Commuters can expect more improvements to transport system in 2014

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/commuters-can-expect-more-improvements-transport-system-2014-analysts

The year of 2013 did not start off too well for train operators SMRT and SBS Transit.

In February, a tunnel fire caused a two-and-a-half hour disruption to service on the North-South MRT line. A month earlier, a seven-hour disruption on the North-East line affected some 58,000 commuters.

In all, there were a total of seven major disruptions lasting more than 30 minutes in 2013, compared to eight last year.

Both operators have been tightening operating procedures and commuters can expect more improvements to Singapore’s transport system next year, observers predicted.

1) To ease congestion on trains in the morning a year-long trial offers free MRT rides for those who travel before 7.45am on weekdays at any of the 16 designated stations. There is also a 50-cent discount to commuters who tap out between 7.45am and 8am.

2) Commuters can also expect shorter waiting times when overall train capacity is increased. 41 more trains will be added to the North-South and East-West Lines, while with the new Downtown Line 1, six new stations were commissioned — Chinatown, Telok Ayer, Downtown, Bayfront, Promenade and Bugis. There will also be 13 more train-cars added to the Sengkang-Punggol LRT.

3) Commuters will also benefit from the new Marina South Pier station — an extension of the North-South Line that will bring commuters directly to the International Cruise Terminal and Gardens by the Bay.

4) On the roads, more buses will be added to further ease the transport crunch, with the bulk of the 800 buses under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) to be rolled out by the end of 2014.

5) The cost of public transportation is also set to increase but two new concession schemes will be introduced for persons with disabilities and low-income workers. The Public Transport Council is expected to announce the fare revisions in early 2014.

6) With cars still being expensive, taxis are seen as a form of essential transport. To ensure commuters get taxis when they need it, taxi’s availability standards will also be raised in 2014.