Train operating standards tightened; Boon Lay Extension to open in Feb
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 October 2008 1016 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Stricter standards to cut down on overcrowding and have MRT trains arrive in good time kicked in on Thursday. Transport Minister Raymond Lim said this after touring the Boon Lay Extension Line, which will start operations on 28 February 2009.

Public train ridership has hit record highs in recent months, worsening familiar bugbears.

One commuter said: "During peak periods you have to push your way in."

"During the peak periods, it's very crowded and inconvenient because I have kids," said another commuter.

So to address this problem, tighter service standards have been introduced.

For instance, passengers at busy stations will not have to wait more than two or three minutes during high peak periods. This is because of a new measure requiring monitoring of train arrivals at stations.

Mr Lim said: "Because now for select services you might have that (measure), but now that you have the benchmark, it's applied across the board - that's the difference."

As for whether it can go even below two minutes, it is still being studied as it would involve heavy infrastructural change and a heavy price tag.

Trains are now limited to carrying up to 1,600 passengers, instead of 1,700 although SMRT said peak loads are usually lower than that, at about 1,400 passengers.

About ten trains will be retrofitted to create more standing room. They will lose about 14 out of 50 seats per train car from next January.

Saw Phaik Hwa, president & CEO, SMRT, said: "The importance of the train is to ensure you can pack as many people as possible. People want to travel. One of the complaints’ is not because there are no seats, but it's too packed."

But this is going to be a balancing act. Ms Saw continued: "We are also very cognisant of the fact that people also like seats. So if you remove too many seats, people will say 'Well, why no seats?'".

One commuter said: "After a hard day's work, most of us would want to have a seat."

SMRT said it is already meeting the tighter standards now.

In the medium term though, the answer will have to be more trains and more rail lines and the Transport Minister gave the assurance that projects that have already been announced will not be delayed by the slowing economy.

One such extension is the Boon Lay Extension, which will open to the public next February.

The 3.8-kilometre stretch at the west end of the East-West Line will consist of two stations - Pioneer and Joo Koon.

This new MRT extension is expected to benefit residents in Jurong West Town and Jurong Industrial Estate. Their travelling time is expected to be cut by up to 15 minutes.

The extension will also give commuters direct access to the MRT system. They currently have to make bus transfers at Boon Lay station. - CNA/vm