1. LTA,
together with all the taxi companies, will launch a common taxi
booking number, 6-DIAL CAB (6342 5222) on 21 July 2008. The aim of
this common number is to make it easier and more convenient for
taxi commuters, especially tourists, to call for a taxi in
Singapore, as they need only remember one number.
2. The
common taxi booking number complements the taxi companies' call
booking systems. The respective taxi companies' call-booking
hotlines will continue to be in use. Commuters who have preference
for taxis from any of the taxi companies can continue to book a
taxi from the company directly, by calling their respective
hotlines.
3. The
common taxi booking number is one of the initiatives in the Land
Transport Master Plan announced early this year. It provides
commuters with an additional avenue to book a cab. With the common
number, commuters will be able to book a taxi from any of the taxi
companies by calling 6-DIAL CAB. A commuter who makes a call to
6-DIAL CAB, will have access to up to three taxi companies' call
centres. The call will first be routed to one selected1
taxi company's call centre. If the call centre's lines are busy,
the call will automatically be re-routed to another taxi company's
call centre. The call will be terminated only after three attempts
to route the call is unsuccessful. Please refer to Annex
A for more details.
4. Ms Tammy
Tan, ComfortDelGro Corporation Group Corporate Communications
Officer said, "Many Singaporeans are already familiar with
ComfortDelGro's taxi booking number, 6552-1111. There is however
one group of commuters who may be confused with the different taxi
booking numbers and they are the tourists. For them, the common
booking number will be of help."
5. Mr Lo
Chee Wen, Vice President, SMRT Taxis said, "The new common call
booking number for taxis is an added way in which we can serve
commuters, on top of SMRT's call booking number 6555 8888. We
welcome it and are happy that commuters now have another convenient
manner to reach us when they are in need of a taxi."
6. Added Mr
Lim Chong Boo, Managing Director of Premier Taxis Pte Ltd, "This
should help visitors to Singapore who may be unfamiliar with how to
get a taxi. We trust the LTA will work closely with the Tourism
Board to promote this common number to the visitors."
7. "With the
supplementary common taxi number, it will be easier for the public,
especially tourists to make a taxi booking without memorising all
the taxi booking numbers," said Mr Tan Soon Chye, General Manager,
Prime Car Rental & Taxi Services Pte Ltd.
8.
Transcab's General Manager, Jasmine Tan stated, "One Common Taxi
Number is another choice for the passenger when call for
booking."
9. Welcoming
the additional option, Chief Executive of SMART Automobile Pte Ltd,
Mr Johnny Harjantho added, "We are ready to give our support for
the one number system as SMART drivers stand to benefit from the
potential increase in the number of phone bookings to our
company."
10. Mr Seng
Han Thong, Adviser to the six Taxi Operators' Associations said,
"The Land Transport Authority has consulted the Taxi Operators'
Associations on the feasibility of a common taxi booking number and
the TOAs view the common number as an additional avenue for taxi
drivers to receive more call bookings. Firstly, the Singapore
Tourism Board will be promoting it among tourists visiting
Singapore. At the same time, Singaporeans will also benefit from it
as they only need to remember one telephone number to call and as
the chances of them getting a taxi in a shorter time will be higher
as the system will forward their booking requests to the next
available taxi company. These would translate to more call bookings
and thus, higher earnings for our taxi drivers."
11. Mr Yam
Ah Mee, Chief Executive, Land Transport Authority, expressed, "We
are glad that the taxi companies are supportive of this initiative
to enhance convenience for taxi commuters and will continue to
explore other avenues to do so."
1The system
automatically allocates calls to the taxi companies based on a
pre-determined algorithm. The algorithm assigns calls based on a
weightage defined by the respective companies' market share of all
call bookings, including those received by them directly, in the
preceding 3 months.
Link : http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1970
