Originally posted by oxford mushroom:
What do you understand by that? Are the operating costs paid by the
government and thus through tax payers?
Once again the question: are you advocating nationalization of
transport companies and the government to run the services
instead?
Unfortunately, the Singapore transport system IS ALREADY
NATIONALISED when all the Eleven PLUS One Privately Operated Bus
Companies were asked to shut down.
These included : Singapore Traction Co, Tay Koh Yat Bus Co., Green
Bus, Blue Bus, Yellow Bus, Hock Lee Bus, Almagamated Bus Service,
United Bus Company, Paya Lebar Bus Co, Bedok Bus Co, Changi Bus Co,
Jurong Bus Co. - which made up of 11 Chinese owned, and one
British-owned bus companies.
When these private bus companies asked the government for fare
increases, the Government will insist that investments have to be
made on new buses before any fare increases can be approved.
This cause a 'chicken and egg situation, as to which should come
first', which is a far cry from the present arrangements that seems
to have LTA 'controlling' all transport fares increases.
Without the assurance of fare increases, and being cash strapped,
most private bus companies were soon required to close down;
allowing for the Singapore Bus Services (SBS) to come into being,
and subsequently followed by CCS, and TIBS.
The present bus companies are all Government Linked, with their
initial capital paid-up being made available from public funds, but
under the guise of private or public corporations - some of which
are public listed.
