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Reply #541 virgomal's post
I did nek...semalam time nak pi dating ....eh.....meeting
57,000 stuck by 7-hour breakdown in MRT train service
Disruption of services from Pasir Ris to Tanah Merah caused by stalled maintenance work train.
SOME 57,000 were stranded when MRT train services on the East-West line between Pasir Ris and Tanah Merah stations were disrupted on Monday morning.
There was no train service from 5.28 am till 12.45 pm between the two stations. Normal service resumed after that.
The disruption was caused by the breakdown of a maintenance work train which was carrying out works between Tampines and Simei (westbound) MRT stations, said SMRT in a statement on Monday.
'There were some damages to the maintenance works train and we are investigating the cause,' said SMRT, the train operator.
During the breakdown, eastbound trains were turned around at Tanah Merah MRT station.
Buses were deployed to ferry stranded passengers between the two stations, with the first arriving at Tanah Merah MRT station at 5.48 am.
Forty SMRT buses and 30 Singapore Bus Service Transport buses were sent to Pasir, Ris, Tampines, Simei and Tanah Merah stations to pick up the commuters.
The disruption also affected wesbound shuttle trains serving Tampines, Simei and Tanah Merah MRT stations from 8.28 am.
They were running at 28-minute intervals to ease passenger flow at Tampines and Simei MRT stations.
SMRT said passengers were informed of the service disruption and the free bus bridging services through train and station announcements, notices and rail travel information system in the stations and broadcast channels.
Many passengers also had difficulty getting taxis as most of them were occupied.
SMRT said passengers who were unable to complete their journey due to the disruption can claim a full fare refund from the Passenger Service Centre at any of the 51 SMRT stations within the next three working days, from Monday to Thursday.
SMRT has apologised for the inconvenience caused. |
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Drivers' earnings up, cab waiting times down: Raymond Lim
By Jermyn Chow
Commuters only have to wait for up to 6 minutes for a cab, significantly less than the 5 to 22 minutes before the fare hike. -- ST PHOTO: ALAN LIM
THE recent taxi fare hike may have just put a lid on a cab crunch which was threatening to boil over.
If preliminary findings are anything to go by, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said the fare revision last month was 'effective' in meeting the increasing demand of taxis in the Central Business District (CBD).
Based on figures taken four weeks after the Dec 18 fare hike, Mr Lim said waiting times in the city area during peak hours have 'gone down substantially'.
Mr Lim revealed that commuters in the city only have to wait for up to 6 minutes for a cab, significantly less than the 5 to 22 minutes before the fare hike.
Waiting times at the Suntec City taxi stands - said to be the worst performing of the lot - have been cut drastically from 22 minutes to 4 minutes.
While some cabbies have complained that passengers are not flagging taxis, Mr Lim said their earnings have however gone up.
Based on figures provided by ComfortDelGro, Singapore's biggest taxi operator, cabbies are pocketing about $11 more a day, earning about $318.
Mr Lim was responding to questions from MP for Tampines GRC Ms Irene Ng and MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Mr Baey Yam Keng in Parliament.
Mr Lim also allayed Ms Ng's fears, saying that the extra surcharges for cabs plying the city areas would not pinch the supply in the suburbs.
The Transport Minister assured the House that the Land Transport Authority would continue to monitor the situation over the next 3 to 4 months and work with taxi operators and associations....
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dtg la tu temberang...dreber merungut ada la pasal passenger kurang |
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Con man takes cab ride without paying, then takes $50 from cabby
By Lee Khai Yan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 January 2008 1853 hrs
SINGAPORE : A passenger not only failed to pay a cab driver his fare, he also managed to con another S$50 from the driver.
Taxi driver Ang Thiam Keng picked up the male passenger, who was carrying several boxes, along Jurong East Avenue 1 at noon on Wednesday.
After giving several confusing instructions, Ang was told to stop at Block 258 along Jurong East Street 24.
The con man then ran off without the boxes. But he returned two minutes later, asking for change for S$50.
A confused Ang then handed over five $10 notes and waited for him to come back again to collect the boxes.
But the man ran up the block and never returned.
Ang described the passenger to be between 25 and 30 years old.
The police were not able to find any fingerprints on the cab. Ang had thrown away the boxes before reporting the case to the police. - CNA /ls |
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Getting out of bus lanes - a daily hassle for bus drivers
By Maria Almenoar
SOUNDING his horn to warn a motorcyclist that was cutting into his path landed a bus driver in hospital.
The incident happened along Lower Delta Road at about 8.45am on Wednesday when the motorcyclist cut into the bus lane to turn into a car park.
The bus driver jammed his brakes and horned at the motorcyclist, who stopped his bike to confront the bus driver.
After hurling insults at the bus driver, the motorcyclist punched him and hit him with his helmet.
This may be an extreme case but bus companies and drivers say they face inconsiderate motorists daily when manoeuvring out of bus lanes.
Over the last three years, more than 22,652 motorists were fined yearly for bus lane violations, like cutting and driving into bus lanes or simply refusing to give way to bus drivers.
The Land Transport Review released last Friday reported that 9 per cent of travelling time on buses is spent waiting for the bus to ease into traffic from bus bays.
'You can signal and inch out but some motorists will still speed up and cut you off,' said senior SBS Transit bus captain Chua Sow Moy, 53.
Bus lanes were introduced in 1974 to alleviate these problems. Regular bus lanes, indicated by continuous yellow lines on the road, covers 120km of roads currently but by June this will go up to 150km.
Full day bus bays have improved bus speeds by an average of 7 per cent, according to the Land Transport Authority.
But the effect of bus lanes has not been fully optimised with more than 22,000 motorists every year fined for violating the bus lane rule. |
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MRT lines to double by 2020, 100 new train stations to be built
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 January 2008 1218 hrs
SINGAPORE: The government has unveiled more changes to the country's land transport system.
In the second of three major announcements, after more than a year-long review, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said rail lines will double by 2020.
And the network - which will see 100 new stations being added - becoming even denser than places like Tokyo.
For a start, two new MRT lines will be built.
One of them, the Thomson Line will run from the heart of Marina Bay, through the Central Business District, to Woodlands in the north.
This will connect to another new line, the Eastern Region Line, which will serve residential areas like Marine Parade in the eastern part of the island.
Some existing lines will be extended. The North-South Line will go all the way to the Marina Bay area, while the East-West Line will be extended 14 kilometres into Tuas.
The new rail lines will cost the government some S$20 billion to build. This is over and above the S$20 billion the government has already committed for the on-going Boon Lay extension, the Circle Line and the Downtown Line.
However, the Transport Minister notes that while this complete picture is just 12 years away, people have been asking whether the building of the lines could take place sooner. So certain stages of the Downtown Line and Circle Line will be brought forward.
To cut down on waiting time during peak periods, more trains will be added.
Also in the plans are more barrier-free access, more environmentally-friendly fleets of vehicles, more options for cyclists, and even platform screen doors at all overhead stations.
Mr Lim made the announcement when he visited Kim Chuan Depot on Friday morning. - CNA/ir |
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Above-ground MRT stations to have platform screen doors by 2012
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 January 2008 0018 hrs
 
Platform screen doors will be installed at all above-ground stations by 2012
SINGAPORE: Platform screen doors will be installed at all above-ground MRT stations by 2012, more sheltered linkways and barrier-free access features will also be available to make it more convenient for commuters to get to the train stations, Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced Friday.
Commuter Mohamad Fairoz and his family are all for the proposed enhancements to the train stations, especially the platform screen doors for above-ground stations, which will help cut disruption and prevent mishaps.
"It's for safety. Sometimes people (are) rushing to go back, so when they rush, they may slip," he said.
The number of track intrusions has risen from an average of 16 cases a year to about 30 in the past two years.
Platform screen doors will be installed at Yishun, Jurong East and Pasir Ris stations in 2009, before rolling out to the rest.
President and CEO of SMRT Saw Phaik Hwa said, "In the old days, this kind of installation (was) extremely expensive to build and to maintain, but over the years |
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What's happening with cabbies' earnings?
By Lim Wei Chean
Drivers are seeing their income inch back up to the pre-hike rate of $100 to $120 a day. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
THE lone Singapore taxi company to decide against raising its fares last month could soon reverse that decision.
Drivers from Prime Taxis, the island's smallest cab firm, will vote next Tuesday on whether to raise flag down fares and after-hours rates, said managing director Neo Nam Heng.
The company's 100 cabbies saw their take-home pay drop 50 per cent after five of Singapore's six companies raised fares in December, a move that drove many commuters away from taxis.
'For the first two weeks, there was a fall in their income because people saw the other companies increase price and stopped taking cabs,' said Mr Neo.
The situation, though, has improved recently.
Drivers are seeing their income inch back up to the pre-hike rate of $100 to $120 a day, said Mr Neo.
It has been a roller coaster ride for Singapore's taxi companies, some of whom, like Prime Taxis, are starting to see business rebound.
Drivers from the island's biggest firm, Comfort DelGo, have seen their take-home pay creep upwards over the last few weeks.
The average ComfortDelGro cabbie earned $159 per shift, up from $153 before the fare increase, according to a company survey of 5,000 drivers. |
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Govt to spend S$14b to improve Singapore's road infrastructure
By Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 January 2008 2251 hrs
SINGAPORE : The government will spend S$14 billion to improve Singapore's road infrastructure over the coming years.
The money will go towards building the new North-South Expressway, the earlier announced Marina Coastal Expressway, widening the Central and Tampines Expressways, and improving various interchanges.
The Transport Ministry is optimistic the changes will soften the traffic gridlock.
The go-ahead has been given for the new North-South Expressway, which will cost some S$7 billion to S$8 billion and be ready by 2020.
The 21-kilometre expressway will link Woodlands and Yishun in the north to the East Coast Parkway.
It will run somewhat parallel to the Central Expressway, thereby relieving traffic from the heavily-used CTE.
The S$2.5 billion Marina Coastal Expressway, linking the eastern and western parts to Marina Bay, will be ready by 2013.
Then there is the widening of the Central and Tampines Expressways, which will be completed by 2011.
When completed, the CTE will have four lanes on either side.
The Ministry is confident these changes will make road travel more efficient.
But Singaporeans are mixed in their views.
One person said, "I'm actually looking forward to all the new highways, because just by coming out of the new KPE, it's improving traffic a lot. I've used it, and I'm very happy with it."
Another noted, "There will always be people wanting to buy cars. So long as the government allows that, I think this thing (congestion) will still keep on continuing."
A third added, "The government wants to have 6 million people. There's no way it can stop."
Others offered alternatives which they think will work.
One person suggested, "They have to make more roads underground."
Another commented, "If you can get from Point A to Point B very conveniently on public transport, then I think I wouldn't be driving a car."
A third added, "Staggering working hours is a good idea."
Whatever the view, it will take some time for the initiatives to settle in, and the authorities are hoping more people will switch to public transport to ensure Singapore does not end up in a gridlock. - CNA/ms |
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Taxi Operators' Associations concerned over higher ERP rates
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 January 2008 2127 hrs
SINGAPORE: Taxi drivers will likely be hurt by the government's move to add more Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries and raise ERP rates, the Taxi Operators' Associations (TOA) said on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the associations said they are very concerned that the livelihood of drivers will be severely affected by the new policy.
The TOA said taxis should be positioned as a complement to public transport as taxis provide premium point-to-point service and reduce the need to own private cars.
So the associations also urged taxi companies to help their drivers promote the use of taxi service more aggressively.
To provide drivers with the added incentive to enter the city area during the evening ERP hours on an empty cab, ComfortDelGro gives all drivers who are unable to get any passenger within 15 minutes of entering the ERP zone an ERP rebate.
The associations hope such reimbursement scheme will continue, and all taxi companies will give similar rebates to help their drivers. - CNA/ac |
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Reply #549 fatz's post
New viaduct along Cross Street to be built to ease congestion
By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 January 2008 1948 hrs
SINGAPORE: Work on a new viaduct along Cross Street will start on 3 February.
The Land Transport Authority said when completed in the fourth quarter of this year, it will ease the expected traffic congestion due to the construction of the Downtown Line.
The two-lane 400-metre-long viaduct will serve as an alternative route for motorists travelling to New Bridge Road. It will run from Raffles Quay to China Street.
There will be three ways to get to the viaduct - at Central Boulevard, Raffles Quay, and Robinson Road.
The viaduct will only be removed in 2013 upon completion of the Downtown Line. - CNA/vm |
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Jan 31, 2008
SBS bus rolled out of berth as driver tends to commuter
By Sujin Thomas
A ROGUE SBS bus narrowly escaped causing an accident on Wednesday night when it reversed out of its alighting berth at Toa Payoh Interchange.
The bus, service No. 155 which had its engine switched off, was parked in the berth at about 11.20pm when the bus captain got out of his cabin to help a commuter and her child find a missing bag.
However, according to SBS Transit, the bus captain failed to properly engage the handbrakes and the bus rolled out of the berth and towards Toa Payoh Lorong 4.
It rolled some 60m before coming to a stop after its rear wheels mounted the pavement in front of Toa Payoh Gardens.
The sight of the unmanned reversing bus bewildered motorists who honked to warn others of the oncoming vehicle.
One motorist, Ms Neoh Chong Eng, said in an e-mail to The Straits Times:'I heard a loud continuous honking from the vehicle next to mine. I had to stop to let this strange reversing SBS 'cross the road'.'
She said that it was only after the bus had come to a complete stop that she spotted a child, followed by a man and a woman running to the front of the bus.
SBS Transit's director of corporate communicatons Ms Tammy Tan said: 'The bus captain may have been doing a good deed at that point but he should have been more careful with the brakes.'
She added that disciplinary action will be taken against him.
No one was injured in the incident and no damage was done to the surrounding property or the bus. |
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SMRT and SBS Transit raise peak period train frequencies
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 01 February 2008 1648 hrs
SINGAPORE: Starting 4 February, the journey to and from work for commuters is expected to be quicker.
Both SMRT and SBS Transit announced on Friday that they will be increasing the number of train trips per week.
SMRT, which operates the North-South and East-West lines, will run 83 additional trips during the morning and evening peak periods. It said this will cut average waiting times by as much as 1.5 minutes.
The change is expected to benefit passengers travelling southwards from Yishun, and westwards from Boon Lay during the morning rush hours.
Meanwhile, northbound and eastbound commuters in the evening peak period may similarly expect a quicker, less crowded journey.
SBS Transit, which operates the North East Line (NEL), will add another 10 trips each week.
It said the move will cut average waiting times from four to three minutes during the morning peak period, and from five to four minutes in the evening rush hour. - CNA/vm |
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NO RAIL IMPROVEMENT
Daily squeeze at Jurong East
By Tessa Wong & Lee Pei Qi
SHOVE - OR BE LEFT STANDING ON THE PLATFORM: 'It may be very uncivilised, but sometimes you really have to push your way to get in.' - BANK OFFICER BRYAN WONG, who travels to the City Hall station to get to work. Commuters at Jurong East station trying to get onto an east-bound train. -- ST PHOTO: LEE PEI QI
DESPERATION rules every weekday morning at Jurong East MRT interchange station, where a place on board a city-bound train is the prize.
The competitors are commuters disgorged by trains from Choa Chu Kang on the North-South line and those already on the platform at Jurong East.
The maelstrom hits a peak whenever a south-bound train from Choa Chu Kang pulls into the station at the same time as a city-bound train from Boon Lay.
Between 8am and 9am yesterday, hundreds of commuters from the south-bound trains surged towards the east-bound ones. Office workers and students shoved their way on board, but without any ugly scenes.
Still, each time an east-bound train pulled away, up to 300 people would be left behind on the platform to await the next train.
One of them was bank officer Bryan Wong, 35, who travels to the City Hall station to get to work. He is resigned to letting one or two trains pass every day.
Referring to what he called 'overwhelming' crowds, he said: 'It may be very uncivilised, but sometimes you really have to push your way to get in.'
Yesterday was the first day additional train trips were added elsewhere to the train network to ease congestion.
But Jurong East won't get this relief, rail operator SMRT explained, because the track layout and high frequency of train arrivals at this interchange posed technical difficulties.
In yesterday's check, eastbound trains arrived every two to three minutes and south-bound trains, every four to five.
But commuters, even those at other stations, felt trains should arrive more frequently.
Miss Loh Wai Leng, a 35-year-old manager waiting at Paya Lebar station, said that in Japan, two trains would arrive every minute during peak hours.
Another suggestion was to give passengers more time to board and alight.
Mr Jonathan Choo, 26, who is doing his pupilage at a law firm and who was waiting at the Toa Payoh station, said: 'Sometimes it's not a matter of not being able to squeeze in, but rather, the doors close too soon.'
Customer service representative Eileen Koh, 23, who was at Jurong East, suggested that train operators make regular announcements to remind commuters to move to the centre of the carriage or even hire officials to herd people onto the trains.
'No one can get in because no one is moving in. Then people end up missing the train for nothing,' she grumbled.
Added Miss Koh: 'Passengers should learn to make way for others to board the train, and be less selfish.' |
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Increased bus services will not cause higher road congestion
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 February 2008 1655 hrs
SINGAPORE: The recently announced increases in bus services will not lead to higher congestion on the roads.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim gave this assurance in reply to a question posed by MP for West Coast GRC Ho Geok Choo in Parliament on Friday.
Mr Lim said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) aims to introduce competition "for the market" as opposed to "competition in the market" so the number of bus services will be specified by the government and will not lead to higher road congestion.
Mr Lim also said the overhaul of the public transport network should be an incentive to car drivers to make the switch from private to public transport.
He noted: "There's the S$40 billion spending on public transport and S$14 billion on road improvements. Add the lot together and it's more than S$50 billion. Up to 2050, it's S$4 billion a year incentive for car drivers."
Mr Lim added that bus fares will be capped to ensure the increase in operating costs will not be passed directly to commuters.
LTA is also looking into seasoned fare cards that cut across all public transport modes and operators.
Other MPs also asked if the frequency of feeder buses could be improved for non-peak hours. Mr Lim replied that the Public Transport Council sets strict standards for bus operators for both peak and non-peak hours.
By August 2009, at least 80 percent of trunk and feeder services must run at up to 10-minute intervals during peak hours. For non-peak hours, the allowed headway is capped at 30 minutes.
- CNA/so |
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Commuters want more direct bus services
By Maria Almenoar and Yeo Ghim Lay
New bus services are expected to begin in June along strained parts of the north-south and east-west rail lines. -- ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW
Full-time national serviceman Bryan Goh, 19, spends close to three hours on public transport every day, shuttling from his home in Serangoon to camp in Teck Whye.
'It takes a long time, and the buses and trains are always packed. I can never get a seat,' said Mr Goh, who wakes up at 5am so he can reach camp by 7.15am.
He is among thousands of commuters calling for faster and more direct services.
They might get some relief come this June, when new bus services are expected to begin along strained parts of the north-south and east-west rail lines.
Since the early 1990s, several bus lines have been scrapped or re-routed in a bid to weed out services that duplicate rail routes.
But Transport Minister Raymond Lim said last month that this practice will be relaxed as part of a land transport overhaul aiming to persuade more Singaporeans to use public transport.
The Land Transport Authority said it is in talks with transport operators regarding the upcoming bus services, but declined to give further details.
The Public Transport Council, which issues licenses for bus services, said discussions 'will take into account the travel needs of the commuting public'.
The move will provide more places for passengers during peak hours and ease train crowding, it added.
It is not yet known if these new services will be basic or premium ones. The latter make fewer stops but cost 1.5 to 3 times more than regular buses.
One thing appears to be clear, though: there is a strong demand for new services.
Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times. |
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Singapura : 23 Februari 2008
PENUMPANG TEKSI BERKURANG TETAPI GAJI TETAP BERTAMBAH
Sikap positif bantu pemandu harungi kenaikan tambang
Oleh
Nadzri Eunos
SEBAGAI pemandu teksi, Encik Haniff Mahbob sentiasa berfikiran positif dalam menjalankan tugas.
Justeru, beliau meneruskan rutin kerjanya apabila tambang teksi dinaikkan sekitar sebulan yang lalu.
Ternyata, prinsip kerjanya itu berbaloi kerana beliau mampu menambah pendapatannya meskipun jumlah penumpang merosot.
Ketika ditemui baru-baru ini, bapa tiga anak dewasa itu mendedahkan pendapatannya bertambah secara purata kira-kira $15 sehari.
Semuanya ini dilakukan Encik Haniff, 55 tahun, tanpa mengubah jadual kerjanya iaitu sekitar 12 jam sehari.
'Sejak dulu lagi saya mula bertugas sekitar 4.30 pagi dan pulang sekitar maghrib. Sejak tambang naik saya buat kira-kira 12 perjalanan sehari berbanding 15.
'Daripada pengamatan saya, saya mendapati sekarang kurang penumpang waktu sibuk, ramai yang tangguh sehingga selepas waktu sibuk sebelum naik teksi. Dan sejak seminggu ini saya lihat semakin ramai yang kembali menggunakan khidmat teksi,' jelas Encik Haniff yang telah memandu teksi sejak 24 tahun lalu.
Beberapa pemandu teksi lain seperti Haji Zakaria Mohamad Yaacob juga mendedahkan mereka masih boleh mengekalkan kadar pendapatan yang sama.
'Meskipun sekarang penumpang kurang, memandangkan tambang sudah naik, kami masih lagi boleh mendapat kadar gaji yang sama seperti sebelumnya,' jelas Haji Zakaria, 52 tahun.
Dalam sidang Parlimen bulan lalu, Menteri Pengangkutan, Encik Raymond Lim, berkata secara amnya para penumpang mendapati kini lebih cepat untuk mendapatkan teksi semasa waktu sibuk dan para pemandu teksi pula melaporkan jumlah pendapatan mereka meningkat, empat minggu selepas tambang teksi dinaikkan.
Perangkaan menunjukkan bahawa masa menunggu di perhentian teksi di kawasan bandar kini secara purata hanya selama enam minit, berbanding 22 minit sebelum ini.
Syarikat teksi terbesar, Comfort Delgro, juga melaporkan bahawa 98 peratus penumpang yang menempah teksi akan mendapat teksi yang ditempah pada waktu yang ditetapkan berbanding 91 peratus sebelumnya.
Encik Lim turut merujuk kepada tinjauan ke atas 5,000 pemandu teksi Comfort Delgro yang mendapati secara purata pendapatan pemandu meningkat daripada $307 kepada $318 sehari sebelumnya.
Beliau turut berkata pemerintah akan terus memantau kesan kenaikan tambang ke atas penumpang dan pemandu teksi. |
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Feb 23, 2008
Taxi industry aims to up service standards
By Maria Almenoar
IMPROVING SERVICE: The Singapore Taxi Academy is offering a 16-hour training session for 5,000 cabbies this year to teach them the finer aspects of service. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
TAXI drivers, who are in the front line of the tourism sector, will soon know how they stack up against other service industries.
The taxi industry was one area surveyed as part of the National Customer Satisfaction Index which is put together by the Institute of Service Excellence at the Singapore Management University.
The results are likely to be out in the first quarter of this year. From there, taxi companies and the Taxi Operators' Association can see where they stand and improve in sections where they fall short.
National Trades Union Congress secretary-general Lim Swee Say said that while the taxi industry had done 'very well' when it had been put to the test at major events, such as the International Olympic Committee meeting in 2006 and the ongoing Singapore Airshow, that was not enough.
'While we set our sights on these big events, we must never neglect that improving quality service is a daily event, it's a daily challenge,' he said.
He was speaking at the launch of the Taxi Customer-Centric Initiatives last evening. Part of these initiatives is to set up a task force to coordinate the efforts of the taxi companies to help improve service.
This includes mystery commuter audits of all six companies and then consolidating the results of the audit.
And to help cabbies improve their service standards, the Singapore Taxi Academy is offering a 16-hour training session for 5,000 cabbies this year. |
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66 train service disruptions in last 3 years
By Yeo Ghim Lay
A total of 66 train service disruptions of more than 10 minutes happened in the last three years. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
A TOTAL of 66 train service disruptions of more than 10 minutes happened in the last three years, Minister of State (Transport) Lim Hwee Hua told Parliament on Monday.
These incidents took place on the North-South, East-West and North-East lines from 2005 to 2007. Out of these, 19 lasted for more than 30 minutes.
Five of the 19 were caused by train systems fault.
The remaining were due to track intrusions or caused by passengers who activated emergency buttons. Mrs Lim gave these statistics in response to MPs' questions on the disruptions.
MP Lim Biow Chuan (Marine Parade) asked if the ministry would consider having laws requiring public transport operators to compensate passengers in the event of a disruption.
In response, Mrs Lim said it would not be appropriate for authorities to prescribe the kind of compensation that operators should give commuters.
She noted, however, that commuters can seek refunds if train services are disrupted.
Operators found to be negligent in such incidents could also be fined up to $1 million. |
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March 4, 2008
Commuters confused by new CBD taxi stand rule
Some still try to hail passing cabs, while some cabbies ignore new rule
By Jessica Lim & April Chong
JOIN THE QUEUE: Commuters waiting for a taxi along Battery Road yesterday after the new rules took effect on Saturday. Cabs can now pick up passengers in the CBD only from designated taxi stands. -- ST PHOTOS: ALAN LIM
A NEW rule requiring taxi commuters to board and alight from cabs only at designated stands in the Central Business District (CBD) and Orchard Road has left many confused or flustered.
Those in the latter group say the new rule robs them of the door-to-door service they pay for, while others The Straits Times spoke to yesterday said they had no clue that a change had been made.
The new rule, which took effect on Saturday, is meant to increase road safety by preventing taxi drivers from swerving across lanes and stopping anywhere they please to pick up fares.
The introduction of more bus lanes within the city also makes it illegal for taxis to stop at the side of many roads.
To help commuters, 25 more taxi stands were added in the CBD, within approximately 300m of every building.
But for many commuters, this is not enough.
Said Ms Irene Tan, 25, who was seen flagging a cab near Boat Quay: 'I don't know where the nearest taxi stand is, and when I called for a cab, the operator told me to go to a taxi stand.'
The sales executive decided to try and flag down a taxi by the side of the road, but gave up after 45 minutes and walked to a nearby hotel to join its taxi queue.
Several tourists, meanwhile, were unaware of the new rule and wore confused looks on their faces after several minutes of watching empty cabs whizz by.
Others remarked that funnelling commuters to taxi stands meant a longer wait for a cab.
Said Mr Robert Tan, 62, who works at a clinic in Robinson Road: 'It used to take me 15 minutes to get a cab at a taxi stand. Now it takes me half an hour. I miss the convenience of flagging a cab from the roadside.'
But some commuters welcomed the move.
Said Mr Ryan Ng, 26, a financial consultant who takes a cab twice a week: 'It makes it more organised. I don't think it's a problem. Taxi stands in the CBD are like rubbish bins. They are everywhere.'
Taxi companies also praised the change.
Said Mr Johnny Harjantho, the managing director of Smart Taxis: 'It is safer to stop at taxi stands. Many accidents have been caused by taxis stopping suddenly along the roadside.'
Companies such as Premier, SMRT and ComfortDelGro are also diverting taxis to the nearest taxi stand or building driveway, so their cabbies will not stop by the side of the road to pick up passengers.
They are also reminding drivers of the new rule via internal broadcast systems.
Despite this, however, some taxi drivers paid little heed to the rule.
About 12 were counted stopping along Bencoolen Street to pick up passengers within a 30-minute stretch.
Some said playing by the rule was tough if others did not follow suit.
Cabby Ang Nee Choon, 53, was one who adopted the approach: if you can't beat them, join them. He saw several people being picked up by the side of the road yesterday morning.
When his turn came, he said, 'I quickly stopped. If I don't, I lose money'.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that 'taxi drivers and commuters will need some time to adjust to the new requirement' and that it will 'continue to deploy officers on the ground to remind and educate taxi drivers and their passengers'.
So far, LTA enforcement officers have reminded 92 taxi drivers who picked up or dropped off passengers along public roads of the new rule.
The rule applies between 7am and 10pm from Mondays to Saturdays, except on public holidays.
Cabbies who do not pick up or drop off passengers at taxi stands can be fined $100 and given three demerit points.
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Category: Negeri & Negara
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Post time 21-1-2008 11:38 AM
