inadequate public transportation
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http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2010/01/inadequate-public-transportation.html
** My apology. We have made an error in our interpretation on the statistical table. The occupancy rate refers to the average number of people in a single cabin carriage at any one time. But the conclusion is intact.
The following is a Table compiled to show the contrast of population growth vs MRT development.
Total Population and Resident Population from Table 3.1 of the Yearbook of Statistics 2009
MRT Statistics from SMRT Annual Report 2007/2008
From the table above, we can gather the following facts (from 2003 to 2008 as the population figures for 2009 is not available yet):
Total Population Growth 17.6%
Resident Population Growth 8.2%
SMRT Total Number of Passenger Trips (Million) Growth 19.0%
SMRT Car Kilometres Operated (Million) Growth -13.0%
SMRT Average Operating Car Occupancy Rate Growth 31.6%
What do the above statistics tell us?
It is quite puzzling to me actually. The public transport companies like SMRT has been increasing their fares for the past 7 years but it seems that their service standards have dropped with respect to the population growth.
It is very disturbing to note that while demand on MRT has increased steadily for the pass 7 years (We are unable to get the 2009 figures for population growth yet) in tandem with the increase in population growth, SMRT has actually DECREASE their train service frequencies by as much as 13%!
An increase of 19% of demand couple with a decrease in supply of 13% will naturally result in packing the MRT cabins with more people! This is reflected in the increase of occupancy rate from 56 persons in a carriage to 76!
It means that on average, Singaporeans will find the MRT 35% more crowded than 2003! I guess the LTA is sleeping on this development while agreeing to PTC and public transport companies' demand in increasing their fares!
I hope this is not another "Caught Off Guard" situation for the Ministry of Transport as it is for Ministry of National Development. Someone up there have to be accountable for mismanaging the whole situation for Singapore.
WP NCMP Sylvia Lim has categorically questioned the PAP government on whether they are doing enough to cater to their aggressive FT policy which has artificially increase the population by 17.6% from 2003 to 2008.
Yet, the PAP has continued to sleep on this important issue. We have seen how Ministry of National Development under Mah Bow Tan has totally mismanaged the housing needs in view of the expected increase of housing demand due to influx of FT. Now it seems that the Ministry of Transport has also totally mismanaged the transportation sector.
There is no silly excuse of "Caught Off Guard" as the opposition party has already raised the alarm as early as 2006! Singaporeans have to see clearly that we are paying TOP WORLD CLASS salaries for these ministers but yet, we are having them mismanaging the situation here.
The Ministry of Transport and LTA are only concerned about setting up more ERPs all over Singapore because that is the SACRED CASH COWS that will make money. Who cares about the general welfare of Singaporeans in squeezing in MRTs and Buses (yes, I believe we can show the same inadequacy if we build the statistical table for buses) everyday due to their mismanagement. The Ministers have hardly experience the frustrations of normal Singaporeans who take public transport daily. The MRT train frequency is really third world standards!
It is about time Singaporeans should give PAP the wake up call! Vote the respective ministers out, give a clear signal to the PAP government that we want accountability!
We want ministers who put Singaporeans' welfare as their top priority, not how much money their ministries could save or make as their top priorities.
If the above analysis is not convincing enough for you, then please take a look at the following table:SMRT Total Number of Passenger Trips (Million) SMRT Car Kilometres Operated (Million) SMRT Average Operating Car Occupancy (Person) SMRT Profit after tax and minority interest (S$ Mil) 2003 394.3 89.6 56 72.1 2004 391.5 77.4 63 89.5 2005 402.6 75.1 66 126.7 2006 413.8 75.5 67 103.4 2007 434.9 77.1 69 135.4 2008 469.3 78.0 73 149.9
For the period from 2003 to 2008, SMRT profits have increased 107.9% from $72.1m to $149.9m!
What does this mean. There is an increase in demand, increase in fare but SMRT continues to reduce supply by a drastic reduction in 2004. While the demand continues to increase, it suppressed the corresponding supply while continued its demand of fare increase. The so call "improve in services" is just lip service. Service standards has dropped while SMRT just let the trains get more cramp!
LTA under the Ministry of Transport, kept both of its eyes closed for all this while! This is totally unacceptable for a world class government with top pay! It seems that our PAP government only takes good care of corporate profits while neglecting the welfare of Singaporeans, allowing them to be reaped off by suffering sub standard services with increased prices.
Do we continue to let them be or give them a wake up call? The choice is yours.
Goh Meng Seng
* I have added the figures of the SMRT side without the figures of population data here. The increase in the car operated per kilometer is partly due to the opening of circle line. This means that frequency of trains in other older lines might not have improved at all. Besides, this is offset by the increase in the demand, partly due to the increase in population (estimated about 3% plus if total population is to reach 4.99 million). As the result, the occupancy rate is just about the same. This result doesn't change the main point that since 2003, the trains are getting very cramped, about 35% cramped. -
You don't really need statistics like this to know that trains are packed even during off peak hours like in the afternoons in neighbourhood areas.
Walk around neighbourhood town centres and you will notice more than the usual number of people other than say just students and senior citizens.
I was actually a bit shocked even though I half expected it based on the population growth reports in the media past few years.
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*&#$ lah..
one sunday i needed to be somewhere and took the MRT.. bad mistake..
it was just before 7am on a sunday morning.. the goddamned train was so goddamned full i almost could not squeeze inside!
i guess they needed to make obscene profits.. damn the people huh?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
*&#$ lah..
one sunday i needed to be somewhere and took the MRT.. bad mistake..
it was just before 7am on a sunday morning.. the goddamned train was so goddamned full i almost could not squeeze inside!
i guess they needed to make obscene profits.. damn the people huh?
You can imagine what's the situation during peak periods if 7am sunday morning is already so packed.
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Originally posted by the Bear:
*&#$ lah..
one sunday i needed to be somewhere and took the MRT.. bad mistake..
it was just before 7am on a sunday morning.. the goddamned train was so goddamned full i almost could not squeeze inside!
i guess they needed to make obscene profits.. damn the people huh?
try taking it at 8am on a weekday. omfg.
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i'll be doing that tomorrow and the day after.. need to go for a goddamned seminar in Yishun and they don't have parking
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My gripe is with the wheelchair-accessible buses that SBS Transit has deployed. I am *all for* the disabled being able to get around easily but it doesn't make sense to buy a thousand modified buses(*) in order to serve a few dozen passenger trips made by disabled people per day. The cynical side of me thinks that these buses have been deployed in order to squeeze in more passengers. I often find myself jammed in one of the new buses on a Sunday, whereas in the past there would be ample seating room on double deckers.
(*) I don't know the exact number, but there are a lot of them.
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Singapore no bus services meh??? no taxis meh??? why must take MRT.
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It was stated before that they have to increase the fares to be accountable to their shareholders.
What these people care about is $$$ making and ignore the fact that service to the public takes priority over the money part. Yes, money making is important but the public's interest should come first.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
Singapore no bus services meh??? no taxis meh??? why must take MRT.
because the buses are just as cramped and we can't all afford to take taxis all the time..i guess you haven't been living like the normal people do..
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Originally posted by the Bear:
because the buses are just as cramped and we can't all afford to take taxis all the time..i guess you haven't been living like the normal people do..
did you not read before that it indirectly told people here that it is rich?in pub/brothel business, so what you think about the profits it makes???
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buses super cramped
MRT also v cramped
think better buy a bicycle
cheap and good
environment friendly too
sounds like china.
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Originally posted by noahnoah:
buses super cramped
MRT also v cramped
think better buy a bicycle
cheap and good
environment friendly too
sounds like china.
if u want more convenience, get those foldable one -
Sounds like China?
You don't know meh, now sg is China the second, PRC all around
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Originally posted by angel7030:
Singapore no bus services meh??? no taxis meh??? why must take MRT.
walk to work lah....
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
did you not read before that it indirectly told people here that it is rich?in pub/brothel business, so what you think about the profits it makes???
if so, kena "pao" by some rich old pervert, sure got a "pao" taxi to fetch around one right? no need to face the real world until the rich old pervert falls in lust with another one -
Originally posted by the Bear:
if so, kena "pao" by some rich old pervert, sure got a "pao" taxi to fetch around one right? no need to face the real world until the rich old pervert falls in lust with another one
taxi! so low class for it
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forget about high or low or no class...
back to the topic...
so.. why is it that the "public transportation system" continues with the financial sodomy of its commuters?
profits? the hell with everything else?
sound like it huh?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
because the buses are just as cramped and we can't all afford to take taxis all the time..i guess you haven't been living like the normal people do..
Then ride motorcycle lah, the quickiest way to get around, I also sometime park and ride mah,...aiyo, Singaporeans, really complain alots, life is so good here and still complaining.Must have never experience seat on top of train and buses...
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Originally posted by the Bear:
forget about high or low or no class...
back to the topic...
so.. why is it that the "public transportation system" continues with the financial sodomy of its commuters?
profits? the hell with everything else?
sound like it huh?
Well, everything here is about money money money.
Read article on public transport by those expert , stated that a country should not make profit making as top priority from public transport, Priority should be to provide public service.
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Originally posted by the Bear:
forget about high or low or no class...
back to the topic...
so.. why is it that the "public transportation system" continues with the financial sodomy of its commuters?
profits? the hell with everything else?
sound like it huh?
Just how much do you spend a day on public transport? You think it is cheap to build MRT, till now, those digging, building and tunnelling cost have yet to recover ya, and if look around our near regional countries, you should be glad you are able to ride a classy public transport at such costs. -
WE have world class paid ministers taking care of transport, they are first class so don't compare singapore to third world countries.
stupid.
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our citizens are world class customers, even our poors are richer than other countries' poors.
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If they want to reduce the train frequencies, let them be. When some day an accident occurs, such as 2 trains collide UNDERGROUND, and more people die due to the high density, then they will learn their lesson. Hopefully I will not in their trains. =)
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build MRT double decker trains lar lol