More parallel bus services, please

I am surprised that despite the regular MRT breakdowns, SMRT’s recovery process yesterday was below expectations (“Commuters struggle to find ways to get to their destinations”; July 8).

The breakdown of the two main lines left many of us frustrated. I was travelling towards Toa Payoh MRT Station, and for close to 20 minutes, there was no public announcement. Subsequently, we were told to alight at the station.

There was a whiteboard indicating where the shuttle buses were, but the writing was small and we needed to get close to the board to read it. At the exit, there was no one to guide us to where we were supposed to wait; worse was that I waited for nearly an hour.

My nephew, who was at Bishan MRT Station, had been advised by SMRT staff that there were buses to Yishun. But at the designated shuttle point, he was informed that none were going to Yishun.

There seemed to be a lack of SMRT staff, and many commuters had to find their own transport.

As SMRT’s train services are not improving, there should be more buses running the same routes as the MRT lines. We can fall back on these when the trains break down again.

Our reliance on the MRT leaves many of us helpless when we do not know what bus services to take.