SMRT

[Ben]

So my point is: the advertising should be expected and a right thing for SMRT to be doing. Whether or not the public buys it is a separate matter, I must say we are a very demanding lot, us Singaporeans.

As a fellow Singaporean myself, I hate to agree with you but what you said is very true. I have been using the public transport (both buses and trains) more frequently recently than before, and the experience has been satisfactory so far. In fact, I think our transport system is a lot better than many other countries, in term of reliability, comfort and prices. We have really high expectation, but at the same time not willing to pay a reasonable price for it.

[NTL]

There is a Hokkien saying....

Ai Pee, Ai Cee, Ai T** L*** N**....

Well... That is Singaporean in general, isn't it?

All our KS attitudes.

[Ben]

It is unrealistic expectation. I remembered when the high speed train connecting KL to Singapore was announced, and we were told that it takes just 90 minutes of travelling time, some reporters went out to do a survey to get a feel of what is the price the public expect to pay. In one interview with a young girl (IIRC she is a poly undergrad), she said since it takes 90 minutes of travelling time, the reasonable price should be about $5 - $6 (can’t remembered the exact amount she quote), because a 45 mins MRT train ride costs about $2, so a 90 minutes ride should be about twice that amount. I hope most Singaporeans have reasonable expectation and a higher EQ than that young girl.

[KopiKat]

So my point is: the advertising should be expected and a right thing for SMRT to be doing. Whether or not the public buys it is a separate matter, I must say we are a very demanding lot, us Singaporeans.

As a fellow Singaporean myself, I hate to agree with you but what you said is very true. I have been using the public transport (both buses and trains) more frequently recently than before, and the experience has been satisfactory so far. In fact, I think our transport system is a lot better than many other countries, in term of reliability, comfort and prices. We have really high expectation, but at the same time not willing to pay a reasonable price for it.

There is a Hokkien saying....

Ai Pee, Ai Cee, Ai T** L*** N**....

Well... That is Singaporean in general, isn't it?

All our KS attitudes.

I speak for myself.

In recent times, it's the major breakdowns (in hours) and the regularity of minor ones (in minutes) that I'm most unhappy about. It's giving me uncertainties and sometimes minor "heart attacks" in those times when I'm supposed to reach an end point by a certain time eg. kids' concert performance. Nowadays, I try to give myself a huge time "margin of safety", in hours....

It'd also be fairer to compare with countries like Japan, HK, Taiwan and perhaps even China and Australia ie. not ASEAN. Also not Europe as they may have other problems like strikes.

[brattzz]

It is unrealistic expectation. I remembered when the high speed train connecting KL to Singapore was announced, and we were told that it takes just 90 minutes of travelling time, some reporters went out to do a survey to get a feel of what is the price the public expect to pay. In one interview with a young girl (IIRC she is a poly undergrad), she said since it takes 90 minutes of travelling time, the reasonable price should be about $5 - $6 (can’t remembered the exact amount she quote), because a 45 mins MRT train ride costs about $2, so a 90 minutes ride should be about twice that amount. I hope most Singaporeans have reasonable expectation and a higher EQ than that young girl.

Can use the coach services fees as a guide, for example, coach to KL, S$60 SIN : KL, then back RM$60 KL : SIN
Total is about S$100 return, 3-4 hours per trip

So High Speed Rail fees = S$150-S$180 return, 1.5 to 2 hours per trip

estimates only lah...

[KopiKat]

It is unrealistic expectation. I remembered when the high speed train connecting KL to Singapore was announced, and we were told that it takes just 90 minutes of travelling time, some reporters went out to do a survey to get a feel of what is the price the public expect to pay. In one interview with a young girl (IIRC she is a poly undergrad), she said since it takes 90 minutes of travelling time, the reasonable price should be about $5 - $6 (can’t remembered the exact amount she quote), because a 45 mins MRT train ride costs about $2, so a 90 minutes ride should be about twice that amount. I hope most Singaporeans have reasonable expectation and a higher EQ than that young girl.

Can use the coach services fees as a guide, for example, coach to KL, S$60 SIN : KL, then back RM$60 KL : SIN
Total is about S$100 return, 3-4 hours per trip

So High Speed Rail fees = S$150-S$180 return, 1.5 to 2 hours per trip

estimates only lah...

In Japan, they have the shinkansen (bullet train ie. fast speed train). The fare from Tokyo-Osaka (I think slightly longer distance than SIN-KL) is slightly cheaper than an air ticket (domestic flight). So, perhaps a good benchmark would be the fare of an air ticket, bearing in mind that nowadays, we have many Budget Carriers to choose from. Makes sense to use both for comparison from the total travel time point of view.

[CityFarmer]

Can use the coach services fees as a guide, for example, coach to KL, S$60 SIN : KL, then back RM$60 KL : SIN
Total is about S$100 return, 3-4 hours per trip

So High Speed Rail fees = S$150-S$180 return, 1.5 to 2 hours per trip

estimates only lah...

In Japan, they have the shinkansen (bullet train ie. fast speed train). The fare from Tokyo-Osaka (I think slightly longer distance than SIN-KL) is slightly cheaper than an air ticket (domestic flight). So, perhaps a good benchmark would be the fare of an air ticket, bearing in mind that nowadays, we have many Budget Carriers to choose from. Makes sense to use both for comparison from the total travel time point of view.

Yes, KopiKat is right.

IIRC the benchmark used by Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, was shuttle flight's fare.

[Ben]

The way I see it, the problem arose because our government has been in the past claim that we have a world class transport system. And for a long while, we truly believed that that is the case, until the recently spate of breakdowns. The authorities can blame SMRT lack of maintenance causing the breakdowns, but many other issues, especially overcrowding issue are not the entire fault of SMRT. We know that it was due to the poor planning and communication of various ministries and SMRT. The problems appeared now, but it really started many years ago. We must also know that Ms Halimah Yacob, our Speaker of Parliament, was a board member of SMRT from 2007 to 2011, a period where SMRT is ranking in record revenues and profits. I believe that she must have made her fair contribution during her tenure with SMRT. But could many of the problems we are seeing now, especially the overcrowding issue, be avoided with a MP on board? Seems not to me.

So from 1st class to third (in the eyes of many commuters), SMRT has many problems to fix, and some are beyond their control. Ultimately, I believe government have to have some form of intervention, or support given to SMRT.

[yeokiwi]

So my point is: the advertising should be expected and a right thing for SMRT to be doing. Whether or not the public buys it is a separate matter, I must say we are a very demanding lot, us Singaporeans.

As a fellow Singaporean myself, I hate to agree with you but what you said is very true. I have been using the public transport (both buses and trains) more frequently recently than before, and the experience has been satisfactory so far. In fact, I think our transport system is a lot better than many other countries, in term of reliability, comfort and prices. We have really high expectation, but at the same time not willing to pay a reasonable price for it.

I think it will be more socially acceptable that if there is any fare increment, it should go towards the improvement of the rail system and the salary of the transport workforce.
But, with the current structure of the SMRT and SBSTransit, it is very difficult for most to accept a fare increment if the money ends up as dividend.
Look at the amount of dividend that was passed on to the SMRT and SBStransit( shareholders in recent years,

Since 2005, SBS transits has returned $1.04 per share.

[Ben]

I think it will be more socially acceptable that if there is any fare increment, it should go towards the improvement of the rail system and the salary of the transport workforce.
But, with the current structure of the SMRT and SBSTransit, it is very difficult for most to accept a fare increment if the money ends up as dividend.
Look at the amount of dividend that was passed on to the SMRT and SBStransit( shareholders in recent years,

Since 2005, SBS transits has returned $1.04 per share.

That is a fair proposal but I don’t think it is going to work here. The public generally don’t look into the detail. When SMRT makes millions over the years, people don’t care whether these millions are coming from the fare businesses or non-fare businesses. It just means SMRT is highly profitable and therefore should not be increasing fare and not paying good dividends. So should its non-fare businesses subsiding its fare businesses? And then we have people criticising SMRT for paying too much attention to its non-fare retail business….