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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - MRT Record Profit to Sporns' Suffering!</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>makapa <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:12 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>23731.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>Ease woes of Sengkang West residents with full LRT services
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ with interest yesterday's report on the Government's plan not to allow completed train stations to remain closed in future ('No mothballing of MRT stations in future'). This will allow train services to serve the public, even if operators feel it is not economically viable.
Nevertheless, I hope to draw attention to the plight of Sengkang West residents who have been at the mercy of the train operator's decision not to allow LRT services to operate both ways on the Sengkang LRT line's west loop.
Currently, services on the west loop operates in one direction only. The residents' committee, of which I am a member, and other grassroots organisations in Sengkang have often lobbied and held talks with SBS Transit to have the LRT operate in both directions, but the reason is always that poor ridership does not justify the cost incurred.
SBS Transit has been gracious enough to add more services to the line. However, even with more services, during peak hours, residents often are crammed like sardines on the train, or they miss the train because they could not get on. Also, residents sometimes have to take a longer route to get to Sengkang Central.
The Government should make it compulsory that train operators operate full services. SBS Transit should be told to operate the Sengkang West LRT line fully.
Victor Zhuang
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ with interest yesterday's report on the Government's plan not to allow completed train stations to remain closed in future ('No mothballing of MRT stations in future'). This will allow train services to serve the public, even if operators feel it is not economically viable.
Nevertheless, I hope to draw attention to the plight of Sengkang West residents who have been at the mercy of the train operator's decision not to allow LRT services to operate both ways on the Sengkang LRT line's west loop.
Currently, services on the west loop operates in one direction only. The residents' committee, of which I am a member, and other grassroots organisations in Sengkang have often lobbied and held talks with SBS Transit to have the LRT operate in both directions, but the reason is always that poor ridership does not justify the cost incurred.
SBS Transit has been gracious enough to add more services to the line. However, even with more services, during peak hours, residents often are crammed like sardines on the train, or they miss the train because they could not get on. Also, residents sometimes have to take a longer route to get to Sengkang Central.
The Government should make it compulsory that train operators operate full services. SBS Transit should be told to operate the Sengkang West LRT line fully.
Victor Zhuang
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