Much as I appreciated the thought put into this post, there is
still a need to point out several things.
1. CDG is not formerly SBS. Please google for more info.
2. There is nothing wrong with cross-subsidising. In fact,
cross-subsidising was what allowed Samsung to absorb years after
years of huge loss-making in the DRAM market in the 1980s. The rest
is now history, but few realised Samsung did not have an easy time
in the earlier decades.
3. Both SMRT and CDG have been cross-subsidising, especially for
the bus and LRT lines. Maybe you have not realised it. The foreign
markets and the engineering arms have helped in that respect.
4. As a paying commuter, I want the cheapest and best where
reasonably possible. Period. Why think so much? All I need is a
good explanation of why fares are going up while service levels
have stagnated or gone west.
***
thks for pts 1. will look into it in more detail.
2 and 3. as for x-subsidizing, im firmly against it because it
violates the principle of balancing the books (for the division
thats in the red at least). I appreciate you quoting the Samsung
exanple as a viability of x-subsidizing and how common it is, but
please recognise that apples are apples, and oranges are oranges.
Name me a PTO other than SMRT/SBST that x-subsidizes and i'll rest
my case.
4. fully agree with you that recent rising fares should be
explained in more detail. i like the way you look at it simple, but
if u ask me, as long as they can convince me that rising fares can
bring their books back into the black and set things straight, im
okay with that as well. given how the PTOs run, im willing to forgo
the cheapest fares if they wont fix the situation.
