|
|
wahhhhhhhh..... gini next year wa pegi keje naik 257 dari pioneer station je laa....
hee..hee..hee.... 
Originally posted by gadis_aries at 31-10-2008 09:59 AM 
MRT BOON LAY EXTENSION DIBUKA FEB
LALUAN MRT Boon Lay Extension (BEL) dijadual mula beroperasi 28 Februari depan. Sepanjang 3.8 kilometer, ia sebahagian Laluan Timur-Barat dan merangkumi dua ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commuters asked to leave MRT train after air-con unit emitted smoke
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 December 2008 1647 hrs
SINGAPORE: Commuters travelling on a southbound train at Toa Payoh on Thursday afternoon had to be off-loaded after smoke was detected from one of the air-conditioning units in one of the train carriages.
Channel NewsAsia received several phone calls when the incident happened at around 1.25pm.
A spokesperson from the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (SMRT) said the train was removed from service after passengers disembarked.
This resulted in a train service delay of about seven minutes.
SMRT apologised for the inconvenience caused and is investigating the cause of the incident.
SMRT said preliminary investigations showed that the incident was a result of a leak in air-con refrigerant gas which appeared as 'smoke'.
The train operator assured the public that the gas is non-toxic. - CNA/vm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year of transforming changes for public transport system
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 December 2008 1725 hrs
  
SINGAPORE : 2008 may well go down as the year that transformed the face of public transport in Singapore, as sweeping changes to the bus, rail and road systems were introduced.
More changes are due to kick in next year.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim has said: "Not everybody says my name with affection but that goes with the job."
Mr Lim knows he may not win any popularity contest, especially as more Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries and higher rates kicked in this year - in an effort to keep traffic flowing.
One commuter said: "Nowadays people do not want to go out. If you go out, you must pay. So if people do not have a reason to go out, they will not. And that makes it tough on business."
But the bitter pill was accompanied by big investment sweeteners, including S$20 billion in infrastructure investment that would bring the MRT to places like Tuas and Marine Parade and double the rail network by 2020.
2009 will see the Boon Lay Extension opening in February and part of the Circle Line in the middle of the year.
And from January, commuters can pay for their next bus and MRT ride, and even shop, with a new super card - in place of the old EZ-Link card.
However, as the economy turned sour, passengers were interested in seeing immediate changes and for fares to remain affordable.
One passenger said: "I do not think they should increase the MRT fare anymore - it is too high already."
For a start, more train trips were added to help reduce overcrowding.
By 2009, the Land Transport Authority is also slotted to take over the role of central bus planner.
2008 saw several road bumps too.
Firstly, the uproar on stringent new rules for cabbies to pick up and drop off passengers in the Central Business District, which saw regulations eventually being made more flexible.
Secondly, motorists scrambled as COE prices plunged to a record S$2 in November - amidst the economic downturn.
On a sad note, seat belts became mandatory on small school buses after eight-year-old Russell Koh died in a road accident. Some felt he could have survived, had he been wearing a belt.
Up in the air, aviation started on a high - Changi Airport's Terminal 3 opened for business in January, the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route was liberalised, and more than US$13.4 billion worth of trade deals were sealed at the inaugural Singapore Airshow.
But early optimism in the skies has now given way to a negative outlook for aviation for the first half of next year. - CNA/ms |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Existing EZ Link cards can be exchanged for new ones from Friday
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 January 2009 2052 hrs
sample of new EZ link card (front)
(back)
SINGAPORE: Shopping for new clothes or paying ERP charges will soon be made easier with the new EZ Link card, which can be used for retail and other payments.
Nicholas Lee, executive director, EZ Link, said: "Imagine the possibilities where you can develop schemes for cross-usage between public transport, ERP and parking. There can be incentives, discounts and rebates, where you can cross between modes to give consumers some preference to use our product."
Examples of non-transit applications include using the card to pay at convenience stores and libraries.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it would carry out the EZ Link card replacement exercise in stages.
Adult EZ Link cards can be exchanged for new ones from Friday at all 62 SingPost branches, 42 TransitLink ticket offices and selected bus interchanges.
However, EZ Link cards with credit card top-up facility can only be exchanged from February 27, while GIRO-linked cards can be replaced from July 27 onwards.
Child, student and tertiary concession cards can be exchanged from February 16, while senior citizens can replace their concession cards from April 1.
Concession cards for non-MOE school students and National Servicemen can be traded in from July.
Commuters, who are allowed to exchange up to three cards at one time, have until September 30 to do so. They will get a refund of the remaining value in their old cards.
According to LTA, there are about 8 million EZ Link cards in circulation. And unlike the old card, the new EZ Link card will not have a travel deposit, giving commuters full use of the stored value of the card.
- CNA/so |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nearly 40,000 new ez-link cards distributed on first day
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid/Janice Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 January 2009 0013 hrs
SINGAPORE : Commuters were eager to get their hands on the new ez-link cards on Friday, the first day of the free one-for-one card exchange programme.
As of 5pm, almost 40,000 old cards were replaced at the 140 exchange points islandwide.
But there was also some confusion among commuters.
Long queues had formed at some ticket counters even before they opened for the day. But not everyone standing in line got what they wanted.
Some were unaware that each person can only change up to three cards at any one time.
Senior citizens who wanted to exchange their concessionary passes were also surprised to find out that they could not do so just yet.
Oh Mui Kiang, operations manager, TransitLink, said: "I want to assure all senior citizens that we will be contacting them, sending the cards to them and giving the appropriate information for them to make a card replacement."
In spite of the minor confusion, queues moved in an orderly manner, with LTA Ambassadors seen providing assistance.
TransitLink said more exchange counters could also be set up to ensure greater efficiency.
LTA said there is no need to rush as there is ample time to replace the cards by the end-September deadline. - CNA/ms |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 24, 2009
Top up ez-link at ATM, AXS
COMMUTERS can now top up their ez-link cards at certain POSB and DBS Bank automated teller machines (ATMs) or at AXS stations.
They can use 31 ATMs at Suntec City, Jurong Point and Rivervale Plaza, among other places, for the top-ups. The other 900 machines will be ready by the end of June.
Commuters will also be able to top up their cards at 560 AXS stations currently used to pay bills and fines.
To top up an ez-link card at an ATM, a user needs to select the CashCard/ez-link card services option, and then place his card on the dedicated card reader at the top right-hand corner of the machine.
EZ-Link executive director Nicholas Lee disclosed yesterday at the launch of the new service that the 20-cent fee for topping up the card would be waived for the first year.
He explained that EZ-Link decided to launch the service to make it more convenient for bus commuters who seldom pass through an MRT station to top up their cards.
Most commuters rely on the general ticketing machines at MRT stations for card top-ups.
Commuters can also top up their cards at 7-Eleven outlets.
Mr Lee said EZ-Link was open to working with other banks to offer the top-up scheme using their ATMs.
'This new top-up service will also encourage people to use their ez-link cards for more non-transit purchases,' he added.
In particular, the new generation ez-link cards, which have been available to users since the beginning of the year, can be used at selected retailers.
Their use will later be extended to include payments for Electronic Road Pricing charges.
More than 40,000 ez-link cards were replaced with the new generation cards during the first day of the programme.
Commuters have until Sept 30 to replace their old cards.
There are currently more than 10 million ez-link cards in circulation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ST.....
Feb 9, 2009
Mock attack on SMRT train
By Kimberly Spykerman
Residents from Southwest Community Development Council and students from SMU took part in an emergency evacuation exercise at Pioneer MRT station yesterday. They were led by civil defence officers to emergency exits at the front and back of the train. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
IT WAS not just the usual train ride for the more than 500 'commuters' who took part in an emergency evacuation exercise organised by SMRT yesterday morning.
Packed into a train at Pioneer MRT station, part of the soon-to-be-opened Boon Lay Extension, they experienced first-hand a simulated arson and bomb attack.
An SMRT staff member, holding a plastic bottle wrapped in newspaper, was planted in the middle of a carriage. As the train pulled out of the station towards Joo Koon station, he emptied the 'kerosene' on the floor, in simulation of an arson attack.
A 'bombing' followed in another carriage, causing a roar that tore through the train's speakers, and left three bloody 'casualties' on the floor. The lights went out and the air-conditioning was shut off.
SMRT staff had already pre-briefed the participants, made up of residents from Southwest Community Development Council and students from the Singapore Management University, on what to do in the event of an emergency.
This meant pressing an emergency communication button to inform the train officer or a control centre officer of the situation in each carriage.
The 'passengers' were also led by Singapore Civil Defence Force officers to emergency exits at the front and back end of the train. Both open up onto ramps that allow passengers to get off the train. From there, they could cross over onto the platform.
Many of the participants brought their kids along for the experience, while others came out of curiosity.
Marketing executive Tammy Chan, 30, who commutes to work by train every day, said: 'It's good to have an idea of what to do in an emergency because it reduces panic level and confusion.' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Berita Harian....
Singapura : 13 Februari 2009
PARLIMEN
$800J DIBELANJA UNTUK TAMBAH KEUPAYAAN MRT BAWA LEBIH RAMAI PENUMPANG
PENGUASA Pengangkutan Darat (LTA) akan membelanjakan sekitar $800 juta dalam usaha menambah keupayaan sistem MRT membawa lebih ramai penumpang dalam masa terdekat.
Tumpuan akan diberikan kepada kawasan bermasalah yang telah dikenal pasti iaitu di sepanjang laluan Utara-Selatan/Timur-Barat (NS-EW).
Ini akan dilakukan dengan mempertingkatkan prasarana dan menambah jumlah kereta api.
Demikian diumumkan Menteri Pengangkutan, Encik Raymond Lim, dalam perbahasan belanjawan kementeriannya di Parlimen, semalam.
Beliau memberitahu Dewan kawasan bermasalah itu ialah di stesen MRT Jurong East.
Menurut Encik Lim, buat masa ini, kelicinan khidmat di stesen tersebut terjejas kerana kereta api yang datang dari arah Bukit Batok terpaksa menunggu giliran untuk masuk ke ruang platform sebelum bergerak kembali ke arah yang sama.
Beliau berkata di bawah Projek Peningkatan Jurong East (JEMP) itu, sebuah platform baru akan dibina bagi membolehkan kereta api yang datang dari arah Bukit Batok masuk ke stesen Jurong East tanpa perlu menanti giliran.
Projek tersebut akan mengurangkan jarak ketibaan antara kereta api kepada dua minit berbanding antara 2.1 hingga empat minit di sepanjang laluan Utara-Selatan.
Projek itu akan menambah keupayaan laluan NS-EW sebanyak 15 peratus, katanya.
Pembinaannya akan dipercepatkan setahun dan dijadualkan siap pada 2011.
Bagi memanfaatkan penambahan jumlah penumpang, LTA juga akan membeli 22 kereta api baru sebagai tambahan kepada 106 kereta api yang ada sekarang bagi lalu NS-EW.
Bagaimanapun, Encik Lim memberi jaminan bahawa langkah tersebut memadai untuk menampung permintaan yang ditaksirkan sehingga tahun 2020.
Ini kerana sejauh ini keupayaan maksimum kereta api yang digariskan di bawah Piawaian Prestasi Operasi LTA iaitu sebanyak 1,600 bagi setiap kereta api atau lima orang bagi setiap meter persegi, masih belum dicapai.
Malah, tahap keupayaan di titik paling sibuk sekarang ialah pada waktu pagi iaitu di stesen Toa Payoh menghala ke selatan - empat orang bagi setiap meter persegi.
Ini bermakna setiap kereta api membawa antara 1,300 dengan 1,450 penumpang.
Kadar tersebut lebih rendah berbanding di Tokyo (tujuh orang bagi setiap meter persegi) dan Shanghai (lapan orang setiap meter pesegi).
Bagaimanapun, Encik Lim menekankan bahawa strategi jangka panjang dalam menambah keupayaan rangkaian MRT ialah pembinaan laluan-laluan baru.
Sebagai permulaan, Fasa Ketiga Laluan Circle akan dibuka pada 30 Mei ini sementara dua fasa lain mulai 2010.
Laluan-laluan lain juga dijangka siap mengikut jadual yang telah diumumkan sebelum ini.
PELAN MEMPERTINGKAT RANGKAIAN KERETA API
Laluan kereta api baru:
# Laluan Circle Line (CCL)
- Fasa ketiga (antara Bartley dengan Marymount) akan dibuka pada 30 Mei 2009
- Fasa-fasa seterusnya akan dibuka mulai 2010
# Laluan Downtown
- Akan dibuka mulai 2013
# Lanjutan Laluan Utara-Selatan
- Dipercepatkan setahun kepada 2014
# Laluan Thomson
- Akan siap mulai 2018
# Laluan Rantau Timur
- Akan siap mulai 2020
Langkah tambahan:
# Projek Peningkatan Jurong East
- Dipercepatkan setahun kepada 2011
# Pembelian 22 kereta api baru bagi laluan Utara-Selatan, Timur-Barat |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phase 1 of Circle Line to open on May 30
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 February 2009 1804 hrs
SINGAPORE : Public transport ridership has been going up - and with it comes more crowding.
To ease the situation, the government announced that two rail projects - Jurong East Modification project and the North-South Line extension - are being brought forward, and 22 new trains being bought.
Still, with the changes only kicking in by 2011, the squeeze will still be on for a while.
Last year, public transport ridership spiked by 7.4 per cent - one of the fastest rates in years. And the overcrowding is being felt on MRT trains.
"MRT trains still suffer from an overcrowding problem. Has LTA (Land Transport Authority) reviewed the capacity? Is it possible to add more tracks on the existing lines, which are now overcrowded and have reached maximum capacity," asked Cynthia Phua, MP for Aljunied GRC.
With 900 additional train trips per week added since last year, that is the best the system can do in terms of train frequencies, given the current constraints.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said the only way to increase capacity is through infrastructural changes.
Currently, there is a bottleneck at the Jurong East Interchange station. The whole system is slowed down as the train does a turnaround, because there is only a single platform for this.
LTA is now building a second platform so that two trains can turn around at the same time, with the project completion brought forward by a year to 2011.
22 new trains are also being bought. When they enter the system, it should lower waiting times to as low as 2 minutes at the busiest stretches.
Opening new lines will also ease the crunch. Phase 1 of the Circle Line will officially open on May 30. The new MRT line will open its first five stations - Bartley, Serangoon, Lorong Chuan, Bishan and Marymount.
The other stages of the Circle Line are expected to open from 2010 onwards, and they are expected to divert about 10-15 per cent of passenger traffic.
But such large infrastructure projects take time to kick in, with one of the main changes coming only in 2011. At the same time, public transport ridership is increasing, and may go up even further during the economic downturn. So the situation may just get worse before it gets better.
One other major initiative this year is the LTA taking over the role of central bus network planner. This will be a two-stage process - first, talking to the industry, operators and experts, and then to grassroots representatives.
The transport minister said: "One of our guiding principles is to avoid making any radical, big-bang-type changes to bus services. Commuters make more than three million trips on buses every day, and we are conscious that any change must be gradual. Otherwise, there will be mass confusion.
"Our approach instead is to identify any gaps in connectivity, try to plug them, and see where bus services can be streamlined to improve efficiency of the network."
And it is only after this is done, can LTA look at how best to package the bus routes for competitive tendering. - CNA /ls |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ST.....
Feb 13, 2009
circle line
Five stations open in May
Transport improvements with new lines and more trains to save travel time
By Yeo Ghim Lay
 - PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
RESIDENTS in areas such as Lorong Chuan and Bartley Road will have an MRT station at their doorsteps a tad earlier than expected.
Circle Line Stage 3, which has five stations, will open on May 30 instead of June, Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced in Parliament during yesterday's debate on his ministry's budget.
The remaining 24 stations on the new line will open progressively from next year, helping to reduce crowding on the existing MRT lines.
When completed, the Circle Line will take about 10 to 15 per cent of commuter trips from existing lines.
'(It) will help commuters save travel time, by reducing the need to make detours into the city centre to transfer across MRT lines,' said Mr Lim.
The five stations that will open are Marymount, Bishan, Lorong Chuan, Serangoon and Bartley.
Bishan will be the interchange station for the North-South line and Serangoon, the North-East line.
Student Jerald Seow, 15, who lives near Bartley Road, was among those who jumped with joy yesterday on hearing the earlier opening date.
He now takes a 25-minute bus ride to Paya Lebar MRT station and hops on a train to get to town on weekends.
'When Bartley station opens, I can take a train to Bishan MRT instead. It will be a lot more convenient,' he said.
The Circle Line is among $40 billion worth of rail projects that will double Singapore's rail network.
Besides adding new rail lines, the Transport Ministry is also intent on reducing waiting time along existing lines, which introduced 900 extra train trips a week last year.
One major move is the purchase of 22 new trains, to be delivered in 2011.
Another is to expand Jurong East MRT station, where there is a bottleneck.
Trains arriving there from Bukit Batok now have only one platform and track to stop at before they turn around. A second train will have to wait for the first to leave before it pulls into Jurong East.
A project to add another platform and track will be completed by 2011 instead of 2012, said Mr Lim.
The changes to Jurong East station and the new trains will cost $800 million in all. They will help boost carrying capacity along the North-South and East-West lines by 15 per cent and slash the waiting time between trains to two minutes in 2011 from the current 2.1 to 4 minutes.
It is not possible to go lower than two minutes, the ministry said, as the signalling system on the North-South and East-West lines cannot support a shorter time between trains.
Yet another project that will come onstream earlier is the extension of the North-South MRT line to Marina South. It will be completed a year earlier, in 2014.
Meanwhile, trains are likely to be more crowded as public transport ridership grows, before relief arrives in 2011.
Overcrowding on trains was raised by Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC).
Responding, Mr Lim said the crowding level is still below what is acceptable.
At their most crowded, trains here carry an average of 1,300 to 1,450 passengers, compared to the Land Transport Authority's standard of 1,600 passengers.
They are also less crowded than trains in other cities. Singapore's trains pack in four people per square metre, which is similar to those in Hong Kong but lower than London's (five people) , Tokyo's (seven) and Shanghai's (eight).
Parliament sitting continues today, the last day of the nine-day Budget debate.
[email protected] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2009
64 trips added to MRT
By Yeo Ghim Lay
SMRT said the extra trips will reduce waiting time to about five to six minutes during most parts of the day for the weekend. -- PHOTO: SITI MOHAINI MOHAMAD
TRAIN waiting times during the weekend will be shorter from Sunday, with the addition of another 64 weekly trips.
Half of the trips will start on Sunday while the remaining 32 will roll out next Saturday.
SMRT said the extra trips will reduce waiting time to about five to six minutes during most parts of the day for the weekend.
On Saturday, the difference will be felt from 8.30am to 9.15am on the north-south and east-west lines, and from 9.30pm to 11pm on the east-west line.
Waiting times during these periods will fall to five minutes from six minutes.
Likewise, trains will arrive more frequently on Sundays, from 1pm to 2pm and 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
The latest round of trip enhancements is SMRT's fifth since last February. In all, the operator has added almost 1,000 extra trains a week.
besar jugak la apek tu punya basikal.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lower EZ-Link bus and train fares from April
Posted: 19 February 2009 1047 hrs
Singapore: EZ-Link bus and train fares will be lowered from April 1.
The Public Transport Council (PTC) announced Thursday that there will be an overall 4.6 per cent reduction in fares, comprising both a fare rebate and an increase in transfer rebate.
The transfer rebate for all adult and senior citizen concession EZ-Link journeys will be increased by 10 cents, to 50 cents, from 1 April 2009. The existing 10-cent transfer rebate for child/student concession EZ-Link fares will remain unchanged.
However, all adult EZ-Link fares for buses and trains will enjoy a reduction of 2 cents per trip, across all fare bands. As for child/student concession EZ-Link fares, these will be reduced by 1 cent per trip, across all fare bands.
This balances out to lower fares overall.
EZ-Link fares for adult and senior citizen concession journeys for instance could see a fare reduction of 2 cents for a direct journey with no transfer, to a reduction of 14 cents for a journey with one transfer.
Journeys with multiple transfers will see correspondingly greater fare reductions - of up to 38 cents.
Chairman of the PTC, Gerard Ee, said due credit must be given to the transport operators for their decision.
"The PTC is pleased that the operators are mindful of prevailing economic conditions... not only are they not applying for a fare increase, they have decided to give a fare rebate to commuters."
The PTC said the public transport operators decided to bear a larger share (two-thirds) of the cost of this year抯 10-cent increase in transfer rebate to benefit commuters. The move translates into a permanent revenue loss of S$22 million per year for transport operators.
Mr Gan Juay Kiat, Chief Operating Officer of SBS Transit, said: "These are difficult times and we believe in doing our bit to help our commuters."
"As commuters are increasingly relying on public transport for their travel needs, we believe these measures will bring some relief to them, and in part, help lower their cost of living," said the president of SMRT Corp, Saw Phaik Hwa.
In addition to the fare adjustments, the pricing on all monthly concession passes will be reduced by between S$1 and S$4.
The monthly primary and secondary student bus and train concession passes will drop by S$1, while the student hybrid concession passes will be reduced by S$2.
For tertiary students and National Service-men, their monthly bus and train concession passes will be lowered by S$2, while the hybrid concession passes will see a S$4 reduction.
There is no change to all cash fares for buses and single-trip ticket fares for trains.
The PTC said the 4.6 per cent fare reduction package, which stretches over a 15-month period (from 1 April 2009 to 30 June 2010), will cost public transport operators about S$80 million.
It comprises a fare rebate of S$52 million, of which about S$37 million are the savings from the Government Budget measures that the transport operators are passing on to commuters. Another S$28 million is the amount over a 15-month period to fund the transfer rebate increase.
It was announced in January that both SBS Transit and SMRT would not apply for fare adjustments in 2009 and instead work with the Public Transport Council to pass the savings from the 2009 Singapore Budget to commuters.
The next time train and bus fares can be adjusted will be in July 2010, and the full implementation of distance-based through-fares could take place then.
Transport operators in the past submitted fare revision proposals to the PTC in August for changes to be implemented in October.
However, the PTC said on Thursday that it has decided that submissions and approvals for fare revisions will be brought forward in 2010 to May-July in view of the rapidly changing economic conditions.
- CNA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
2 new stations to open
AROUND 5,000 guests and residents of Jurong West Town took their first ride on the new Boon Lay MRT Extension (BLE) on Saturday morning at an open house held by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The BLE, which took about three years to complete, will begin revenue service on Feb 28.
It comprises two stations - the Pioneer Station and the Joo Koon Station.
The Pioneer station is located along the Jurong West Street 63, while the Joo Koon Station services the industrial estate along International Road.
The BLE, which is linked to the existing East West line from Boon Lay Station will reduce travel time for commuters who previously had to travel all the way to Boon Lay to access the MRT.
The extension is expected to have a ridership of 35,000 commuters a day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ST.....
Feb 28, 2009
Boon for Boon Lay
Two new MRT stops to ease crowding at Boon Lay station
By Yeo Ghim Lay & Goh Yi Han
An overview of Pioneer MRT station and the part of the community it serves. The station, together with Joo Koon station, are two new additions to the East-West Line. They start operating from 5.30am today. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
THE twice-daily chaos that grips Singapore's Boon Lay MRT station during the morning and evening peak hours on weekdays will soon quieten down.
The station, a popular pick-up and drop-off point, is where private buses wait bumper-to-bumper in public bus bays, taxi stands and along Boon Lay Way to pick up or drop off a crush of scurrying commuters, mainly those working in Tuas and Jurong.
Relief has appeared in the form of two new MRT stations west of Boon Lay, which will also cut travelling time to other parts of the island by up to 15 minutes for the area's residents.
Boon Lay, which used to be the western-most station on the East-West Line, will, from 5.30am today, have a track extending further out west to the pair of new MRT stops, Pioneer and Joo Koon, which will now bear some of the commuter load and spread out the crowds.
Their opening means that the buses chartered by factories to ferry their workers to and from Boon Lay can now stop elsewhere, perhaps at Joo Koon station.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has paved the way for this by building a sheltered bus bay along Benoi Road, about 200m from Joo Koon station.
The bus bay can take up to seven 40-seater buses and is linked to Joo Koon station by a covered walkway.
Already, private bus operators have indicated that they are willing to pick up or drop off commuters there instead of at Boon Lay.
Mr Chitson Yap of Chitson Transport, for instance, said at least one of his clients has already approached him to discuss the matter.
The factories and companies in the area are also positive about the change, partly because having their workers picked up or dropped off at Joo Koon will cost less.
Ms Melissa Lau, the human resource manager at plastics factory Superpet Plastic in Tuas, said that if transport companies could 'give a better discount', moving the pick-up/drop-off point to Joo Koon would be good.
She added: 'Boon Lay is definitely messy in the mornings. Moving to Joo Koon will solve the problem.' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply #1254 fatz2's post
yay yay yay!!  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMRT raises $1m for elderly
By Amelia Tan
SMRT Chairman Choo Chiau Beng and President and CEO Saw Phaik Hwa (left) presented the cheque to the eight beneficiary organisations at the event. --PHOTO: SAW PHAIK HWA
SMRT has raised $1 million for eight orgnisations which care for needy eldery.
The money was raised through contributions by SMRT and its staff, commuters and corporate sponsors and charity events which were organised over the past six months.
At the final event, A Night of Silver Stars, held on Tuessday night at the Victoria Theater, about 700 sponsors, donors, beneficiaries and staff were entertained by theater artistes such as Selena Tan, Emma Yong, Pamela Oei and Sebastian Tan.
SMRT Chairman Choo Chiau Beng and President and CEO Saw Phaik Hwa presented the cheque to the eight beneficiary organisations at the event.
In his speech, Mr Choo said SMRT is heartened that many have decided to donate even during the recession.
'What has come as a pleasant surprise is that while many organisations have had to relook their philanthropic contributions...corporate sponsors have extended their support and private donors have been equally generous,' he said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Singapura : 17 April 2009
TAMBANG CIRCLE LINE SERUPA NEL
CCL3 dibuka 28 Mei, penumpang boleh kurangi masa perjalanan dan jimat
Oleh
Azahar Mohd
PENUMPANG MRT Laluan Circle Line (CCL) akan dikenakan tambang serupa dengan tambang Laluan Timur Laut (NEL).
Tambang itu ialah daripada 73 sen hingga lebih $2, iaitu antara lima sen hingga 25 sen lebih tinggi daripada tambang laluan Utara-Selatan dan Timur-Barat (Laluan NSEW).
Namun, penumpang dijangka dapat mengurangkan masa perjalanan, meraih penjimatan dan mempunyai lebih banyak pilihan apabila CCL Tahap 3 (CCL3), yang merangkumi stesen Serangoon, Bishan, Marymount, Bartley dan Lorong Chuan, dibuka secara rasmi pada 28 Mei.
Ini kerana penumpang yang ingin membuat perjalanan dari Buangkok ke Toa Payoh tidak perlu membuat pertukaran di Dhoby Ghaut kerana boleh membuat pertukaran di pusat pertukaran Serangoon (Laluan Timur Laut) dan pusat pertukaran Bishan (Laluan Utara-Selatan).
Ini diumumkan Majlis Pengangkutan Awam (PTC) semalam.
Pengerusi PTC, Encik Gerard Ee, berkata pihaknya menetapkan tambang CCL serupa dengan NEL kerana ia perlu mengimbangi antara kepentingan penumpang dengan keupayaan pengendali (SMRT) terus berdaya tahan dari segi kewangan.
Menurut beliau, CCL sekarang menanggung kos pengendalian dan penyenggaraan lebih tinggi kerana kesemua stesennya di bawah tanah.
'CCL perlu struktur tambang serupa dengan NEL bagi memastikan ia berdaya tahan. Namun kami juga prihatin akan kemampuan penumpang.
'Oleh itu, PTC gembira kerana SMRT akan menawarkan tambang serupa dengan NEL walaupun manfaatnya kepada pelanggan lebih besar berdasarkan penjimatan dari segi perjalanan, penjimatan tambang dan pilihan lebih luas,' ujar Encik Ee.
Penumpang di Serangoon Central yang ingin ke Bishan Central, misalnya, kini mempunyai dua pilihan. Mereka boleh menggunakan laluan MRT sekarang, iaitu membuat pertukaran di Dhoby Ghaut, atau menaiki bas SBS nombor 58.
Pilihan pertama mengambil masa 31 minit dan tambangnya $1.60, sementara pilihan kedua 16 minit dan tambangnya $0.91.
Dengan CCL3, perjalanan itu mengambil masa hanya empat minit dan tambangnya $0.83.
Menurut PTC, sebagai permulaan lima stesen baru itu akan menyaksikan 55,000 perjalanan sehari.
Pembukaan CCL3 dijangka tidak membawa perubahan pada laluan bas, tetapi apabila lebih banyak stesen CCL dibuka secara berperingkat, Penguasa Pengangkutan Darat (LTA) akan menyesuaikan laluan bas bagi mempertingkat integrasi laluan bas-rel.
'CCL adalah laluan pusingan baru baru yang akan menghubungkan pelbagai laluan MRT sedia ada. Dengan pembukaannya, CCL3 akan menghubungkan Laluan Utara-Selatan dengan Laluan Timur Laut.
'Sebagai permulaan, penduduk di kawasan utara dan timur laut akan meraih manfaat kerana mereka tidak perlu lagi ke pusat bandar untuk membuat pertukaran.
'Penumpang bas juga mempunyai lebih banyak pilihan bagi membuat perjalanan lebih pantas menggunakan CCL3,' kata Encik Ee. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Should NEL officer be punished for sitting?
AS OTHER passengers stood around him, the train officer plonked himself on an empty priority seat on the North-East Line (NEL) train.
His action was caught on camera by a commuter who sent it to Stomp, The Straits Times' interactive website.
The commuter felt the officer, dressed in a lime-green uniform shirt, should have given up his seat to other standing passengers.
His employer thought so too. SBS Transit, which operates the NEL, said it has taken disciplinary action against the officer.
But it would not reveal the exact form of action it took.
The incident took place on 29 Mar at around 10.30pm. Ms Tammy Tan, SBS Transit's vice-president of corporate communications, said the man was a customer service officer. He works on board the trains to help passengers in need and to respond to technical difficulties.
Explaining the need to discipline him, Ms Tan added: 'As a company guideline, staff who are on duty are expected to give up their seats to passengers as part of our customer service standards.
'In situations where they fail to do so, disciplinary action will be taken.'
The officer was sitting on a priority seat, which is allocated for needy passengers such as the elderly, the disabled and pregnant women.
These seats are located next to train doors with signs above the seats to indicate that they are for needy passengers.
Ms Tan said if the train had been empty, it was okay for the officer to sit down as long as he performed his duty.
But most of the 18 people whom The New Paper spoke to felt the officer did not deserve to be punished.
When we showed them the picture, many pointed out that all the passengers standing nearby were able-bodied young adults.
Mr Lee Ting Wei, 19, a full-time NSman, said: 'Perhaps SBS Transit should have just told him off.
'Any punishment more than that would have been too harsh because there were no pregnant women, elderly or disabled passengers around at that time.'
Sympathetic
Madam Heng Sue San, 37, a housewife, agreed. 'If there is no one in need of the seat, I wouldn't make a fuss,' she said.
'But if the seat is intended for the elderly and there is someone like that around, I would expect him to give up the seat.'
Mr S W Hor, 55, a lecturer, was sympathetic towards the officer. 'It doesn't matter even if he is an (NEL) employee. He could have been tired and should be allowed to take a seat,' he said.
Mr Hor also wondered if the matter had been blown out of proportion because the picture was posted on the Internet.
But some people felt that the officer deserved to be disciplined.
Retiree A L Tan, 78, said: 'Since he works for the (train operator), he should have known better than to not let other passengers have the seat.'
Housewife Yeo Ah Sim, 67, felt the officer should have set a good example. She said that many young people don't give up their seats, but as a NEL employee, he should have shown more courtesy.
The other train operator, SMRT, has a similar code of conduct for its staff.
A spokesman said: 'We encourage staff to be friendly and helpful to passengers. This would include behaving in a courteous and gracious manner like giving way to alighting passengers and giving up their seats to needy passengers.
'Staff in uniform are also expected to maintain a good corporate image by dressing and behaving appropriately at all times.'
However, SMRT would not comment on the form of disciplinary action taken, saying that it would be on a case-by-case basis.
Geraldine Yeo, newsroom intern |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60 Kindness Troopers storm MRT train along North-East Line
By Timothy Ouyang, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 April 2009 1759 hrs
SINGAPORE: If you were on the MRT travelling along the North-East Line towards the city on Saturday morning, you would have been pleasantly surprised.
Some 60 secondary school students, donning yellow T-shirts, assumed the role of a Kindness Trooper for the day and gave train commuters the experience of having a seat given up for them.
This is all part of efforts by the Singapore Kindness Movement to raise awareness of a kinder, more gracious society.
According to a recent survey by the organisers, Singaporeans feel there is room for more graciousness on trains.
To spread the kindness message, commuters were given stickers and pledge cards.
One commuter said: "I was actually quite surprised because I didn't expect someone to give a seat to a youngster. But I was quite touched. It shows that everyone cares."
"We usually board the train on Saturdays and usually, no seats are given up. So, I was actually shocked just now when someone gave up his seat for my son," another said.
- CNA/so |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Category: Negeri & Negara
|
Post time 4-11-2008 08:28 AM
Author
