<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Train trips increased on weekends to meet demand
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Ms Chua Lee Huang's Forum Online feedback, 'Why can't SMRT make train journeys pleasant on weekends?' (June 18).
We would like to clarify that since June last year, SMRT has increased train trips to enhance commuters' travel experience on weekends. Up to 65 train trips were added on Sundays last year. Since February, another 32 train trips were added on Sunday afternoons and evenings. With these train service enhancements, we have reduced average train loads to below 1,000 on Sundays. Waiting time has also been shortened by up to two minutes, compared to the average frequency of seven minutes on weekends, which are off-peak periods.
As for the use of modified trains with fewer seats on weekend train service, these trains have just 30 per cent of their seats removed, so all train cabins will continue to have seats for passengers who need them. These trains constitute 10 per cent of SMRT's fleet of trains. As far as possible, we have ensured that these trains do not run consecutively at any platform, so commuters who wish to avoid these trains can choose to take the next one.
We hope this clarifies the matter and thank Ms Chua for her feedback.
Bernadette Low (Ms)
Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications
SMRT Corporation
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Ms Chua Lee Huang's Forum Online feedback, 'Why can't SMRT make train journeys pleasant on weekends?' (June 18).
We would like to clarify that since June last year, SMRT has increased train trips to enhance commuters' travel experience on weekends. Up to 65 train trips were added on Sundays last year. Since February, another 32 train trips were added on Sunday afternoons and evenings. With these train service enhancements, we have reduced average train loads to below 1,000 on Sundays. Waiting time has also been shortened by up to two minutes, compared to the average frequency of seven minutes on weekends, which are off-peak periods.
As for the use of modified trains with fewer seats on weekend train service, these trains have just 30 per cent of their seats removed, so all train cabins will continue to have seats for passengers who need them. These trains constitute 10 per cent of SMRT's fleet of trains. As far as possible, we have ensured that these trains do not run consecutively at any platform, so commuters who wish to avoid these trains can choose to take the next one.
We hope this clarifies the matter and thank Ms Chua for her feedback.
Bernadette Low (Ms)
Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications
SMRT Corporation
Liar Liar pants on fire
