Authorities looking at improving service quality of public transport

 

Lui Tuck Yew (file pic)



SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said that it is the quality of service delivered by the two public transport operators that he is " paying most attention to" .

In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Lui said this will cover improvements in capacity, addressing crowdedness on buses and trains, frequency and reliability of service.

Mr Lui said he experienced the discomfort and frustrations that commuters face and wants to see improvements in the public transport system.

He noted that although SMRT and SBS Transit have raised the frequency of trains and buses, more needs to be done.

In the same post, he also said the operators SMRT and SBS have added a total of 590 weekly trips from March 2011. There will be further improvements later this year when more trains are added.

He also shared that since LTA began the regular quarterly bus improvement process with the operators in June last year, 64 bus services were improved.

But Mr Lui said: " Frankly, much more needs to be done."

For example, authorities are looking into how much they can further shorten the intervals between trains, during off—peak period.

He added the LRT system at Bukit Panjang needs to be significantly improved.

And the service standards for buses, he said is " not sufficiently stringent" .

Mr Lui said attention will be paid to feeder services where they need to increase the number of buses and the government will work with the operators to make sure this is done.

On fares, Mr Lui gave the assurance that the Public Transport Council (PTC) " looks out for the interests of commuters in all fare reviews" .

He said the fare cap system itself ensures that SMRT and SBST cannot increase fares beyond the cap.

" If there is no inflation and no wage increase for the year, the formula allows the PTC to impose a fare reduction of 1.5 per cent on the operators. Hence, they know they have to improve productivity and innovate."

Mr Lui said such measures have helped to increase the revenue and profits of public transport operators but through non—fare sources.

He added that close to 45 per cent of SMRT’s operating profit and 50 per cent of SBST’s operating profit in the past two years came from non—fare sources which include rental and advertising.

Both public transport operators have make applications for adjustments to fares.

— CNA/ck