Happened to glance at ChannelNewsAsia (CNA) yesterday, reading the little news blurbs that scroll across the screen. One of the first I noticed was how the train service along the North-East Line (NEL) line of our mass transit system was disrupted since about 1pm due to a wire fault. My thoughts were, "Sigh, once again."
Then most interestingly, one of the blurbs following reported that SMRT was proposing to raise its taxi and train fare. What a most unfortunate coincidence.
True, the NEL line is run by SBS Transit, not SMRT. Nonetheless, I don't think the everyday passenger would not notice details like this. And it's certainly understandable. I'm fortunate to drive (but don't get me started on the CTE jams) but I can remember what it was like to have to take public transport everywhere. To have your travel plans disrupted by train failure on one hand then told that the fare prices are being increased on the other hand just doesn't gel.
I recall a while ago, a driver who lost control of his car drove onto the railway tracks between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib MRT stations. The resultant disruption caused massive train disruptions and road jams on Lentor Ave for many hours during the evening peak hours. He was eventually fined for the disruption to the traffice. My question is - shouldn't train operators similarly be fined for disruptions to the train service? What costs to the economy when the trains break down like this? Wouldn't that serve as an incentive for these companies to clean up their act and be more vigilant?
