What I find most disappointing is that SMRT is carrying on
TIBS's tradition of having all sorts of hodge-podge fleet.
They should have learnt that lesson, that having such a fleet
makes for mainteinance woes.
But do you see what they do? Seats must have alternate colour,
rims also all kinds of colour.
Their tender was also the same story!
Should we have bendy or DD, the contract seems to be asking.
I do not think SBST is a perfect company. I made a pretty
strongly-worded complaint to SBST recently, and though I got 5
complimentary tickets (which I appreciate the gesture), was
absolutely unfunny and left me fuming.
But SBST has in recent years, in particular, taken clear and
decisive steps in many aspects. This is particularly true in their
fleet renewal exercise. I cannot argue against the potential
problem of "locked-in investments" with regards to bulk order of
1-2 types only, but it certainly is a lesser of two evils in the
long run when it comes to day-to-day ops.
Do you order cai png with 6 sides and 3 strands of each type for
lunch? I don't. Maybe you like it, but ordering in that manner
wastes my time....and money.
It is easy to blame SMRT management. But we have to remember
that being the smaller competitor, it can't really be purchasing in
such quantities as SBST.
BUT
There's absolutely no excuse in looking indecisive (as they have
ALWAYS been) now! Not when the real chance to do something about
their fleet is here.
SMRTB past purchasing orders has really been poorly managed by
the old management which resulted in really bad state it has
now. I agree that as a smaller company, it shouldn't have order so
much of different kinds of buses due to smaller scale of
operations. It should have just standardise with OC500s and MAN
A22s while forsaking Citaros for OC500s instead. Being a smaller
company, economies of scales is even more important. More varieties
means more different parts to source for and more money to spend
and more kinds of skills and personnel to train and spend on. No
wonder SMRTB is always in the red these years.
Now they have changed to a new CEO. I am still accessing his
contributions for the company as of now.
