Don't delay opening of Woodleigh station

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Don't delay opening of Woodleigh station
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM glad Transport Minister Raymond Lim has said that completed MRT stations will open as soon as trains start rolling ('No mothballing of MRT stations in future', Monday). But what about Woodleigh station on the North East Line (NEL)?
Unlike SMRT, SBS Transit seems to put profitability before commuters' convenience. The company withdrew several bus services plying Upper Serangoon, calling the move 'rationalisation'. At the same time, it refused to open Woodleigh station.
To get to Orchard Road, I now have to take a bus to Potong Pasir MRT, get on the NEL to Dhoby Ghaut, and then change to the North-South Line.
While ridership has more than doubled on the NEL, SBS still insists on keeping Woodleigh station shut. It is frustrating to walk past an operationally ready station that has remained closed for the past six years.
I rode on the Circle Line yesterday and realised that I could reach Bishan in six minutes - but only if Woodleigh was open.
I appeal to SBS not to delay opening Woodleigh station any longer.
Fang Mei Ling (Ms)

 

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=heading>Latest comments</TD></TR><TR><TD id=messageDisplayRegion width="100%"><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=Post cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Originally it was stated in the Straits Times that Woodleigh MRT will open but Potong Pasir and Buangkok MRT will close. Perhaps it was ST mistake. Somehow after a lot of lobbing by Mr Chiam, Potong Pasir MRT opened but Woodleigh MRT become close. The reason cited was that they would suffer a lost of $2million per year if they operate Woodleigh MRT. Think about it, if 3 downtown MRT stations can be constructed at $670 million, equivalent to about $223million to construct one. If they construct less one MRT and invest the $223 million in Temasek bond that gives 4.5%, they can pay for the $2million operating costs of Woodleigh and still make a profit of $8million yearly. So it makes more sense to open Woodleigh than to construct a new station. Feeder service to Joo Koon will bring in more riders. They can probably collect about $100K more in property tax from the condos there and nearby properties. Land price will also add to government coffers.
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: thinkingloud at Wed Nov 04 19:25:44 SGT 2009
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=AlternatePost cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>the_ultimate,
dun forget all the folks at joo seng...it's a pain (not to mention additional costs) to take the bus to upper serangoon 7 stops away to take the train then 3 stops to woodleigh.
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: clang123 at Wed Nov 04 14:31:55 SGT 2009
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