Singapore - Transportation ( General News )

[winston]

Money well spent ?

Thomson Line to cost $18b, target 2019 open with more stations By Angela Tan

The plan is for the Thomson Line to connect eastwards from the Marina Bay area to the ERL. This too is part of the $60 billion the Government is investing over the next 10 years to expand and upgrade our rail network,'' Mr Lui said

Singapore's sixth MRT line, the Thomson Line, is expected to be built at an estimated cost of around $18 billion and should be ready from 2019 onwards instead of the indicative timeline of 2018.

Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport, said on Wednesday, that after extensive studies and detailed planning, the LTA has decided to make significant changes to the preliminary alignment and plans conceived for the Thomson Line when it launched the Land Transport Masterplan (LTMP) in 2008.

Mr Lui said the Thomson Line will now be 30 km long, 3 km longer than envisaged. There will be a total of 22 stations, 4 more than in the original plan.

It will be a 4-car system, instead of a 3-car system, to provide additional capacity to cope with any increase in long-term demand.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/breakin ... s-20120829

[tonylim]

SINGAPORE: The budget for constructing the Downtown Line rail network increased from S$12 billion to S$20.7 billion, mostly due to construction cost increases.


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ ... 32/1/.html

[kennynah]

makan money, i tell you !!

SINGAPORE: The budget for constructing the Downtown Line rail network increased from S$12 billion to S$20.7 billion, mostly due to construction cost increases.


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ ... 32/1/.html

[iam802]

Long way to go. Fix the basic issues first.

From Yahoo.

We received this picture of the scene at Raffles Place about 15 minutes ago from one of our readers. Announcements at City Hall are now instructing passengers to switch routes to take the Circle Line, and that delays are extended to 25 minutes. Commuters on the East-West Line, do avoid the trains!

[winston]

Land Transportation sector: Possibility of new entrant?

The LTA recently re-iterated the possibility of introducing competition in the bus services industry. However, as with before, we do not anticipate any changes to the operating landscape in the medium term unless the government decides how it wants to strike a balance between a freemarket and government assisted model.

For the near-term, the street is awaiting the recommendations from the fare review committee and has already factored in some level of
increase. That said, any further delays from this committee could lead to continued losses for both PTOs and even asset impairments for SMRT.

We downgrade the sector to NEUTRAL in light of this possibility but do not anticipate further deterioration in the share prices for both
ComfortDelgro and SMRT at this juncture.

Maintain our HOLD ratings on both SMRT [HOLD; FV:S$1.45] and ComfortDelgro [HOLD; FV:S$1.95] although we favour the latter for its more attractive overseas ventures.

Source: OCBC

[iam802]

Interesting point about not allowing food establishments in stations. I believe, this is too late now.

Operators like SMRT are now opiate to rental as income contribution.


--
From : Dr Tan Cheng Bock

We must ACT quick. 1st Aug 2012

Of late there have been numerous reports of the increasing rat population and some of the places mentioned were close to rail stations. This is worrying. Food waste is the main cause and if we are careless and leave unfinished food, disposed of carelessly, the problem will grow. It is not only unsightly to see rats running around but rat droppings, urine and rat bites can cause diseases like leptospirosis.

Hawker centres, food courts, dust bins, rubbish chutes collection places are but some of the places to pay special attention. No food on trains must be strictly enforced, and SMRT must disallow food outlets on their stations.

Sometime back l wrote on rats and the dangers these rodents posed when they get into our rail system. They eat the cables and cause short circuits and train delays
I repost my past posting on July 6th 2012.

A potential source of breakdown... Rats and MRT ( posted 6th July 2012)

One tip that the London Underground Operators gave LTA was not to have food at train stations. LTA took the advice and disallowed commuters to eat in the trains.

They have good reason. One of the frequent causes of breakdowns of their system was rats gnawing and biting the underground cables causing short circuits. Where there is food waste there will be rats.

I am surprised SMRT have allowed food establishments in their stations although eating in trains are not allowed. This is too close for comfort. In fact there should be no food outlets in MRT stations and the authorities should make sure that steps be taken to distance food outlets in shopping centres close to MRT stations.

Once rats find their way into our system we are going to have endless breakdowns. Lets prevent a potential source of breakdown

[iam802]

An article worth noting. Wonder if LTA will responds.

---

Was inferior composite wood used for MRT sleepers?

http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/08/05/wa ... -sleepers/

[tonylim]

Will the truth be revealed ?

[behappyalways]

Land Transport Master Plan 2013
http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en ... p2013.html

[iam802]

If you are driving, avoid Commonwealth (in the direction of the city)..2 lanes affected.

Having said that, this is not the first time. I recall sinkhole has been reported before.

Wonder if it is a maintenance issue?

--
Sinkhole forms on Commonwealth Avenue West

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sin ... 31994.html