SMRT - Squeezing People, Endangering Lives?

Seems like we're going to bear with the squeeze on our MRT trains as usual. Though the LTA, or Transport Minister Raymond Lim, promised to tighten the operating standards, I see nothing's going to improve. What's said to be improvised are mainly the waiting time and passenger load, but SMRT said they 'have been doing it anyway'.

You know what? In the past, every weekday morning and evening peak passengers would have to squeeze into the cabin. Even with the centre filled, often I had to tap my palms on the ceiling to find balance. Poor ladies by my side had to endure my fragrance, and it is no wonder that there are so many palm stains on the ceiling panels.

Today, even with the tremendous increase in train headways, peeple still squeeze. Certainly it's true given that people nowadays avoid driving to save on petrol costs and switch to public transport. But who cares? the FACT is that the train is still packed to the brim! I simply have no idea WHY the authorities are still using FIGURES to show it's 'still less than capacity' when PEOPLE are the ones taking the train, and not FIGURES? Please come back to the ground, you people are lost in your paradize driving big cars like Merc 500 it is no wonder only the figures are used. If only those so-called think-tank were to join in the crowd, then I suppose there's improvement. No pain, no gain, right? Boys, figures don't pinch. I really meant PINCH.

My heart nearly burst into flame when the CEO of the corporation, Saw Phaik Hwa, said:

"The importance of the train is to ensure you can pack as many
people as possible. People want to travel. One of the complaints’ is
not because there are no seats, but it's too packed."

WTH?!? We, passengers with senses all across the skin and flesh, felt that YOUR trains (and buses) are already packed near to the core, now YOU want us to reach the core? The company has been posting higher net profits every year in terms of millions of dollars, and all these gains goes to the company and its shareholders. We passengers are only stakeholders so we've got to bear with all these unnecessary pains. How much more cost are you talking about by increasing the train frequency marginally? With all-time high passengership, what YOU gain is the pennies collected. So what cost are you talking about. Increase the frequencies further!

SMRT received the 'Best Passenger Experience' award at the inaugural Metro Awards 2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark. WTH? It's a service not acceptable by the locals, don't honour something else from the foreigners. It's also firing it's company's slogan:

Squeezing People, Endangering Lives you mean? I wonder what if one day, one of the doors falls off because of strong pressure, the company will be in deep trouble. Street men will witness flying commuters instead. What's more, the news also report that it has planned to remove 86 SEATS on TEN of its trains shuttling between Jurong East and Bt Batok stations. In the older trains, there were 372 seats a train. After refurbishment, it's left with 296. Now, even lesser. I wonder when will it be the day when trains have no seat. I would say, WHAT A NOVEL WAY of maximising the profits!

See also:
STOMP.SG: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=41837
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=40449

What the?? WE WANT OUR SEATS BACK!!! SMRT has posted $150million for FY2008 ended March 31. Given such a huge amount, SMRT is going to continue to juice the most out of the passengers! Lest the all-time high fare increases. So is SMRT talking about any societal responsibilities? The answer is a straight NO! The low train frequencies HAVE BEEN the norm until the government stepped in. Only until recently people gets a better frequency. Next, it has the SMRT Tribute Funds, yes it is doing for the society, but i suppose a large fraction of those was from donations from passengers, as seen from their advertisement asking for donations. That's why I've never patronaged the box. Squeezing more passengers into a train is NOT the way. Our culture does not support this; we're not like those foreign workers who apparently love to make skin-to-skin contact. IF I WERE THE regulatory body I WILL NOT LET SMRT run the major lines. Same goes to its bus services like 67, 190, and 960. Trans-Island did a far better job.

Four things for aftermath:

1. Commuters 'storming' into the trains for seats, instead of the current 'rushing',
2. Teenagers and foreign workers sit in circle on the floor (which counter the purpose of such move),
3. People skipping trains with such configuration because PEOPLE WANTS TO SIT!
4. People protesting at Hong Lim Park.

So, the already-redundant 'please allow passengers to alight first' announcement will be further ignored. When people sit on the floor, even lesser space is allowed for standing. More passengers will stand longer on the platform to avoid such trains to get their seats. Ok, we shall see then.

Why can't it just run more trains? Let me cite an example overseas, in Hong Kong. In my recent trip there, almost all of my trips were made on the MTR. 100% of time waiting time did not exceed 2mins (I wish to bow), even at 10am and 3pm. After entering the train, I found myself often than not wasn't squeezing with other people and instead - spaces aplenty. With 8 carriages for all trains (ours' 6), 2mins in frequency day and night, and both being a Corporation, i wonder what is SMRT really doing.

Here's my suggestion: Allow private buses or even its competitor like SBS Transit to run buses parallel to the MRT lines. Why not? Since it can't deliver a good job, let the comsumers have an alternative (with far more seats) and at the same time giving it a PINCH for losing customers. Another good solution will be allowing overseas operator, like the HK's MTRC, to run new train lines! I'm certain all local operators will buck up!

I also hope someone who is more frustrated than myself about it will start a petition to BRING BACK OUR SEATS.

Look, there's no crowd during off peak hour, yet frequency is at 2mins a train. So many value-added services like news on the go with audio, among other initiatives. Yet, travelling for three stations from Yau Ma Tei to Admiralty is only HKD3.6 (S$0.72)!

So the burning question is: WHY COMMERCIALISE in the first place?? Without that, the state runs it, we people get good deals. Ultimately, the public transport is for the PEOPLE. Why talk about profits here. I see, we sigh. Money rules the world. Perhaps striving (probably the entire lifetime) to get the COE and a car remains the viable way for Singaporeans.

Can we Singaporeans have enough reasons to take pride in our only railway? You shall justify.