SMRT: SBST rejected bus bridging request on 15 Dec breakdown

last SG · 2012-05-09T18:56:23+00:00

Who is the CEO you are referring to?SPH.

Simply.90 SG

Is SBST obligated to help out when such contingency events arise, especially when the breakdown period coincides with PM peak? Share your thoughts.

^tamago^ SG

No, but some of us saw that SBST had augmented its fleet for the evening post-peak period for good measure.

Simply.90 SG

IMO, the headline of the article seems to suggest a little of pushing of blame.

vicamour SG

More like SMRT is pushing the blame to SBST, where SMRT instead was too arrogant to ask for help.

sbst275 SG

So you expect people to help when the whole place is not managed properly?

SBS has it’s own QoS to settle.

Simply.90 SG

In the article, the OCC personnel mentioned 5 difficulties they faced, of which include:

1. Some MRT shuttles were caught in traffic jams and were unable to arrive on time at the affected MRT stretch.

2. SMRT Buses has over 2000 service leaders and not all of them are familiar with the MRT shuttle routes.

3. Limited personnel to guide MRT shuttle drivers.

4. SBS Transit declined to render help.

5. SMRT Buses only operates 25% of the bus routes in Singapore and thus unable to deploy enough buses for MRT shuttle.

Reading through the above points, it makes me wonder that if SMRT SLs are not familiar with the routes, what difference would it make if SBST steps in other than being able to pump in some buses? The situation would still be equally chaotic with SBST BCs awaiting instructions from SMRT side.

service_238 SG

What I feel is that as long as the SBST BCs know which stations are closed, they can simply run the routes on their own. They only take instructions from the people on the ground when to depart from the affected mrt station.

And by fact - SBST drivers are more familiar on the roads than SMRT drivers. partly cos of the coverage of the routes of SBST services except the north, as well as coverage of SMRT routes in certain parts of the island where its mostly SBST.

its down to market share la. You cant possibly imagine SBST being unable to handle an MRT breakdown cos most drivers keep getting lost and yet controls 75% of the scheduled bus routes here.

service_238 SG

No, but some of us saw that SBST had augmented its fleet for the evening post-peak period for good measure.

56 had more DD runs at night

88 kope bus from other services to disperse the toa payoh crowd

166... mostly DD so hard to spot if a SD was replaced by a DD after pm peak just for that.

vicamour SG

Funny, SBST also needs to run its bus services as well.

You screw up your own work and you expect other people to clear up your own mess while they have even more work to do?
SMRT sounds like a crybaby, such a shame.
Be glad that SBST still runs its frequent bus services along your screwed MRT line while your train breaks down.

sbst275 SG

I guess memories of the SBS peak hr scene in the pre-MRT era is fading away.

That night SBS might had to run 162 till late.

cheezing SG

While SBS Transit is not obliged to help out, I feel that they should help out, or at least help out the best they can since its the peak hour. It will indeed be gracious of them that they do. Putting the competition, rivalry and reputation of the two companies aside, people that were affected in the MRT breakdown were all fellow Singaporeans. If they did not even consider helping SMRT out at all, then it is not a matter about them leaving SMRT in a lurch, but more of them leaving fellow Singaporeans who are trapped in the chaotic breakdown in a lurch. Different transport companies should augur well with each other and help one another out in such emergencies, in a combined effort to cut down the damage already done to these commuters as much as possible.

sbst275 SG

SBS also had a lot of mess to tar.

159 was very packed.

Simply.90 SG

its down to market share la. You cant possibly imagine SBST being unable to handle an MRT breakdown cos most drivers keep getting lost and yet controls 75% of the scheduled bus routes here.

So it really boils down to how willing is SBST to help? Or was it because there wasn't any kind of agreement between the 2 co. beforehand (i.e. lack of precedence) that led to SBST not helping?

Simply.90 SG

It'd be helpful if that OCC personnel had actually revealed how much help they intended to source for and was it within SBST's capability to spare its extra capacity at that hour to help.. (maybe by calling back S shift BCs etc..)

sbst275 SG

S shift? Actually S shift BC still need to report for next morning's S shift

carbikebus SG

Frankly say they can't hope SBST would help them.Theres other option like private buses mah.Just pay Lor..

SBS2656X SG

Is it true that SBST helped out in CCG during the day when MRT were opened late?
And yes, 88 was forced to 'borrow' buses from other services due to it's ''convenient'' route linking Toa Payoh, Bishan and Ang Mo Kio MRT Station. One of the buses 'borrowed' was SBS6007T.

SBS2656X SG

Actually calling SBST to help SMRT will only result in more bus jams outside affected MRT stations. As you know, SBST currently only operates NEL, which service 80 plys past most of the stations. SBST's BCs are only trained to operate NEL Shuttle and perhaps DTL Shuttle soon. Since it happened in peak hours also, SBST also having it's own bus services to operate, it is obvious for SBST to decline help. Because SBST drivers will also got caught in the maze especially on the AMK to TPY MRT station stretch. Got 1 driver on regular service already got lost while trying to nagivate through Bukit Timah Road. Now, imagine it on NSL. It will only make it more worse since there is also bendies doing the shuttle. You can imagine all the buses blocking the way to enter Braddel MRT Station.

dragg SG

arent they competitors?
will you help your competitors?

SBS 3010C SG

Was this article yesterday’s?