6/29/2013

SMRT free ride trial run




Five days into the free ride scheme for early commuters and things are running smoothly. The number of early commuters has increased slightly but still bearable.

Two factors could contribute to the situation at the moment. One, more trains were added to reduce the waiting time. At times train would arrive at 1 or 2 minute intervals. This frequency helps to get the commuters moving at a faster rate.

The second factor waiting to happen is the presence of student commuters. They will join the crowd on Monday and the picture could change. Whether having more trains and higher frequency could cope with the 300,000 students in the system is yet to be seen.

The strange thing or miracle that has happened these few days is that the trains could be spaced out within a 2 min interval, with some arriving within one min. Now why would I call this a miracle?
How many of you still remember a couple of years back when the jam problem first surfaced and there was a call for more trains on the track. Then some wise guy claimed that in order for the train to increase the frequency for a separation of 2 min interval it would need a sophisticated monitoring system that would cost a few billion bucks. Now it seems that without spending a few billion bucks, the train can still run with a 2 min separation. Is this strange or the public has been hookwinked? Or has SMRT already bought and installed that multi billion dollar train management system?

Another small miracle is that with higher passenger loads, the jams could be reduced or at least minimized by increased frequencies. Why was this not possible or not done in the past? Let me guess. High profits and sardine packed trains go hand in hand. To increase the comfort of commuters by having more trains running and higher frequency are incompatible with higher profits and higher bonuses. Can this be an explanation for the jam packed trains? Just thinking aloud. 

Monday is just around the corner and if not delayed be the reappearance of dense haze, the system will be put to the real test. It would be more crowded for the early birds and the students. It is only a matter of how crowded would it be. This week was a good break for the SMRT to sort out the details and fine tuning for the free ride to prove itself. This free thingy would not have been even considered under the previous regime when profit was everything.

11 comments:

  1. Wah how nice. I'm due in Singapore on Tues, so I'll riding "free" as of Wed. 0745hrs considered "early"? You have to be kidding. At that time I've already been up for 3 hours and done alot -- had morning sex, breakfast, exercise, showered, dressed and read the news, made a few calls...whilst most lazy motherfuckers are still asleep!

    Knowing the kiasu Singaporeans, they'll all be rushing akin to 'Hello Kitty' frenzy to get on the last "free" ride at 0745hrs.

    Anyway, only fools believe that the money-factory Singapore government's "privatised" business would give stuff away "free". The normal fares will rise -- you can bet -- such that the late sleepy-heads will have to pay more to subsidise the kiasu cheapskate early birds.

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    1. Matilah, how come you are so sexy...

      When fares surge, early rides will become unbearably sardinistic.

      Mechanical breakdowns set in, much more frequently than before. That's the real opportunity cost.

      The blood boilds again and again.

      Malulah Matilah.

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  2. Actually only 9% swing. Not nuch of a success really. But it will interesting to note the travel pattern once school reopens.

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  3. You talk about the second factor, which is the presence of student commuters.

    I just wonder how many schools are actually located around the CBD stations for them to qualify for free travel. Bypassing those stops does not qualify them for free travel.

    We just have to see.

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  4. School children will just be taking the trains through the city areas. They travel before or around 7am regardless of free or no free travel.

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  5. The 'free ride' program shows they know the current MRT system carry load already peak.

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  6. Suddenly, elephants are having a free ride on ants. And students find themselves squeezed by an increasing number of adults, fighting for whatever mourning space there is.

    Trains should be running 1 min apart. Jurong East is the most problematic interchange. Approaching trains can easily get stalled for more than 4 minutes to allow for safe
    clearance of the outgoing ones.

    It's a neverending story. Enigmatic.

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  8. @823:

    >> Mechanical breakdowns set in, much more frequently than before.

    Where are your data sets to support your above claim? Don't have? Well then fooey to you ;-)

    >> When fares surge, early rides will become unbearably sardinistic.

    Of course it would likely get crowded. So what? You have a choice: travel free and just bear a little discomfort, or go later and enjoy more room...or fuck the whole idea and just call a cab.

    Every decision has a trade-off lah. Get real, for fuck's sake.

    Ai pi, ai si, ai tuah liap ni! (translated from Teochew for our foreign readers/ invaders: you want her gorgeous with big tits, but you want all of that cheap! -- aka *typical* Singapore mentality)

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  9. correction: ai pi ai CHI ai tuah liap ni

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