March 4, 2008
Bus overturns after collision with cement mixer
The bus, which was half-packed with passengers, was travelling towards Keppel Shipyard in Tuas when it hit the lorry coming in the opposite direction. -- PHOTO: REGU NATHAN FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
This SBS bus overturned and landed on its side after colliding with a cement mixer at Pioneer Sector 1 Road during the morning rush hour on Tuesday.
The bus, which was half-packed with passengers, was travelling towards Keppel Shipyard in Tuas when it hit the lorry coming in the opposite direction at about 7.30am, said Mr Regu Nathan, a quantity surveyor who stook this picture and emailed it to The Straits Times.
Mr Nathan said the passengers and bus driver suffered minor injuries.
KHIDMAT BAS, MRT AKAN DIBAIKI SEBELUM KENAIKAN KADAR ERP
KHIDMAT pengangkutan awam seperti bas dan MRT akan diperbaiki sebelum perubahan terhadap Bayaran Elektronik Jalan Raya (ERP) dilaksanakan Julai ini.
Menurut Menteri Pengangkutan, Encik Raymond Lim, antara perubahan yang bakal dilaksanakan termasuk menambah kekerapan perkhidmatan bas termasuk khidmat feeder.
'Kami juga akan memberi keutamaan dalam usaha menambah khidmat bas yang terjejas dengan peluasan ERP, di mana pengendali bas perlu menambah kekerapan pada waktu sibuk bagi semua khidmat bas daripada 15 minit kepada 12 minit menjelang Jun 2008 dan 10 minit menjelang Ogos 2009,' ujar Encik Lim.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditanya beberapa Anggota Parlimen (AP) yang ingin mengetahui langkah kementeriannya untuk menangani kesan perubahan ERP Julai ini.
Bayaran ERP akan dinaikkan dan 16 gantri tambahan akan didirikan bagi terus mengawal kesesakan jalan raya.
Harga permulaan ERP akan dinaikkan daripada $1 kepada $2, dan setiap kenaikan selepas itu adalah sebanyak $1, berbanding 50 sen sekarang.
Namun, kenaikan itu akan diimbangi dengan pengurangan cukai jalan raya sebanyak 15 peratus bagi semua jenis kenderaan mulai 1 Julai.
Mengenai khidmat MRT pula, Encik Lim berkata pengendali MRT telah pun menambah lebih 93 perjalanan kereta api dalam seminggu sewaktu masa-masa sibuk sejak Februari lalu.
6-month trial to let cyclists bring foldable bicycles on trains, buses
Posted: 07 March 2008 0102 hrs
SINGAPORE : There will be a six-month trial from the middle of this month to allow cyclists to carry their foldable bicycles on board trains and buses.
In addition, to make it more convenient for cyclists to use public transport, there will also be better bicycle parking facilities at MRT stations and bus interchanges in housing estates.
Announcing the good news for cyclists in Parliament on Thursday, Minister of State for Transport Lim Hwee Hua said the government recognised that cycling provides an additional if not alternative mode of transport.
This is especially for intra-town travel and to key transport nodes, like the MRT stations and the bus interchanges.
So as part of plans to promote greater use of public transport, a one-year pilot will also be carried out next year at MRT stations and bus interchanges in Pasir Ris, Tampines and Yishun.
Mrs Lim said this would allow the Land Transport Authority to gather feedback so as to better understand the usage patterns and needs of the cyclists before extending the facilities to all other MRT stations and bus interchanges.
However, she drew the line at providing dedicated cycling lanes.
Mrs Lim explained, "Given our land constraints, it is not feasible to provide a comprehensive set of dedicated cycling tracks or cycle lanes island-wide. We have to ask ourselves if this is the best way to make full use of our...very limited space.
"The issue is not whether cyclists have a place in our public transport system, but how do we allocate space amongst competing users that will best make use of our very limited land."
The issue of better facilities for cyclists was brought up by MP Irene Ng of Tampines GRC as well as Mr Teo Ser Luck, the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports. - CNA/ms
March 10, 2008
SMRT fined $400,000 for Jan's 7-hour train disruption
By Azlinda Mohd Said
Investigations showed that the incident was the result of SMRT not complying with operating procedures. -- PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA (MY)
THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has fined SMRT nearly $400,000 for causing severe disruption to train services betwen the Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris MRT stations on Jan 21.
Services were interrupted for seven hours and 17 minutes because one portion of a maintenance train hit another parked portion during routine maintenance works.
This happened at 3.10am on the rail section between the Tampines and Simei MRT stations. The incident immobilised one of the locomotives and a rail grinding vehicle, rendering the tracks impassable.
Normal train services resumed at 12.45pm, after the vehicles were removed.
Investigations showed that the incident was the result of SMRT not complying with operating procedures. It had not secured the parked portion of the maintenance train, made up of a locomotive and a wagon, during maintenance works.
The locomotive's parking brake was not applied and no wheel choke was placed to prevent movement along the gradient of the track, leading to the roll-back of the parked maintenance train, which then knocked into the other vehicles.
LTA takes a serious view of such disruptions as they cause inconvenience to not only train commuters but other motorists as well.
In this instance, many commuters were distressed, despite SMRT's efforts in deploying 70 buses to provide bridging services between the affected MRT stations.
That is why LTA has decided to impose a financial penalty of $387,176 on SMRT. SMRT has up to two weeks to show cause why the penalty should not be imposed.
LTA is now working with SMRT to make sure that should disruptions occur in future, commuters are updated frequently on the incident even before they reach the affected MRT stations.
Alternative transport will also be arranged in a timely manner and more effective bus bridging services will be provided during an extended service disruption.
March 10, 2008
More China bus drivers to be seen on roads soon
More S'poreans shun the job now, so SBS Transit and SMRT look to China
By Yeo Ghim Lay and Jamie Ee Wen Wei
BUS operators are turning to China for drivers as more Singaporeans here shun the job, complaining of irregular hours and low pay.
This is the first time SBS Transit and SMRT are looking beyond Singapore and Malaysia in their effort to hire more drivers.
SMRT's first batch of 34 drivers from China - it has hired about 100 to boost its pool of 1,700, 80 per cent of whom are Singaporeans - arrived in January.
Meanwhile, SBS is bringing in 20 drivers to start work soon on two-year contracts.
SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said that if its first batch of bus captains from China performs well, it might hire more of them and also consider drivers from other countries.
It currently has 5,200 drivers, 75 per cent of whom are Singaporeans or permanent residents. Malaysians make up the rest.
Both companies said they are turning to China as they find it increasingly difficult to hire Singaporeans.
It is a problem that has surfaced in the past.
In 2005, bus drivers' basic pay was raised from $936 to about $1,200 to get more Singaporeans to take up the job.
In addition, as part of a job redesign programme - a larger initiative by the labour movement to get Singaporeans to take up jobs they once shunned - drivers were renamed bus captains, to improve their self-esteem.
The measures worked initially, as the number of Singaporeans signing up rose.
But although salaries have risen since then - SBS Transit says its bus captains earn between $1,600 and $3,500 per month - hiring Singaporeans is getting tougher.
National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) general secretary Fang Chin Poh said the revised salaries are still not attractive enough for most Singaporeans, especially when combined with long and irregular hours.
March 12, 2008
New taxi stand rule in CBD irks commuters and cabbies
By Yeo Ghim Lay and April Chong
A passenger seen 'illegally' boarding the cab with a trolley in tow along Club Street. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
THE TAXI stand rule was meant to help improve road safety in the Central Business District (CBD), but it is raising the hackles of both commuters and cab-drivers, as well as residents and businesses in the area.
They want the rules eased, at least for the elderly and the disabled who have trouble getting to taxi-stands on foot.
Hotels and restaurants in the area also bemoan the inconvenience to patrons since the rule which restricts where taxis stop in the CBD took effect on March 1.
Especially affected are tourists who have difficulty getting to hotels with luggage in tow, and foreign businessmen dropping in on offices in the area, said cabbies.
Cabbie Leong L.H., who is in his 50s, said: 'The foreigners who are here on business, and even locals, get lost when they have to find their way to an office building along places like Robinson Road. I try to direct them but it's hard to find the buildings.'
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) wants cabbies to pick up and drop off passengers only at taxi-stands between 7am to 10pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
It now has 105 cab stands in the area stretching from Shenton Way to the Orchard Road district and are planning to install more taxi stands where possible, especially on sidelanes leading to hotels, said an LTA spokesman.
Businesses in the Club Street and Ann Siang Hill area are up in arms over the new ruling.
The bustling nightspot, home to more than 30 restaurants, pubs, shophouse offices and retail outlets, does not have a taxi stand of its own.
To take a cab, commuters would have to go to the taxi stand in front of Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road or walk to China Square - both at least five minutes away on foot.
This roundabout way of getting a cab has upset business owners in the area.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
March 12, 2008
Courts take tough stance against violent acts at MRT stations
By Selina Lum
Kwong Kok Hing, convicted of pushing his girlfriend onto the train tracks at Clementi MRT station, was originally sentence to a year in jail before his term was pushed up to three years. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
SINGAPORE'S highest court has upped a jilted boyfriend's jail term for pushing his ex-girlfriend onto the MRT tracks and sent a strong message that offenders who commit such violent and dangerous acts will be severely punished.
Explaining why Kwong Kok Hing will now serve a three-year jail term instead of just one, Justice V.K. Rajah said in a written judgment on Monday that an 'unambiguous and robust message' must be sent out that similar perpetrators will be dealt with 'firmly and properly'.
In Sept 2006, Kwong, 26, shoved his ex-girlfriend Jenny Low, also 26, off the platform of the Clementi MRT station onto the tracks just as a train was pulling in.
Ms Low had ended their turbulent two-year relationship a few days earlier, but Kwong wanted to patch up.
The quick-thinking woman escaped death by dashing to the side of the tracks a split second before the train sped past her.
The nail-biting episode was captured on a CCTV camera and replayed in court when Kwong pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter in May last year. Kwong, who was an Asean scholar, was initially given a one-year jail term.
He was released from prison on the day of the sentencing because he had spent eight months in custody and was given one-third remission for good behaviour.
The Singapore permanent resident returned to Malaysia shortly after his release. When the prosecution appealed for a stiffer punishment, Kwong did not turn up in court on Nov 13 last year.
The Court of Appeal, which also comprised Justices Andrew Phang and Tan Lee Meng, then increased his jail term to three years. Kwong flew in from Malaysia on Dec 3 to continue serving his jail term.
Justice Rajah said pushing a person into the path of an oncoming train is arguably one of the worst conceivable conduct for an attempted killing. Such an act is almost certain to kill or maim and a severe sentence was warranted.
'In this case, there is plainly a need to send out a clear message to the public that it is wholly unacceptable to commit similar violent and dangerous acts, regardless of whether they are premeditated, rash or impulsive,' he said.
Citing Land Transport Authority figures, the judge said the MRT plays a major role in the lives of many Singapore commuters - average daily ridership numbered 1.435 million last year.
Justice Rajah said the recent spate of serious and fatal incidents at above-ground MRT stations has 'left its mark on the train commuter's psyche', pointing to widespread calls from the public for platform screen doors to be installed.
But before these doors are installed at all stations by 2012, he said there is a perception among some that 'danger continues to lurk on every exposed train platform'.
'Whether a person intends to kill or not, the act of pushing a helpless person off a train platform and onto the tracks is an act so despicable and inherently dangerous that it must be unequivocally censured by the courts so as to deter others from even contemplating carrying out similar acts, let alone actually committing them.'
Cabbies and commuters adjusting to revised taxi rule in CBD
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 19 March 2008 0002 hrs
SINGAPORE : Tuesday is the first day of operations after the taxi rule in the Central Business District (CBD) was tweaked.
Cabbies are now allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at side roads, instead of only at designated stands and driveways of buildings.
Some taxi drivers and commuters are still adjusting to the change.
But getting taxis in the CBD should be easier now.
Although most welcomed the move, fine-tuning the rule barely three weeks after it was introduced has also caused some confusion amongst cabbies and commuters.
"It's only temporary right? Now change already? Very confused. I don't know that it has changed. Because yesterday I heard from the Chinese news which said on May 1st, we have to follow this new rule," said one taxi driver.
Generally, cabbies like the adjustment to the rule.
"Very convenient for us."
"It's better for everyone."
But for some commuters, the change is still not good enough.
One commuter said: "Go back to the same old way, that will be the best. Of course no taxis like to offend traffic rules...but I think they are smart enough to know where they should park and where they should stop."
"Inconvenient for the elderly. If a place doesn't have a taxi stand, it's inconvenient for them."
The Land Transport Authority had acknowledged it will take some time for cabbies and commuters to adjust to the new rule.
For cab drivers, they have until 1st May to do so after which they face fines of S$100 and three demerit points.
Commuters can expect more taxi stands in the CBD, and prominent signs directing them to the nearest one. - CNA/ch
PADA Ahad lalu kami sekeluarga pergi membeli-belah di pasar raya Giant di Tampines.
Setelah selesai membeli-belah kami beratur di tempat yang disediakan untuk menunggu teksi sekitar 6.30 petang.
Pada waktu itu terdapat ramai pembeli yang sedang beratur. Walaupun sudah satu jam menunggu saya masih beratur lagi kerana sukar mendapat teksi.
Para pembeli di belakang kami terpaksa menggunakan khidmat 'on call' kerana tidak sanggup lagi menunggu.
Daripada tempat saya menunggu, saya dapat melihat beberapa teksi yang masuk ke kawasan pasar raya itu menurunkan penumpang di tempat Drop-Off Point. Tempat itu berada tidak beberapa jauh daripada tempat kami menunggu dan mempunyai jalan sehala sahaja.
Cuma yang menghairankan, tiba-tiba semakin banyak teksi yang datang tetapi semuanya mempunyai tanda 'on call'.
Pembeli di hadapan saya sudah bersedia menaiki teksi yang sudah tiba tetapi tiba-tiba si pemandu teksi menukar tanda teksi itu kepada 'on call'.
Adakah perkara ini patut berlaku? Apakah pemandu teksi sengaja berbuat demikian agar lebih ramai penumpang menggunakan khidmat 'on call' bagi meraih lebih banyak keuntungan?
Saya berharap pihak pengendali teksi dan pihak berkuasa dapat melakukan sesuatu agar penumpang tidak berterusan menjadi mangsa pemandu teksi setempat.
March 20, 2008
Make cab stands disabled-friendly?
Disabled make request following easing of CBD rule
By April Chong
YES, let's have more taxi stands in the Central Business District (CBD), but how about making them accessible for the handicapped too?
The initial hue and cry over the CBD taxi rule has eased, with the rule change on Monday allowing taxis to stop along side roads in the CBD, and news that more taxi stands will be built in the city centre to bring the number to 115.
Now, a smaller group of passengers hope their concerns can be addressed too.
Secretary of the Disabled People's Association Judy Wee said it would be better to have more wheelchair-accessible drop-off points because 'there is no point stopping at a side road when there is a kerb there'.
Wheelchair-bound bank analyst Bay Meng Chien, 27, has little trouble getting into a cab at Suntec City where he works. But moving around within the CBD is not as easy.
'For example, getting to Commerce Point along Phillip Street is difficult because there is a high kerb at the drop-off point outside,' he said of the building close to Raffles Place.
He hopes that more taxi stands with ramps and shelters can be installed in areas such as Bugis and Raffles Place.
Right now, some of the cab stands have ramps that are just too steep or there is a kerb.
Going by feedback from disabled passengers, Orchard Road is the most wheelchair-friendly stretch of the CBD.
Another group of passengers who may have some special needs is the elderly.
Mr Phua Kok Tee, head of the Singapore Action Group of Elders, pointed out that in Shenton Way and Chinatown, steps often separate the road from the pavement.
He said: 'The elderly in Singapore are by and large independent, but exceptions may need to be made for those with mobility problems...Let's give the new rule some time to run first before seeing if further refinements are needed.'
Most of the cab stands in the CBD, with the exception of about 10, are obstacle-free, said a Land Transport Authority spokesman, and LTA will continue to look into ways to make the infrastructure more accessible for the handicapped and elderly.
OF THE 353 buildings in the Central Business District, only eight do not have a driveway, side road or taxi stand in the immediate vicinity.
But it will not take more than a 100m walk to get to any of the buildings after alighting from a cab close by, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.
One such building identified by LTA is the BMC Building in Orchard Road, which is hemmed in by buildings on either side and a canal at the back.
Staff working at the private school there told The Straits Times that visitors do not have any problems getting off in Handy Road or at Plaza Singapura.
LTA has not identified the other seven buildings, but a check with commuters and cabbies found others with some 'site constraints'.
These include Shenton House in Shenton Way, Hitachi Tower at Collyer Quay and Hotel 81 Chinatown in Upper Cross Street, all of which require visitors to get off elsewhere to reach the premises.
March 10, 2008
SMRT fined $400,000 for Jan's 7-hour train disruption
THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has fined SMRT nearly $400,000 for causing severe disruption to train services betwen the Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris MRT stations on Jan 21.
March 20, 2008
SMRT appeals for lighter fine
By Christopher Tan
In meting out the penalty, the LTA said the disruption on the morning of Jan 21 was caused by a 'breach of operating procedures'. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
RAIL operator SMRT Corp is appealing against a $387,176 fine imposed upon it for a seven-hour delay that affected over 57,000 rush-hour commuters in January.
It is basing its appeal on the efforts it made to mitigate the service disruption.
SMRT said on Thursday that it has written to the Land Transport Authority to ask it to reconsider the penalty, which it felt did not take into consideration efforts to minimise the impact of the incident.
It said that under its operating agreement, 'there is a provision for the LTA to moderate the penalty amount' by considering the mitigating actions taken by the operator.
The public-listed operator, whose main shareholder is Temasek Holdings, pointed out that it had provided free bus services, and mobilised more than 300 employees 'to carry out on-site recovery, crowd management, dissemination of information, and preparation for resumption of service.'
But affected commuters complained that queues for the buses were long, some drivers were unfamiliar with the route, and they were not updated about the incident.
In meting out the penalty, the LTA said the disruption on Jan 21 morning was caused by a 'breach of operating procedures'.
It happened because SMRT workers failed to engage the parking brake of one portion of a maintenance train. This caused the train to roll back when its primary brakes failed. It slammed into its locomotive, shutting the track between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris stations.
The preventable accident could have had serious or even fatal results if workers were in the way of the service vehicles.
Service resumed after the damaged trains were removed.
An SMRT spokesman on Thursday said the company was not expecting a total waiver of the fine, but a lighter penalty in light of the things it did to help minimise the impact of the disruption.
The LTA said it has received SMRT's letter, and 'will be reviewing the merit of the appeal'.
March 28, 2008
LTA awards site for integrated bus interchange at Serangoon Central
Two integrated public transport hubs are currently being built at Boon Lay and Clementi (above) and are scheduled to be completed by 2009 and 2011 respectively. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN
THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the white site at Serangoon Central to Gold Ridge, which submitted the highest bid of S$800,900,000 for the 25,000 sq m plot.
The 99-year leasehold site, with a maximum gross floor area (GFA) of 87,527.00 sq m, works out to a tendered price of S$9,150.32 per sqm.
The tender was launched on Dec 7 and closed on March 26.
The developer will design and construct a development with a bus interchange, to be integrated with the Serangoon North East Line MRT Station and the Serangoon Circle Line MRT Station.
Chief Executive of LTA, Mr Yam Ah Mee said: 'Integrated public transport hubs will enhance connectivity by making our bus interchanges and MRT stations more accessible.'
'Residents have told us they enjoy the comfort and convenience of our air-conditioned bus interchanges at Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Sengkang. Public transport ridership at these areas has also gone up steadily.'
'As part of the Land Transport Review, we will build more integrated public transport hubs. Serangoon Central will be the first of five additional hubs to be built over the next ten years.'
Four other integrated public transport hubs will be built at Bedok, Jurong, Joo Koon and Marina South.
There are now three integrated public transport hubs at Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Sengkang.
Two are being built at Boon Lay and Clementi and scheduled to be completed by 2009 and 2011 respectively, said LTA on Friday.
March 28, 2008
More bus stops to carry info panels, route maps
The additional panels will be installed from next week at bus stops with a high volume of commuter traffic. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
COMMUTERS will be able to get real-time bus arrival information at another 20 bus stops around Singapore by May, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Friday.
This will help commuters better manage waiting time and transfers, and make more informed travel decisions.
The LTA said it is extending this initiative following positive feedback to the first 30 real-time bus arrival information panels which were installed in July last year.
Nine out of 10 commuters polled felt that the panels were useful and important, and they hoped to see them at more bus stops.
The additional panels will be installed from next week at bus stops with a high volume of commuter traffic.
Installation will be completed by end of May.
The panels will display the bus services that call at the bus stop, the arrival times of the next and subsequent buses for each bus service, and a symbol to indicate whether the bus is wheelchair-accessible.
To facilitate commuters making transfers between rail and buses, the panels at each of the bus stops located near the Bugis MRT station and the Chinatown NEL station will also display the arrival times of rail services at those stations.
This additional rail information will be available from July.
Two panels carrying the same arrival times of bus and rail services at the bus stops near these stations will also be installed at the station entrances from July.
These two MRT stations were selected as the bus stops at the stations have a high volume of commuter traffic, said LTA.
The LTA will monitor commuters' feedback before deciding on further roll out. More key bus services maps in Orchard Road and Chinatown
LTA will also extend the key bus services maps to the Chinatown vicinity and to more areas at Orchard Road by the second half of the year.
These include 35 bus stops along the main thoroughfares of Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road and five bus stops along Napier Road and Tomlinson Road.
LTA's survey showed that 8 out of 10 commuters found this maps useful. Most of them also indicated that they would like to see these displayed at more bus stops in the Orchard Road vicinity, and at major bus stops at other key areas or attractions.
Launched in July, the maps were first installed at 36 bus stops in the Orchard Road area. Designed primarily for tourists and infrequent public transport users, each map provides pictorial information on key bus services calling at the bus stop and the routes they cover.
It also indicates the MRT stations along the routes, significant buildings and locales such as places of interests, tourist attractions and major shopping malls.
'As part of LTA's on-going efforts to enhance the public transport experience and to empower commuters to make informed decisions when using our public transport system, LTA will continue to explore other platforms on which such information can be disseminated,' said Mr Yam Ah Mee, LTA's Chief Executive.
Possibility of MRT link between S'pore and Johor still being discussed
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 March 2008 1713 hrs
SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Raymond Lim said it is premature to say whether Singapore's MRT line will eventually extend into Johor Bahru.
He was responding to reporters on Sunday about a recent Bernama report which had quoted Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman as saying that a block of flats that was being torn down was for a train station that would serve as an extension of Singapore's MRT line.
The Menteri Besar had added that while they were still in early stages of negotiation with the Singapore authorities, he would be happy if the project could get off the ground in three or four years' time.
He had said the move would also complement the proposed light rail system being planned for the southern city.
Mr Lim said there is a working group with officials from both sides looking into how best to enhance connectivity between Singapore and Johor.
While one of the options is a rail link, Mr Lim said other options are still being discussed.
"We are exploring the possibility of whether or not to have this link. We think it's good to have this link, it will enhance connectivity between the two countries. We are keen on this, but we have to discuss how best to do this," he said.
March 31, 2008
Contra-flow bus lanes, Tram systems a possibility: LTA
IMAGINE a road having traffic headed in one direction and the buses moving in the opposite one in bus-only lanes.
It may seem odd at first, but this system is in place in some cities.
Called the contra-flow bus lane, it works by keeping buses and other traffic out of each other's way. It is among several ideas the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is considering to keep traffic here moving.
Other ideas - such as a tram system and separating bus lanes from other traffic with barriers - have also been raised in the Land Transport Masterplan, which was launched on Sunday.
Besides throwing up such ideas, the plan is also a statement of the direction the Government plans to take in land transport in the next decade.
This includes committing to concrete plans like increasing the frequency of buses, building new rail lines and cutting road tax.
With better scheduling, buses in bus-only lanes can be timed to arrive at shorter intervals, in a convoy and much like 'rail-less' trains, LTA Chairman Michael Lim said in an interview last year.
Contra-flow bus lanes, already in use n Taipei, Chicago and parts of Britain, promise a faster commutes.
April 2, 2008
SMRT introduces new Premium bus service
By Yeo Ghim Lay
GEYLANG Bahru residents working in Suntec City and Shenton Way can hop on a new premium bus service from Friday and get there in less than half an hour.
Premium service 546, operated by SMRT, will ply Geylang Bahru, Upper Boon Keng Road, Lorong 1 Geylang and Sims Avenue before heading straight to the city.
It will stop along Nicoll Highway at Suntec City and One Raffles Link as well as Clifford Pier and Shenton Way, cutting travel time by almost 20 minutes by doing away with the need to transfer buses, said SMRT.
Premium service 546 has 13 stops in total from Geylang Bahru to Shenton Way, clocking 25 minutes for the entire journey.
The new service will make two trips every morning, calling at the first stop at Blk 73 at Geylang Bahru at 8.25am and 8.35am on Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.
Commuters will be charged a flat fare of $3 and each bus can take up to 41 sitting passengers. No standing is allowed.
SMRT's new service adds to the growing number of premium bus services here, as part of plans under the land transport review to provide more comfortable and direct journeys for commuters.
Including the new service, SMRT and its subsidiary BusPlus now offer seven premium services.
April 17, 2008
ComfortDelGro apologises to man abused by cabby
Netizens slam man who filmed the spat.
By Ian Lim
COMFORTDELGRO has apologised to the man, who filmed a road rage incident with a Comfort taxi driver and later put it up to YouTube and sent it to STOMP.
The company said disciplinary action has been taken against the cabby, who let off a string of expletives at the man in front of MediaCorp complex on Caldecott Hill.
The man claimed that he had politely asked the taxi driver to move his cab which was parked on the wrong side of the road.
Instead of moving, the cabby swore at him with expletives and this escalated into a shouting match. Cisco officers later came to the scene to try and stop the argument.
The three-and-a-half minute video has since been uploaded by three different users on YouTube and has attracted over 20,000 hits since it was first posted on April 14.
One of the YouTube posts claimed that the original video was uploaded by andrewteo777, who is said to be the man in the video.
Ms Tammy Tan, ComfortDelGro Group Corporate Communications Officer told straitstimes.com on Thursday morning: 'Firstly, we would like to extend our apologies to Mr Teo with regards to the actions of our taxi driver.
'ComfortDelGro cabbies have been told to wait for booking customers at pick-up points that do not obstruct traffic. In this instance, the cabby should not have parked against the flow of traffic, and he certainly should not have behaved the way he did when confronted.
'Cabbies have been advised to stay calm even under difficult and unpleasant situations so as not to escalate the situation. Where necessary, they are advised to alert the police to assist.'
But Netizens on straitstimes.com, which has received over 50 comments on this story, and YouTube have strongly criticised the man's actions, saying he was the real bully and that the taxi driver should not be punished.
williampcwong said 'the taxi driver was wrong to park or wait on the other side of the road' but the real rude bully was the man who filmed the video clip.
tuiniasin agreed: 'The driver had self-disciplined himself by not stepping out of his taxi and challenge the bully. He made ComfortDelGro proud.'
Some posts also called for action to be taken against the video maker, instead of the taxi driver.
'I want action to be taken against this person making the video. He clearly thinks he is above the law, and was heard instructing the officers on what to do. His boorish behaviour cannot be condoned and is worse than the taxi driver's,' said yeusmarn.
criminal offence konon...
tok dia ajar agaknya traffics offence is a criminal offence
sendiri pun tak tau undang2....
SINGAPORE: From Monday, office workers living in Tampines, Yishun and Kaki Bukit/Bedok Reservoir Road will be able to get to work faster on buses.
SBS Transit is rolling out six new premium bus services which will provide direct travel from the three neighbourhood towns to Robinson Road and Shenton Way in the Central Business District (CBD).
The buses will operate only in the morning peak hours and in just one direction from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays. All trips are scheduled to arrive in the CBD area before 9.00am.
It will cost commuters $3.60 for each trip, except for Premium Service 585 which charges $3.30.
The latest addition brings to 39 the total number of premium bus services provided by the ComfortDelGro Group.
For more information, commuters can visit the SBS Transit website.
April 18, 2008
Six new premium bus services from Monday
They will bring Tampines, Bedok and Yishun residents to Shenton Way.
By Yeo Ghim Lay
TAMPINES, Bedok and Yishun residents who work in Shenton Way can look forward to six new premium bus services on Monday.
Three of the services will ply different parts of Tampines, and two will serve Yishun. The remaining service starts at Bedok Reservoir Road.
Premium services 552, 553, 554, 558, 559 and 585 will make one trip each during the morning peak hour, leaving from their respective starting points from 7.45am to 8am.
All six services will end at Fullerton Road before 9am, after making stops along Robinson Road.
Commuters will be charged a $3.60 fare or each trip on five of the services, and $3.30 for service 585, which travels a shorter distance.
The services will run Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.
With the new additions from SBS Transit, there will be a total of 64 premium buses services running in Singapore from Monday.
Thirty-nine of these will be operated by Comfortdelgro Group - 34 by SBS Transit and five by Comfortdelgro, the group's private bus subsidiary.
Post time 4-3-2008 04:04 PM
