Thanks for the comments and replies.
Maybe I was biased on my judgement on certain company. I was a
bit carried away at that time. Sorry for those gets offended.
However I would like to highlight that though I am a bus fan myself
in a certain extend, I am also putting in a way of a view as a
commuter view as well. I am not the only one with so much grouses
with that company. Even non bus fans of mine are very fed up with
their standard of services lately. Why? They simply don't improve
despite my friends' complaints.
The second post is a brief intro about myself. And I would like
to tell those people out there who think SMRTB is very good or so
much better than the old TIBS and SBST to think again and wake up
their ideas. Probably I decided to post my opinion deliberately
since I do not wish to engage to much in this forum and I wish to
tell this message to whom still thinks or deliberately trying to
put in silly remarks here about SMRT is better or whatever. To tell
them that there are many people out there, out of this forum, out
in the public, that they are getting fed up with the service levels
of SMRT. It is up to them whether they want to accept it or
not.
I never said that SBST was the best company in Singapore,
neither did I curse SMRTB in a way that they should die, eat shit,
go to hell, whatever. SBST still still lousy as compared to other
bus countries overseas, but way better than the worse off SMRTB. I
put this in this way. If a company does not care about the
interests of their own customers, they should jolly well wound up
and give their business to others who can do a better job, rather
than just hogging and letting their customers suffer and being
shortcharged. A 3rd bus company probably a foreign one will kick
the ass of SBST for more improvements and kick SMRTB out of the
market. Fair, right?
If they want to make profits, if the management are money
driven, then go for other markets. Don't make the commuters suffer.
Don't tell me all the stories that SMRT is a company that should
also pay dividends, earn profits, etc. SBS, TIBS and ComfortDelgro
are also listed companies. But do they provide a service in such a
way that they compromise the commuters' interests to achieve their
own gains??? Why does TIBS as a smaller company with lesser funds
being able to provide a much better service level than SMRT which
is bigger and has higher asset values??? Why does SBST
being a bigger company managing a bigger market can improve their
services, despite their higher operating costs??? Does these
companies need to pay for their dividends??? Yes. But do they
detoriate the service standards so badly at a short span of 5
years??? Not really. I remembered this is how the top
management says about its train services, "packed as many people as
possible"! Looks like providing public transport has already
forgotten what is commuters' comfort is what they want,
despite fare increase every year. Squeezing people into carriages
despite looking into the fact that the population is aging in
the future, and providing a simple comfortable service to
working commuters to attract them to take public transport during
peak hours.
I had to take their services everyday. And yes I am getting fed
up with their level of services day by day. That is the fact. I had
to put this kind of remarks simply the level of service detoriation
is so bad for a company. That is a fact also. No need to hide
within myself, because like what I said, tell some of these people
facts that occur outside the forum.
To Mr ZYX2005,
I said that
not to judge by the bus company by the
type of buses they buy, but by the level of
service they had and should provide. I put it in my
first post in the way that why people here choose to judge bus
companies by the models they buy and not the service standards they
provide. Please read my first post again. Thanks. I am seeing that
some people here says SMRTB is better than SBST because they buy
OCs whereas SBST buy K230UBs just because the chassis is of a more
inferior product. It certainly shows that they are just
looking into bus models for judgements, not level of service, which
most commuters are looking at. Isn't this downright biased???
The fact is SMRTB service standards are detoriating badly. So
what if they buy OCs or whatever??? They can't even maintain the
basic hygiene levels in buses in the 21st century, and is even
worse than the old SBS and TIBS era. Yes, our buses are not well
maintained in the 70s and 80s. You people can see yourself the
interior of the now SMRTB, I don't need to say more. Look at the
exterior, does SMRTB take pride of their fleet??? No. Then how to
convince we, the commuters, that they are paying for a decent
service as compared to the past, during TIBS or even SBS era??? My
friends even ask me, why SMRT buses so dirty one??? I tell them I
don't know. I'm not SMRT personnel.
Even their customer service is a big disappointment. My
complaints are either replied with half baked stories or else no
reply at all. And most of the times, things are not improved, else
the same old thing occurs again. I feedbacked the cons to the
company in hope for better improvements and yet they just don't
give a damn. I as a commuter of their service daily, should I sit
down and continue suffering or voice out for improvements???
Anyway, I am a fare paying commuter.
Yes, they have their strenghts, faster trips, etc. So??? TIBS
also had faster journeys but are their buses so badly
maintained??? Look at the furry seats for example, TIBS can
maintain them well without much dust. Look at SMRTB, the furry
seats becomes so dusty, dirty, giving out smells and yes, breeding
insects. If you tell me they are refurnishing, yes they are. But
why SBST can refurnish their OAC O405s within such a short period
of time and in a better outcome??? Why SMRTB take their own sweet
time refurnishing the seats despite repeated complains??? How many
months was the first SMRT bus being refurnished??? And now how
many are still undone??? Supplier problems, why not blame
their own efficiency???
Maybe you people say that I am comparing both companies. But I
tell you guys that both companies share the same old complains from
commuters. Long frequencies, rude drivers, dirty buses, packed
buses, etc. This is the same for SBS and TIBS era, they share the
same thing. But the thing is, isn't it downright ridiculars that
SMRTB are detoriating in such a way that there are even insects in
the buses, and exhaust pipes being dislodged from the bus, etc???
Why is the level of negative aspects becoming so much more visble
as compared to the old TIBS era and now SBST??? After telling us
that they want to achieve a world class transport in the White
Paper in 1996 and till date, bus services worsen instead of
improving??? It is not that SBST has no shortcomings as well, slow
journeys, overly strict bus captains, but the level is not so bad
that you see it detoriating badly over the years. For example,
strict bus captains, to ensure no fare evaders. Fine with me. For
SMRTB, insect infested bus, why??? Don't know. Last time, was
cockroaches, now bed bugs. What's next??? I thought all should be
over after the cockroach episode, why another kind of insect
breeding again??? Any valid reasons??? Not enough insecticides???
Drivers driving faster... to catch up with the timings. Fine with
me. Fair enough.
I'm stating a fact here and sharing my unpleasant experiences
with SMRTB with facts, and unpleasant facts, and not because
SMRTB is better because their buses are faster or they buy better
buses. And yes, I also had complains about SBST buses but a lot of
times, they do something!
If you guys still think that my point of view is silly and
useless, then too bad. At least I know what I have to
say.
To Mr TIB1049L:
Hope that I have answered all your questions.
I didn't say that comparing the new buses is childish but some
of the comments inside that thread are damn childish. And you
said that bus hobby should be a liking for buses, not caring about
the management. But doesn't it pissing you off that SMRT is
"treating" the O405s very badly while SBS, TIBS and SBST can
"treat" the same model so much better ??? Doesn't it piss you of
that a bus company doesn't treat their fleet with pride but treat
them like as though they are shit??? I never pointed out that I
hate SMRT particular bus models, but I hate SMRT not treating the
commuters' needs seriously, a decent bus ride.
To Mr BusSpeeder:
Please read again my posts on the comparison as what I had
highlighted to Mr ZYX2005. I am saying they should not compare
the companies by the type of buses they buy or have, but the type
of service they had/should provide. Compare the companies by the
standards of the type of service they provide. I never say
that they should not compare the companies, but compare it in
a more reasonable way. Don't say that SMRTB is better
simply they buy OCs or SBST is better if they choses the more
realiable plastic destos. I never put the comparison that way. I
compare both companies on their service levels, what commuters
wants basically. Type of buses and type of services are entirely
different thing in this context. I hope you can understand my point
of view.
In fact, it is normal to make comparisons, just put it in a more
objective manner rather than silly and lame mindless comments
and same bickering of a small particular thing that goes on and on.
Just take the depots comparison for example. You guys can compare
their strenghts and weakness, but is there to the extend of
insluting other depots and other members just because others
are talking badly about yours??? Do you own the depots??? Likewise
for the bus model comparison. Talk about what are the strenghts and
weakness in the technical aspects and commuters' aspects. Need to
degrade the topic till SBST is lousy like hell just because
they are buying the same large bunch of buses??? And need to force
the opinion to others who prefer KUBs and tell them it sucks and
OCs are better off so and so??? Isn't this very lame??? If
there is nothing constructive that some people here do not want to
talk about, then stop spouting rubbish to make it like a war zone
in the end.
I don't have to open a thread for this, just in case people are
saying that I am aiming a particular person. I am just using
his post as an example for a silly and childish behavior in the
forum, not die die aim him. I know what is happening in this forum
and such thing happen before. So I will refrain doing this to
prevent an unnecessary thread for continuous arguements. Seen this,
accept it or not and get on with life.
As for the tone I am speaking, I apologise for the tone I am
saying. But I am really very pissed off by all these nonsense in
this forum and I am so unhappy that my friend keeps on complaining
about some of the people here and outside this forum. I have a
passion for this hobby, you all too, why have to destroy it in this
manner when it is a forum to share views??? If you people want to
argue in such a manner, please get out of this place to quarrel,
don't spam this place with rubbish.
I have to put it in this tone because firstly, I am very pissed
off all these months looking at all these, as I explained earlier.
I had understand there are many concerns that there might be clones
coming up here to create trouble but I wish to highlight that I am
not here to create trouble but to put this point very
very bluntly that you people are destroying this forum without
much valid and acceptable reasons. Maybe I am in the era of the
older bus fan generation and also don't know what is actually
between you people here, but do you people have to behave till like
this in a non face to face mode??? What if you people meet up face
to face??? Fight and quarrel in the bus??? Some of the members here
are trying hard to make things right, but some of you people just
simply ignore and continue your own nonsense.
And yes, all these senior and junior stuff. We all here to learn
and not to throw our weight around just simply you know more and
create trouble just because you are a newbie. So what if some of
you here are senior??? Some of your posts and actions are worse
than a junior. I can see some instances that seniors rebutt
juniors simply they are newbies, even that they are saying the
right thing and tone and when the seniors are actually in the
wrong. Need to insult the newbies till they drop dead???You
people still want to boost your level of competence to those more
junior than you. I'm not saying all the more experienced bus fans
are black sheeps but some of them. And newbies, when people here
telling you to stop doing certain things firmly, so is there a need
to continue to do destructive things??? If so, then don't join.
Don't waste your time and other people's time.
I don't care about my reputation here coz I 'll just remain
inactive mostly after this. I have my own life. I want to
rebutt this time because I felt very upset by my friend's feedbacks
and what I see here over the months. But there should be a stop to
this nonsense here. If the people in here cannot
stop and control those who simply wants to create
nonsense here despite their repeated efforts, let the public, the
outsider make the judgement. Many of those who want the forum to be
better keep on advising in a better tone to make them stop, but
they won't.
Most of you people know each other in the forum, and so might
heck care their advises. "I know you mah, ok one la. Next time
won't again". I know some of you people are trying to stop all
these nonsense going on here. But these people don't care, just
keep on with their stuff. If a better tone doesn't help to do
things better, then have to put it very bluntly, sternly and
probably ths might pissed off people here. I understand these
people won't want to create misunderstandings between all the
members, simply they are already members/friends in this
forum for some time, so they don't want to scold them. I am
different, I just want to tell you people that the forum has
become very bad, because you people keep on doing all the things
that make this forum look so bad in an outsider's point of view.
Why??? You people are telling me that you people here are not
sharing information, not talking about what's going on in this
hobby but to quarrel and quarrel over many trival things. One fine
example is the photography arguement. Some people simply just not
happy when others say their photos are with some small problems. So
they quarrel and quarrel. And it is wrong to use flashlights for
night shots, those involved not happy about it. Quarrel and quarrel
again. People are just pointing out some small mistakes so that you
people can stop that or improve. They can choose to
ignore and one day, something really happen. But they choose
to make a big hoo ha for days. What is this???
So Mr BusSpeeder, I'm not saying you are being unfair to me by
saying that I am trying to act big here. Simply I don't care. But I
want to put my views in this tone this time so as to wake up the
ideas of those who keep on giving trouble despite the kind
intentions of others. If you or other people in this forum thinks
that I am being unreasonable, k poh or shouldn't step in in
the first place, that's ok for me. I just want to help my
friend.
I'm not saying that I had done the right thing, I'm saying
what I should do to help my friend and also get this place in a
better order. His intention for this forum is afterall, info
sharing, not bickering area. I am also a forum addict in some
other forums but I never seen such disharmony or such
level of negative things over there. And this is just buses, not
about political talks or debates.
And don't think I am damn hardcore SBST and TIBS supporter. The
fact is none of the operators here are on par with other overseas
operators. I just give some credit to SBST for their service
improvements these few years and SBS and TIBS providing a good
service in the past. And don't compare an apple with a cherry
because they are simply two different things. Singapore wants to be
a world/first class transport more than 10 years ago, and yet now,
we are still comparing with other third class transport in so other
countries when we should be comparing with other first class
transport systems for improvements. I can only say, whichever
operator here, SBST, SMRTB, and as a whole, our transport system
world class status is only "so called" after 10 plus years of
empty talk. Real improvements, maybe when these operators are
really PURELY privatised. Maybe.
I shall stop here. If you all are still unhappy of what I've
said here, then it is your choice whether to listen or accept. But
you people should know yourselves how bad the forum had turned out
lately. Whether the forum can be better, it depends you all whether
it can be better. I am just an outsider and merely saying out the
unpleasant facts of this place. If you people still think that I am
stating rubbish, rebutt me for what I've said, then so be it.
You all can still continue to live here in your comfort zone. At
least I am convinced that this is the forum it is. Moreover I
have pointed out clearly what I want to say.
