Tan Kin Lian - Perspectives Improve the use of the Thomson East Coast line
The Thomson East Coast line cost $25 billion SGD. It is under utilized. During peak hours, the trains are not full. During the off peak hours, they are relatively empty.

Some reasoned that the MRT line is built in demand of future demands and will encourage the development of housing along the route.

I find this reasoning to be unconvincing.

I suggest that we can make better use of the TEL line now, and reduce the bus services that serve the catchment of the TEL line. This will reduce the operating cost of the public transport system.

The changes required are:
a) Have dedicated feeder services to connect the TEL station to the nearby residential areas and workplaces
b) Locate the bus stop closer to the TEL station, to reduce the walking distance.
c) Reduce the number of buses in the trunk services that serve the catchment of the TEL line.

I wish to quote one example that I am familiar with. There are several places in Yio Chu Kang Road that are served by the trunk services of 86, 163 and 70. Many commuters prefer to use these trunk services, as they are used to them, and they provide better connection to the workplace.

There is no convenient feeder service from Lentor station to these workplaces. Most commuters will find it more convenient to take the trunk services.

I suspect that there will be similar difficulty at other stations of the TEL line.

If the structural weaknesses are not addressed, most commuters will not use the TEL line. We cannot wait another 5 or 10 years for new housing estates to be developed to generate the demand for the TEL line. We should make better use of the TEL line now.

Tan Kin Lian
 

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