Public transport fares will increase by 6 cents in December. This will represent an increase of 4% for a typical fare of $1.50. It is a large increase.
One reason put forward is the increase in capacity. This means more trains and buses are put into operations.
It is time for the Land Transport Authority to study the data and publish the average occupancy rate for each service and time period of the day.
Are we running too many buses and trains that are relatively empty. Are there services that are too packed?
Can the frequency be changed to improve the efficiency?
This website shows an example of how the data can be analyzed. I am using simulated data to generate the report. The real data can be obtained from the database of the Land Transport Authority.
http://tklcloud.com/Bus/show_occup.aspx
I developed this website to show to the LTA and also visited their office. However, they do not seem to be interested.
I suspect that we are building too many MRT lines and that some of the lines will not be adequately used. Each MRT line cost several tens of billions dollars. Are we spending too much? Is the public being asked to pay for the costly operations through fare increases?
I support the development of a more complete network of trains, but I urge that the spending should be better controlled. We should not be spending too much money to build the lines.
There is another area for optimization. Currently, we operate 350 bus services connecting various parts of Singapore.
This network of services is quite complicated. Some commuters will know how to use a mobile app to take advantage of the services. But many commuters do not know how this can be done.
I believe that the bus services can be improved by reorganizing them to have express services that run on the expressways and connect one town to another. Feeder services can bring the commuters within the town and the nearby areas.
Under this structure, we only need 40 to 60 express services and maybe 100 to 150 feeder services. This new structure will reduce the travel time by 30% (my estimate) and also makes it easier to increase the occupancy of the buses. It will result in lower cost of operations.
We can improve our public transport system and reduce the cost of operations.
Tan Kin Lian
One reason put forward is the increase in capacity. This means more trains and buses are put into operations.
It is time for the Land Transport Authority to study the data and publish the average occupancy rate for each service and time period of the day.
Are we running too many buses and trains that are relatively empty. Are there services that are too packed?
Can the frequency be changed to improve the efficiency?
This website shows an example of how the data can be analyzed. I am using simulated data to generate the report. The real data can be obtained from the database of the Land Transport Authority.
http://tklcloud.com/Bus/show_occup.aspx
I developed this website to show to the LTA and also visited their office. However, they do not seem to be interested.
I suspect that we are building too many MRT lines and that some of the lines will not be adequately used. Each MRT line cost several tens of billions dollars. Are we spending too much? Is the public being asked to pay for the costly operations through fare increases?
I support the development of a more complete network of trains, but I urge that the spending should be better controlled. We should not be spending too much money to build the lines.
There is another area for optimization. Currently, we operate 350 bus services connecting various parts of Singapore.
This network of services is quite complicated. Some commuters will know how to use a mobile app to take advantage of the services. But many commuters do not know how this can be done.
I believe that the bus services can be improved by reorganizing them to have express services that run on the expressways and connect one town to another. Feeder services can bring the commuters within the town and the nearby areas.
Under this structure, we only need 40 to 60 express services and maybe 100 to 150 feeder services. This new structure will reduce the travel time by 30% (my estimate) and also makes it easier to increase the occupancy of the buses. It will result in lower cost of operations.
We can improve our public transport system and reduce the cost of operations.
Tan Kin Lian
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