Public transport companies get fined or something when they operate with more than certain percentage of downtime per year right? Well, if that is so, I think the SMRT are going to get a nice big bill soon if they continue to operate this way. I'm going to either win some lucky draw or 4D soon to compensate for my suay-ness. The Southbound train from Yishun was delayed for two consecutive days, I was on both!!! One can easily thought that it was one of the Ex Northstar kinda thingy again, ha ha. Thankfully, despite the hiccups of our trusty mass transport, I got to work in two hours on Monday (FYI, I don't work in Changi, Tuas, or Sentosa hor, okay its quite near Sentosa, ha ha).
During the first delay on Monday, the train rested for 15mins after leaving Khatib station, and started jogging along Lentor Ave for the next 15mins, then it stopped at YCK station but kept its doors shut for another 10mins, before the driver announced that the train was to terminate at YCK. Can you imagine the size of the crowd in the train, on the platform, and on the next train???
The familiar train/track fault annoucement came on shortly after leaving Bishan on Tuesday. I think its the "try/catch all Exceptions" kinda thing. Always train fault meh? But later on, the driver was kind enough to disclose the mystery behind the delay. There was an "oil spill" on the tracks along Dohby Ghaut station. My first reaction was, "Oil? I thought our trains are powered by electricity?". Then again am I wrong? My girlfriend said it could be a leak from oil used for lubricating parts of the train. Anyway, there were just delays of around 5mins at every station leading to City Hall. So I was busy pondering about the "oil spill" and did not get too agitated. But when I switched to the Westbound train, between Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar stations, there was another announcement of the train/track fault. Which 4 numbers should I buy for the weekend? Go for IBet also or not huh?
The truth was finally revealed in newspapers today, "Train delays not related, says SMRT". (So? Big Fat Hairy Deal. Zero correlation. Wow. World Peace.) The oil spill was from a locomotive sent out to do maintenance work during the night. But I have one question, locomotives are powered by mechanical or electrical energy, so where does the "oil" comes into the picture? Hmmmm... yes, hopefully someone can enlighten me.
Btw, Mr and Miss SMRT Administrators, if you are reading this, I suggest you put in place a set of SOP (Standard Order Procedures, sorry for the jargon lah, heh heh) for such events again. Announcements to the passengers at the stations will help alot, so that they can take alternative routes to work, instead of gathering on the platform (I was squeezed like sardines in the train and saw the huge crowd on the platform at YCK waiting to squeeze in, scary leh!!). When the trains are at the stations, please open the doors immediately, let the passengers decide whether to wait or continue their journeys by other means. Passengers appreciate it greatly when drivers announce the reasons for delay, rather than listening to pre-recorded standard message. Most Singaporeans depend on the trains to travel to work/school etc., please ensure such events will not occur again in future, at least not on two consecutive days, no matter related or not (how to explain to bosses and teachers? Trains everyday breakdown? Sure or not?). Okay, if you promise to not increase fare for the next ten years, or reduce the fare, we will tolerate if there will to be delays once a month. Afterall, no transport system is perfect, even if it is one of the so-called best in the world (But how come other countries can have trains that arrive at time so zun and at such high interval huh?). However, please spread these delays to different times of the day tho'. Else can tio bei beo already lah. Thank you very much!
During the first delay on Monday, the train rested for 15mins after leaving Khatib station, and started jogging along Lentor Ave for the next 15mins, then it stopped at YCK station but kept its doors shut for another 10mins, before the driver announced that the train was to terminate at YCK. Can you imagine the size of the crowd in the train, on the platform, and on the next train???
The familiar train/track fault annoucement came on shortly after leaving Bishan on Tuesday. I think its the "try/catch all Exceptions" kinda thing. Always train fault meh? But later on, the driver was kind enough to disclose the mystery behind the delay. There was an "oil spill" on the tracks along Dohby Ghaut station. My first reaction was, "Oil? I thought our trains are powered by electricity?". Then again am I wrong? My girlfriend said it could be a leak from oil used for lubricating parts of the train. Anyway, there were just delays of around 5mins at every station leading to City Hall. So I was busy pondering about the "oil spill" and did not get too agitated. But when I switched to the Westbound train, between Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar stations, there was another announcement of the train/track fault. Which 4 numbers should I buy for the weekend? Go for IBet also or not huh?
The truth was finally revealed in newspapers today, "Train delays not related, says SMRT". (So? Big Fat Hairy Deal. Zero correlation. Wow. World Peace.) The oil spill was from a locomotive sent out to do maintenance work during the night. But I have one question, locomotives are powered by mechanical or electrical energy, so where does the "oil" comes into the picture? Hmmmm... yes, hopefully someone can enlighten me.
Btw, Mr and Miss SMRT Administrators, if you are reading this, I suggest you put in place a set of SOP (Standard Order Procedures, sorry for the jargon lah, heh heh) for such events again. Announcements to the passengers at the stations will help alot, so that they can take alternative routes to work, instead of gathering on the platform (I was squeezed like sardines in the train and saw the huge crowd on the platform at YCK waiting to squeeze in, scary leh!!). When the trains are at the stations, please open the doors immediately, let the passengers decide whether to wait or continue their journeys by other means. Passengers appreciate it greatly when drivers announce the reasons for delay, rather than listening to pre-recorded standard message. Most Singaporeans depend on the trains to travel to work/school etc., please ensure such events will not occur again in future, at least not on two consecutive days, no matter related or not (how to explain to bosses and teachers? Trains everyday breakdown? Sure or not?). Okay, if you promise to not increase fare for the next ten years, or reduce the fare, we will tolerate if there will to be delays once a month. Afterall, no transport system is perfect, even if it is one of the so-called best in the world (But how come other countries can have trains that arrive at time so zun and at such high interval huh?). However, please spread these delays to different times of the day tho'. Else can tio bei beo already lah. Thank you very much!
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