as an efficient country.
3boys, I have regard for you and it pains me that we now disagree. I hope you don't mind. It's just an opinion. We can agree to disagree. -
Chenonceau:
Don't worry my dear, I never take these things personally
I was their consultant for over a year and I saw how things changed AFTER privatisation. Maintenance budget shrank. Training budget shrank. Bed bugs began to appear in buses, and repairs were left so late that newspapers highlighted them. And now, bus drivers lose their way!! Meanwhile, CEOs report PROFITS and take home FAT paychecks eh?
Maybe SBS Transit was not PROFIT-efficient, but it sure was efficient in how it moved Singaporeans from home to work, and it sure did help build our reputation as an efficient country.
3boys, I have regard for you and it pains me that we now disagree. I hope you don't mind. It's just an opinion. We can agree to disagree.
and you are at liberty to blast me all you wish, and I still have the highest regard for your thoughtful writing.
Although I must say it seems that it is your position have shifted rather than mine on this issue (which is now the stodgy and very unfashionable line of profit-motive for sustainability of services).
I understand your point, and it is well taken. -
verykiasu2010:
Dis is a good question. Where is the backup power and emergency evacuation procedures during major breakdowns?
sorry, is an honest mistake, let's move ondaisyt:
Sorry, pardon my ignorance. I still cannot understand why public transport becomes a business n to generate good profit? Them why call PUBLIC transport?
According to ST report, rail claw dislodge. Why does this happen? Not stated. How often they did maintenance and routine check? Why was this not spoted?
ooooops, can't move on, the train got no power, spare batter / back up UPS also no maintenance ...
daisyt, it was previously mentioned that SMRT does regular checks and operates a service train off operating hours to check n maintain d lines.
I now wonder the regularity n quality of the checks when they fail to spot these 61 rail defects and 13 faulty trains earlier as reported here:
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111219-0000048/Necessary-pain-for-commuters -
When SMRT is not responsible for the train infrastructure,
and the focus is on growing profits for stakeholders,
maintenance of trains/facilities n service to commuters could hv been compromised.
The CEO’s remarks in the aftermath of recent breakdowns r quite telling of the corporate focus of SMRT.
To flash ‘income opportunity’ for SMRT taxis on a public bulletin board when commuters r stranded in the trains – how more insensitive n opportunistic can one stoop to?
Public transport, water n power supplies are essential services that shd never hv corporations running them mainly for generating ever greater profits for their stakeholders at the expense of d general public. Temasek is a majority stakeholder in SMRT, Singpower and Hyflux(?).
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