Land Transport Authority Make better use of the LRT system
We have three LRT systems - in Sengkang, Punggol and Bukit Panjang. The trains runs every 2 to 3 minutes during peak hours and every 5 to 7 minutes during off peak hours.

I think the systems are under utilized. We should increase the capacity by 2 to 3 times. 

Here are my reasons. 

1.  A large part of the cost of the LRT system is in building the elevated structure to carry the tracks and the stations for passengers to board and alight from the train.

2.  It is quite wasteful that this large capital cost is not fully utilized when we do not provide sufficient trains to make full use of the system.

3. There is a train every 2 to 3 minutes during the peak hours. It should be possible to have two trains stopping by a LRT station every minute. In a busy bus stop, there will be more than five buses that stop by the station

4.  At present, the LRT train has only two cabins, as this is limited by the length of the station. We can keep to this structure, but we should make the trains appear more frequently.

5. Some passengers observed that the LRT trains are unreliable and break down frequently. Why can't we have robust and reliable trains that do not break down? The cost of the train should be less than the cost of a bus. If we can expand the buses by a few thousand, surely we can buy more reliable trains?

6.  The LRT train is driverless. Each bus needs a driver. It is more cost effective to have more passengers use the train, rather than the buses.

7.  Passengers probably find it more convenient to use the bus. But this adds to traffic congestion during the bus hours. It is also more costly to operate buses, as a driver is required. 

8.  It is more efficient to get passengers to use the LRT trains, rather than buses. We need to reduce the buses, and increase the frequency and capacity of the trains to get more people to use it.

9. There will be some parts of the towns that are not conveniently served by the LRT trains. They can still rely on buses. However, for the parts of the town that are conveniently served by the LRT system, the number of buses should be reduced.

I hope that these points will be considered by LTA to make better use of our LRT system. It will reduce the cost of public transport. It will even be more convenient for commuters. 

Tan Kin Lian

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