SMRT to introduce more bus services that run parallel to MRT
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SMRT to introduce more bus services that run parallel to train lines
By Leong Wee Keat, Sona Remesh | Posted: 02 July 2010 1902 hrs
SINGAPORE : Overcrowded trains are a common complaint of many commuters these days.
And transport operator SMRT said it will introduce more bus services to run parallel to some sections of the train lines to alleviate the congestion.
While ridership in trains used to increase 1 to 2 per cent annually, it has risen by as much as 9 per cent in recent years.
So SMRT said it is sparing no expense to find ways to ease the load.
Saw Phaik Hwa, CEO, SMRT, said: "What we have done is every week, and I'm talking about every week, not year, we are adding 1,110 train rides already. As late as March and April, we added another 150 rides."
SMRT will also increase the number of bus services that run parallel to MRT lines to give commuters more alternatives to joining the daily squeeze.
The operator is also looking to ease crowds by end-2011, when 22 more trains will be added.
An extra platform to the Jurong East interchange will also reduce waiting time there during peak hours - from the current 3 to 4 minutes, to the minimum possible two minutes.
Ms Saw also responded to the online uproar over a comment she had made recently. She had said commuters could choose not to enter crowded trains, prompting netizens to argue she did not understand what commuters were going through.
She said: "I am very aware it's crowded. I take the trains all the time. I take the effort to go all the way to the northern towns to see how crowded it is during the morning peaks and I take the train with the people.
"It is crowded, but I push my way in. It is crowded, but when they are already running at 2-3 minutes (intervals), it's the most that I can do. I cannot go faster than that without compromising safety and reliability."
At the peak hours, some four people are packed in one square metre of space.
Commuters agree that things could be much worse.
"In other countries the squeezing situation is much worse. I mean, for example in Japan, where they are squeezed like Sardines," one commuter said.
With trains pushed to the limit, it looks like commuters will have to bear with the squeeze for now - until more lines are opened up to spread out the passenger load.
You can read more on the story in Saturday's edition of the TODAY newspaper.
- CNA/al
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Honestly nothing can be made to compare abt Tokyo because of its population size.
Probably see how Taipei & Hong Kong copes.
In any case gotta read wat are e parallel bus svs details since past SMRT policy indicates buses should not run parallel - MRT more important.
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reminds me
wanna introduce more bus svs need more buses leh
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Taipei managed well with their MRT system well.
Hong Kong managed its bus system well.
Japan managed its train system well during off peak hours....better than Singapore... there are seats available. Peak hours slightly more squeezy than Singapore's. -
Originally posted by sbst275:
reminds me
wanna introduce more bus svs need more buses leh
They bought NINE NEW BUSES! LOL... can serve few thousand people already! Haha... You know what I mean???
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
They bought NINE NEW BUSES! LOL... can serve few thousand people already! Haha... You know what I mean???
There's isn't any new order for specially 9 buses.It's probably e latest addition from the 2nd order of e OCs.
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Originally posted by sbst275:
There's isn't any new order for specially 9 buses.It's probably e latest addition from the 2nd order of e OCs.
Yeah I know... LOL... Its imaginary 9.
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MRT runs faster than a Bus, and i doubt i will change to take the bus unless the distance is not too far.
Hmm...wonder what trains will they add.
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Originally posted by Call4ljw:
I think is better to improve their current bus services first.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
SMRT to introduce more bus services that run parallel to train lines
By Leong Wee Keat, Sona Remesh | Posted: 02 July 2010 1902 hrs
SINGAPORE : Overcrowded trains are a common complaint of many commuters these days.
And transport operator SMRT said it will introduce more bus services to run parallel to some sections of the train lines to alleviate the congestion.
While ridership in trains used to increase 1 to 2 per cent annually, it has risen by as much as 9 per cent in recent years.
So SMRT said it is sparing no expense to find ways to ease the load.
Saw Phaik Hwa, CEO, SMRT, said: "What we have done is every week, and I'm talking about every week, not year, we are adding 1,110 train rides already. As late as March and April, we added another 150 rides."
SMRT will also increase the number of bus services that run parallel to MRT lines to give commuters more alternatives to joining the daily squeeze.
The operator is also looking to ease crowds by end-2011, when 22 more trains will be added.
An extra platform to the Jurong East interchange will also reduce waiting time there during peak hours - from the current 3 to 4 minutes, to the minimum possible two minutes.
Ms Saw also responded to the online uproar over a comment she had made recently. She had said commuters could choose not to enter crowded trains, prompting netizens to argue she did not understand what commuters were going through.
She said: "I am very aware it's crowded. I take the trains all the time. I take the effort to go all the way to the northern towns to see how crowded it is during the morning peaks and I take the train with the people.
"It is crowded, but I push my way in. It is crowded, but when they are already running at 2-3 minutes (intervals), it's the most that I can do. I cannot go faster than that without compromising safety and reliability."
At the peak hours, some four people are packed in one square metre of space.
Commuters agree that things could be much worse.
"In other countries the squeezing situation is much worse. I mean, for example in Japan, where they are squeezed like Sardines," one commuter said.
With trains pushed to the limit, it looks like commuters will have to bear with the squeeze for now - until more lines are opened up to spread out the passenger load.
You can read more on the story in Saturday's edition of the TODAY newspaper.
- CNA/al
I sense some frustrations... -
Doesn't that mean more carbon emission?
Also I think SBS should address the issue of busses coming late.
Once I waited half an hour for a bloody bus and two came at once. KNN
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At one time some bus services were axed due to duplication. Isnt this going back to the same situation.
Crowded trains is unavoidable. This is because the masses go to work at around the same time and goes home at the same time too.
This cause a situation like outside the stadium after a foot ball match. Everyone goes out at the same time causing congestion to public transport outside the stadium. At other times there is no problem.
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Originally posted by mancha:
At one time some bus services were axed due to duplication. Isnt this going back to the same situation.
Crowded trains is unavoidable. This is because the masses go to work at around the same time and goes home at the same time too.
This cause a situation like outside the stadium after a foot ball match. Everyone goes out at the same time causing congestion to public transport outside the stadium. At other times there is no problem.
This is how the scholars keep their high salary jobs.
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Running services parallel to MRT will not work effectively if they cover almost all the MRT stops along the way and make it very long winded. For the tired office worker after 8 or 9 hours in the office, the first thing they would want is a quick journey home for dinner + rest.
I reckon they should introduce more direct services from town to other parts of Singapore and not make them turn huge rounds here and there. The way it is now only a very small handful of services (not talking about Express and Premiums) take a very direct route to town. And those are the services customers will choose over the MRT if they prove to be faster back to the heartlands.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
Taipei managed well with their MRT system well.
Hong Kong managed its bus system well.
Japan managed its train system well during off peak hours....better than Singapore... there are seats available. Peak hours slightly more squeezy than Singapore's.
Main reason that seats can be found on a off-peak train in Japan is the amount of gap of commuting passengers from peak to off peak. Trains on JRE Yamanote for example, runs at 2 minutes frequency (0600 to 0900, 24 trains on inner loop, 25 on outer loops) during peak, but 15 trains on each loop during off peak (1000 to 1500). Signalling system different. Train performance and capacity are also different.Using bus service to complement the rail however, may only result in negligible spreading of load; the trains will seem to be as crammed as before, and buses may not be well utilized because it does not run fully along a route, and not attractive than rail with many other factors, besides, everyone got their own destinations.
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i'd rather they fleet add certain high demand svcs rather than waste time n resources over such.
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Originally posted by TIB1224Y:
Main reason that seats can be found on a off-peak train in Japan is the amount of gap of commuting passengers from peak to off peak. Trains on JRE Yamanote for example, runs at 2 minutes frequency (0600 to 0900, 24 trains on inner loop, 25 on outer loops) during peak, but 15 trains on each loop during off peak (1000 to 1500). Signalling system different. Train performance and capacity are also different.Using bus service to complement the rail however, may only result in negligible spreading of load; the trains will seem to be as crammed as before, and buses may not be well utilized because it does not run fully along a route, and not attractive than rail with many other factors, besides, everyone got their own destinations.
That is because the E231-500 running on the Yamanote line has cars that have 6 doors on each side and cars that have 4 doors on each side.
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From TodayOnline.com
SMRT has a plan ...
Buses could be run parallel to MRT lines in bid to alleviate overcrowdingSINGAPORE - Public transport operator SMRT is in discussions with the Government to roll out peak-hour bus services which would run parallel to congested stretches of MRT train lines.
This is one alternative SMRT is exploring, chief executive Saw Phaik Hwa told MediaCorp, as trains are running at their highest frequency possible - given the train network's design - during peak hours.
Currently, there is one bus, Service 128, which runs parallel to parts of the North-South Line. "We're looking at other parts to see whether it can work," said Ms Saw, who declined to reveal where or the number of possible services, due to the discussions with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Public Transport Council.
Introduced in July 2008, Service 128 was the first in 18 years to be allowed to run parallel to an MRT line since such services were scrapped.
While transport policy has focused on avoiding duplicate bus and train routes, Member of Parliament Ong Kian Min felt SMRT's plan should be studied further. "The number of trains are limited by capacity and infrastructure. Buses, on the other hand, can provide more flexibility in tackling congestion on trains," said Mr Ong, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for transport.
But a potential speedbump to this plan could be commuters' preference to travel by train. SMRT has been monitoring commuters' responses to Service 128 and found that most passengers prefer to wait another few minutes for the next train rather than take the bus.
"So customers have not really supported the alternative ... We'll continue to explore this," said Ms Saw.
She was speaking to MediaCorp on Friday, almost a week after her comments about train loads and congestion prompted irate responses on the Internet.
While she acknowledged trains here are crowded, especially during peak periods, Ms Saw pointed out that the average number of passengers per square metre is lower than that of metros in other major cities.
At a frequency of two to three minutes, SMRT train loads range from 1,200 to 1,450 passengers, or an average of 3.8 passengers per square metre. In the likes of London, Shanghai and Tokyo, it is five to eight passengers per square metre, according to SMRT.
LTA guidelines, meanwhile, stipulate a maximum loading standard of 1,600 passengers per train, or about 4.9 passengers per square metre.
SMRT said its trains are already pushing optimal levels when trains run at intervals of two minutes.
"You may add a few more (trains) here and there, but we have to watch it because every time you add a train, you're risking a train not being maintained," Ms Saw said.
Maintenance schedules have been tweaked to allow for "as many trains as possible" to be utilised, while not compromising safety and reliability, she added.
At the Jurong East interchange station, crowdedness "is a problem" due to constraints of the system's design, said SMRT.
LTA is undertaking infrastructural works at the station, due to be completed next year. Together with 22 new trains which will be put into service progressively from next May, SMRT will then be able to add more train trips.
Until then, SMRT will explore options such as parallel bus services to ease congestion.
While the new Circle Line has alleviated congestion "to some extent" - by a few single-digit percentage points - Ms Saw said it may also add congestion at some stations.
Bishan Station, for example, is one such "pressure point", as it serves both the North-South and Circle Lines. "Eventually, the more it (Circle Line) crosses the lines that are affected, there will be some impact," Ms Saw said.
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smrt can try to introduce more express bus service from one HDB town to another like SBS 168 or 161 runing on expressway after turning out from Bedok or Tampies Towns. SMRT already has 2 bus service of this type to the city area. may it can has some more fast forward or semi express like sbs 502 or 506. And buy some DD buses to run the service.
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Also LTA should introduce express bus lane on some expressway like PIE and CTE for those express bus service. I think singapore is too small to has many railway like japan.
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I don't think express bus lane on expressway will work as sg got too many entry/exit slip roads within a short span of distance. I think ERP will work better to help ease congestion. LTA should draw more yellow boxes at bus-stops to allow easier exit from bus bays. I think a bus service that runs mainly parallel to MRT lines may fail as it still makes sense to skip a few crowded trains during the peak, whereas the bus may be stuck in traffic jam and has to stop at bus-stops. And even with a bus service that runs mainly parallel to MRT lines, this service is probably better utilised during the peak and the demand is likely to be bad during off-peak. Perhaps a better solution is more express services during the peak, and express services should NOT be limited to go to the CBD only. I hope to see more bus services to other parts of the country. for eg; direct svcs from Sengkang/Punggol/Hougang/Ferrnvale to Sembawang/WDL/Jurong/Bt Panjang?
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the SMRT CEO got a point there too....Alr now,many trains r travelling at a super slow speed or keep stopping halfway at peak hrs cuz i m noticing tat they keep on catching up wit the front train and hav to slow down to avoid meeting the front train....
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Singapore trains very overcrowded meh? U will know when u take a look at this.
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Originally posted by Merczrox:
the SMRT CEO got a point there too....Alr now,many trains r travelling at a super slow speed or keep stopping halfway at peak hrs cuz i m noticing tat they keep on catching up wit the front train and hav to slow down to avoid meeting the front train....
Safety comes first.
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well tats interesting. exact opposite of wat sbstransit did when NEL first opened.