http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2010/01/inadequate-public-transportation.html
** My apology. We have made an error in our interpretation on
the statistical table. The occupancy rate refers to the average
number of people in a single cabin carriage at any one time. But
the conclusion is intact.
The following is a Table compiled to show the contrast of
population growth vs MRT development.
Total Population and Resident Population from Table 3.1 of the
Yearbook of Statistics 2009
MRT Statistics from SMRT Annual Report 2007/2008
From the table above, we can gather the following facts (from
2003 to 2008 as the population figures for 2009 is not available
yet):
Total Population Growth 17.6%
Resident Population Growth 8.2%
SMRT Total Number of Passenger Trips (Million) Growth
19.0%
SMRT Car Kilometres Operated (Million) Growth -13.0%
SMRT Average Operating Car Occupancy Rate Growth 31.6%
What do the above statistics tell us?
It is quite puzzling to me actually. The public transport companies
like SMRT has been increasing their fares for the past 7 years but
it seems that their service standards have dropped with respect to
the population growth.
It is very disturbing to note that while demand on MRT has
increased steadily for the pass 7 years (We are unable to get the
2009 figures for population growth yet) in tandem with the increase
in population growth, SMRT has actually DECREASE their train
service frequencies by as much as 13%!
An increase of 19% of demand couple with a decrease in supply of
13% will naturally result in packing the MRT cabins with more
people! This is reflected in the increase of occupancy rate from 56
persons in a carriage to 76!
It means that on average, Singaporeans will find the MRT 35% more
crowded than 2003! I guess the LTA is sleeping on this development
while agreeing to PTC and public transport companies' demand in
increasing their fares!
I hope this is not another "Caught Off Guard" situation for the
Ministry of Transport as it is for Ministry of National
Development. Someone up there have to be accountable for
mismanaging the whole situation for Singapore.
WP NCMP Sylvia Lim has categorically questioned the PAP government
on whether they are doing enough to cater to their aggressive FT
policy which has artificially increase the population by 17.6% from
2003 to 2008.
Yet, the PAP has continued to sleep on this important issue. We
have seen how Ministry of National Development under Mah Bow Tan
has totally mismanaged the housing needs in view of the expected
increase of housing demand due to influx of FT. Now it seems that
the Ministry of Transport has also totally mismanaged the
transportation sector.
There is no silly excuse of "Caught Off Guard" as the opposition
party has already raised the alarm as early as 2006! Singaporeans
have to see clearly that we are paying TOP WORLD CLASS salaries for
these ministers but yet, we are having them mismanaging the
situation here.
The Ministry of Transport and LTA are only concerned about setting
up more ERPs all over Singapore because that is the SACRED CASH
COWS that will make money. Who cares about the general welfare of
Singaporeans in squeezing in MRTs and Buses (yes, I believe we can
show the same inadequacy if we build the statistical table for
buses) everyday due to their mismanagement. The Ministers have
hardly experience the frustrations of normal Singaporeans who take
public transport daily. The MRT train frequency is really third
world standards!
It is about time Singaporeans should give PAP the wake up call!
Vote the respective ministers out, give a clear signal to the PAP
government that we want accountability!
We want ministers who put Singaporeans' welfare as their top
priority, not how much money their ministries could save or make as
their top priorities.
If the above analysis is not convincing enough for you, then please
take a look at the following table:
SMRT Total Number of Passenger Trips (Million) SMRT Car Kilometres
Operated (Million) SMRT Average Operating Car Occupancy (Person)
SMRT Profit after tax and minority interest (S$ Mil) 2003 394.3
89.6 56 72.1 2004 391.5 77.4 63 89.5 2005 402.6 75.1 66 126.7 2006
413.8 75.5 67 103.4 2007 434.9 77.1 69 135.4 2008 469.3 78.0 73
149.9
For the period from 2003 to 2008, SMRT profits have increased
107.9% from $72.1m to
$149.9m!
What does this mean. There is an increase in demand, increase in
fare but SMRT continues to reduce supply by a drastic reduction in
2004. While the demand continues to increase, it suppressed the
corresponding supply while continued its demand of fare increase.
The so call "improve in services" is just lip service. Service
standards has dropped while SMRT just let the trains get more
cramp!
LTA under the Ministry of Transport, kept both of its eyes closed
for all this while! This is totally unacceptable for a world class
government with top pay! It seems that our PAP government only
takes good care of corporate profits while neglecting the welfare
of Singaporeans, allowing them to be reaped off by suffering sub
standard services with increased prices.
Do we continue to let them be or give them a wake up call? The
choice is yours.
Goh Meng Seng
* I have added the figures of the SMRT side without the figures of
population data here. The increase in the car operated per
kilometer is partly due to the opening of circle line. This means
that frequency of trains in other older lines might not have
improved at all. Besides, this is offset by the increase in the
demand, partly due to the increase in population (estimated about
3% plus if total population is to reach 4.99 million). As the
result, the occupancy rate is just about the same. This result
doesn't change the main point that since 2003, the trains are
getting very cramped, about 35% cramped.
