After leaving Singapore, I've decided that I have no right to write about Singapore's political system, therefore, there have been nothing to write. But this is something that is not political, per se. And it really got on my nerves.
When the proposal was submitted to the Public Transport Council (PTC) in June, it was rejected because the fare proposed ($1.30 per trip) was not appropriate for a premium bus service, usually priced between $2 to $3 per trip.
Isn't the PTC suppose to be for the people? Isn't that what it is tauted by them (not that we believe them anyway)?
What the heck, if I want to sell my service for this amount, what right has the PTC to insist that I charge a higher price?
If the PTC says that they want to make all services the same. HELLO! Isn't Singapore suppose to be about market forces? Don't we remember how SingTel (during their monopoly) stated that they cannot bring down the cost of overseas calls, mobile phone plans, etc. What happened after M1 and StarHub were given the go ahead? Prices dropped. Isn't that what a free market force is for?
So now you know Singaporeans, PTC is for the "public" (who were know are not public because obscene profits is their goal not the people) transporters and not the people. So really, why bother having them around? To ensure that prices are not raised unfairly? We know how "fair" the PTC is to the public. To ensure that transport operators remain comparative? I don't see how having 2 transport companies dealing with totally different lines can count as competition. To ensure that public transport companies keep their promises? I don't see a change in anything even though we have had price hikes for the past 5 years or so.
So what is the PTC for... really. Can anyone enlightened me?
Take from Today
26 December 2007
ANG MO KIO MP'S PUSH FOR LITTLE GREEN BUSES PAYS OFF
Nazry Bahrawi
nazry@mediacorp.com.sg
THESE little green buses are on trial providing a shuttle service from the Yio Chu Kang MRT station and bus interchange to nearby private housing estates. Despite being concerned over profitability, the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit System (SMRT) Corporation launched the route yesterday.
The new service is the result of some prodding by Ms Lee Bee Wah, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC and adviser of Nee Soon South grassroots organisations, who managed to convince the transportation company after months of discussions.
As a result, two green air-conditioned minibuses - which can seat 19 people - would now serve some 1,200 households in Springside, Hong Heng, Thong Soon Gardens and Springleaf estates, stopping at five pick-up points in these areas.
Residents there had in the past complained to Ms Lee about the lack of public transport to a nearby MRT station or bus interchange, especially useful to students and the elderly.
It has been an arduous journey. Ms Lee spent about one year trying to convince SBS Transit and SMRT of the need for such a service, but both were concerned about its feasibility.
While SBS Transit rejected the idea because it was "not viable", SMRT decided to give it a trial run after it conducted a feasibility study, said Ms Lee.
But that was not the only hurdle.
When the proposal was submitted to the Public Transport Council (PTC) in June, it was rejected because the fare proposed ($1.30 per trip) was not appropriate for a premium bus service, usually priced between $2 to $3 per trip.
"So I took another six months to talk to the PTC, Land Transport Authority and the Ministry of Transport. Eventually, I managed to get it approved last month," said Ms Lee, who added that she had even approached Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for help.
Said SMRT's deputy chief executive officer Lee Seng Kee: "We made a projection and based on the population size, we believe that the $1.30 fare is feasible."
When asked what would happen if SMRT does not break even after three months, Mr Lee said: "We are prepared to extend for another four months. At the same time, the committee will talk to residents to use the service.
If that doesn't work, we would look at the numbers again."
Mr Wilson Zhuang, chairman of Springleaf Neighbourhood Committee, said the shuttle service would cut down travel to the nearest MRT by about 10 minutes.
Before the service, residents in the areas would take about 20 minutes to travel to Ang Mo Kio MRT station, which is further away, on bus 169, he said.
But another resident, a retiree in his 50s who declined to be named, said while he appreciate the effort by Ms Lee, he believed it would make better sense if the new shuttle service travels to Chong Pang town centre and Khatib MRT.
He said: "There is no market at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Housewives would be happier if the service goes to Khatib MRT which is not only nearer but also has grocery shopping facilities."
Showing posts with label bus fares. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bus fares. Show all posts
28 December 2007
11 September 2007
Bus fares to go up by 1 to 2 cents from Oct 1
There is nothing to say. All have been said. Another nail in the poor's coffin. Nice "compensation" that MRT fares will not increase.
I somehow feel that the older generation are continually being penalised for being old. For any old person not working, they are seeing their retirement funds decreasing each year, especially in 2007, this year of "plenty". Money that could have lasted them for 10 years can maybe last them for 7 years now. You'll be damned if you ever grow old in Singapore.
I'm so happy that the gahmen cares.
Straits Times 11 Sep 2007
Bus fares to go up by 1 to 2 cents from Oct 1
By Christopher Tan
BUS fares will go up by one to two cents from Oct 1, the Public Transport Council announced on Tuesday.
But there will be no increase in train fares.
Senior citizen concessionary EZ -Link bus fares, which are flat fares pegged to the lowest adult EZ-Link fare band will also increase by 2 cents, up from the current 65 cents.
However, because they are flat fares, the same 67 cents fare will apply regardless of the distance travelled.
'The PTC has to strike a balance between safeguarding commuters' interests and ensuring the financial viability of the public transport operators so that they can continue to improve their services over time and sustain their capital investments,' Chairman of the PTC Gerard Ee said.
The Council said in August that transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT Corp had applied for fare increases - an annual revision exercise governed by a set formula.
This year, the formula caps fare rises at 1.8 per cent - or around three cents per ride.
The last fare increase was in October last year, when costs went up by one to three cents per ride.
Back then, the operators blamed high costs - in particular the high price of fuel and manpower - for the need to raise their fares. They are citing the same reasons this time.
SBS Transit, part of the ComfortDelGro group, for instance, said their costs have gone up significantly.
"Energy costs, for example, rose by 20 per cent or $20.3 million last year - having already increased by 41.2 per cent in 2005," SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said.
"Manpower costs, the company's largest cost component, also increased by about $12.1 million during the year."
SBS also pointed out that it had invested heavily in buses as well as commuter services.
It spent $135 million on new buses in the past two years. And it has rolled out an online bus arrival system, which helps commuters to plan their journeys better.
Lower SMRT earnings
SMRT pointed out that the increase in the goods and services tax as well as the 1.5 percentage point rise in employers' CPF contributions will pull down its earnings by about $11 million a year.
It said the fare increase, if kept to this year's cap of 1.8 per cent, would only partially offset the company's total cost increases.
SBS is proposing to keep children and school student fares as well as concession pass charges unchanged.
SMRT has also said it will not raise fares for children and students, and all bus cash fares.
SMRT is also waiving any increase to the first fare band of its MRT single-trip ticket, which costs 90 cents. It added that it would extend its senior citizen concession hours to match SBS'.
Schemes to help the poor
Both operators said they would come up with schemes to help the poor cope with any fare rise.
'We have tried to keep fare increase small for as many commuters as possible but we know that any fare increase, no matter how small, would still be felt by commuters, especially tho se from needy families,
'Those who need additional help will receive help from the Government?s Public Transport Fund. The public transport four operators will also chip in towards public transport vouchers to help low-income families cope with the fare increase,' Mr Ee said.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) is not entirely convinced that a fare hike is in order.
Case executive director Seah Seng Choon has pointed out that transport companies are enjoying "good returns." For instance, SMRT achieved a 39 per cent rise in net earnings to $37.94 million in the first quarter.
"'With such significant increase in net earnings, commuters would certainly expect it to show clear justifications for any need to hike fares at this point in time,' he said.
I somehow feel that the older generation are continually being penalised for being old. For any old person not working, they are seeing their retirement funds decreasing each year, especially in 2007, this year of "plenty". Money that could have lasted them for 10 years can maybe last them for 7 years now. You'll be damned if you ever grow old in Singapore.
I'm so happy that the gahmen cares.
Straits Times 11 Sep 2007
Bus fares to go up by 1 to 2 cents from Oct 1
By Christopher Tan
BUS fares will go up by one to two cents from Oct 1, the Public Transport Council announced on Tuesday.
But there will be no increase in train fares.
Senior citizen concessionary EZ -Link bus fares, which are flat fares pegged to the lowest adult EZ-Link fare band will also increase by 2 cents, up from the current 65 cents.
However, because they are flat fares, the same 67 cents fare will apply regardless of the distance travelled.
'The PTC has to strike a balance between safeguarding commuters' interests and ensuring the financial viability of the public transport operators so that they can continue to improve their services over time and sustain their capital investments,' Chairman of the PTC Gerard Ee said.
The Council said in August that transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT Corp had applied for fare increases - an annual revision exercise governed by a set formula.
This year, the formula caps fare rises at 1.8 per cent - or around three cents per ride.
The last fare increase was in October last year, when costs went up by one to three cents per ride.
Back then, the operators blamed high costs - in particular the high price of fuel and manpower - for the need to raise their fares. They are citing the same reasons this time.
SBS Transit, part of the ComfortDelGro group, for instance, said their costs have gone up significantly.
"Energy costs, for example, rose by 20 per cent or $20.3 million last year - having already increased by 41.2 per cent in 2005," SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said.
"Manpower costs, the company's largest cost component, also increased by about $12.1 million during the year."
SBS also pointed out that it had invested heavily in buses as well as commuter services.
It spent $135 million on new buses in the past two years. And it has rolled out an online bus arrival system, which helps commuters to plan their journeys better.
Lower SMRT earnings
SMRT pointed out that the increase in the goods and services tax as well as the 1.5 percentage point rise in employers' CPF contributions will pull down its earnings by about $11 million a year.
It said the fare increase, if kept to this year's cap of 1.8 per cent, would only partially offset the company's total cost increases.
SBS is proposing to keep children and school student fares as well as concession pass charges unchanged.
SMRT has also said it will not raise fares for children and students, and all bus cash fares.
SMRT is also waiving any increase to the first fare band of its MRT single-trip ticket, which costs 90 cents. It added that it would extend its senior citizen concession hours to match SBS'.
Schemes to help the poor
Both operators said they would come up with schemes to help the poor cope with any fare rise.
'We have tried to keep fare increase small for as many commuters as possible but we know that any fare increase, no matter how small, would still be felt by commuters, especially tho se from needy families,
'Those who need additional help will receive help from the Government?s Public Transport Fund. The public transport four operators will also chip in towards public transport vouchers to help low-income families cope with the fare increase,' Mr Ee said.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) is not entirely convinced that a fare hike is in order.
Case executive director Seah Seng Choon has pointed out that transport companies are enjoying "good returns." For instance, SMRT achieved a 39 per cent rise in net earnings to $37.94 million in the first quarter.
"'With such significant increase in net earnings, commuters would certainly expect it to show clear justifications for any need to hike fares at this point in time,' he said.
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