Marriage of SMRT and SBST

phillipC SG

Any possibility of the merger of these 2 entities?
With the new scheme of fare review, does it make economical sense for the 2 companies to merge and gain synergy from the new entity?

Would like to hear your views here!
Question

5454 SG

I to hope it happens SBST should really take over SMRT i really prefer TIBS

PJ_Quek SG

Say no to monopoly. Without competition, there will be less motivation for bus company to provide better services to the commuters.

iveco SG

I second that. If I had shares in SMRT and Connex had an eye on an 80% stake, I'm all for it.

icebaby0 SG

Hopefully there won't be a monopoly. Seriously, overall it's the consumers that loses out... Sad

Volvo Olympian SG

What is monopoly?

cck_190 SG

MONOPOLY
A monopoly is a situation whereby a company/organisation controls something itself. Eg; In the past, SMRT monopolised all the rail lines in Singapore.

Anyway, in some situations, a monopolised thing would be better. Cool

phillipC SG

Originally posted by cck_190:

[b]MONOPOLY
A monopoly is a situation whereby a company/organisation controls something itself. Eg; In the past, SMRT monopolised all the rail lines in Singapore.

Anyway, in some situations, a monopolised thing would be better. Cool [/b]

Yes , i agree with you.
Basically the degree of competition in Singapore bus and rail services is very minimal. Maybe be with a merger, they will better utilise their resources, achieve economy of scale.
Of course there are pros and cons here : as someone has mentioned, without competition threre will have no improvements in services.

cck_190 SG

Yup...in singapore's buses case, a monopoly is better. Take SBST. They are introducing new services and initiatives(CT,Citybuzz,FastForward) to areas they monopolise. They are not "intruding" to SMRT's monopoly. where is the competition?

But in my opinion, smrt buses is not doing things because of restriction by theirr parent co, smrt corp. During the late 90s Tibs Era, tibs was very active. They were the trend setter while sbst followed up.

iveco SG

For subway operations, a monopoly is better. Railways need high maintenance and it is better that they be maintained by one entity (preferably the authorities).

Bus operations are a different story. In many cities, there is competition between bus services as differenc companies have their main bases in different sectors.

It is better for SMRT to run ALL the subway lines, while bus services can be provided by a maximum of three operators based in different sectors.

SBS3624G SG

I see any monopoly. I see SMRT taking North and SBST taking the rest. There is literally no competition, the companies agree and then proceed to milk us.

phillipC SG

anyone heard any rumours that these 2 are going to merge in June 2005?

cck_190 SG

where did you hear it?

iveco SG

It can't be. Shocked

phillipC SG

from some bus captains who talk loudly in the bus.

Volvo Olympian SG

Where do u hear it?

sBs_boy SG

Dont Talk Cock lAr.. you already said le.. RUMOURS le... You believe.. ?? then i say.. SMRT BUYING DD Bus.. YOU ALSO BELIEVE ??

subarugal SG

sure merge lah.. if u notice SMRT tech change uniform and sbst NEL change uniform too.. and happen both pants is same colour..

heee, so belief already want to merge loh waiting for time loh

5454 SG

well i hope this rumours become true i am waiting for the day SBST takes over SMRT

phillipC SG

SBS boy if you think i talk cock here, so be it!
Because i heard this conversations among the bus captains on the bus.
They also heard this "rumour".
How true is it, no one knows!
That's why I asked anyone heard this thing b4!