SMRT BreakUp Quandry

[scroobal]

Good point about finding a suitable replacement.

No doubt she has helped rake in more money for shareholders during her tenure, but she was also duly paid for her work. To run a monopoly like SMRT, I believe finding someone who can produce equivalent, if not better, results than her shouldn't be that hard. While waiting to live through the remaining days/months in SMRT, she can only "aiwan" that she will forever be remembered as a screw-up lady who brought SMRT into a shit-hole.

 

[scroobal]

Neddy point about buses are needed to provide replacement services and quite an integral model overseas. Quite good point. I am actually more in lined with your view as they are struggle with everything except rental and advertising.

Dear Scroo If I was a shareholder, I would applaud the break up. For whatever reasons, SMRT as company is losing money on buses and taxis. Call it concentration on core engineering competency etc etc. Sell the taxi and bus business or Delgro in exchange for its MRT ops. Locke

 

[scroobal]

Haha! Excellent point. Let's him see his legacy crumble before his very eyes.

Are we glad that Old Fart is still alive to see all these failures from his own creations all falling apart?Look like he was forecasting more failures of his creations coming apart one by one in the past 5 years as MM.Next disaster like a big earthquake will shatter Singapore into pieces which was built on reclaimed lands. All fakes will not survive ....... hehehe

 

[scroobal]

All good points and clearly these are the issues that need to be addressed. The singularly important point that you raised is that there is currently no incentive to do anything. As Windor stated, LTA should not be forgotten for their part in this mess.

Starkly, the incentive is missing given the local context. The fault also lies with the overly meek PTC who is suppose to regulate the sector - how did they get away with nice report that passengers are increasingly satisfied with service providers every half a year is beyond everyone's comprehension. Definitely, the governing body (or policing body)needs to be revamped and more policing & stricter KPI needs to be in place. From layman's point of view, the cause of train breakdown (barring any more fresh details being scripted), seems to be preventable via stringent maintenance checks.You may have a commercially-driven CEO, how about the Chief of Operations / Equipment or the COO equivalent? He is answerable as well in this case. If Saw is to be spared the noose, then the BOI will then place the COO on the sacrificial plate.

 

[scroobal]

Overloading is part and parcel of all subway systems. Both The London Underground and the Japanese system known for it. It's is something that has been accepted as peak volumes are difficult to manage without expensive infrastructure. What however is not acceptable is the lack of investment in signalling that would have allowed trains arriving and leaving every 1 to 2 minutes during peak load which all of them can handle but not us.

The other is the safety issue. The crowd milling around at Jurong East is unacceptable. Subways in other countries will close barriers when numbers exceed platform capacity. Then you have the massive failures in communication and incident management. Totally not acceptable. Especially when Singaporeans are trained for NS and this should be second nature. The principles are similar.

something about overloading bugs me a lil', isn't there a maximum carrying load for buses, taxis, and the MRT?i suspect only taxis uncles adhere strictly to that rule whilst the buses & MRT seemed to be overloaded.i do remember myself stating in the old Delphi that sardines had more dignity, yet this Saw stated that commuters can choose to board the already crowded carriage or not. not forgetting that PTC approved the request to increase their fares despite growing profits reported by SMRT. Sinkies are fucked.

 

[Windsor]

If we look at the other transport provider - notably SIA, where they have more incentive to improve & toe the line regarding FTA & IATA regulations - they cannot afford to cut corners / make quick shortcuts regarding service / maintenance else they risk having their landing rights stripped or planes inpounded (like Tiger found out recently).

I think you meant Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which are the 2 main regulators of the aviation industry. This industry has so many regulatory bodies that we get mired as to which ones are relevant to a particular airline. But the 2 mentioned are the most important ones including IATA. Every country has their local version of CAAS. FTA is not required for airlines.

 

[aurvandil]

Check out the following statement issued by the Board of SMRT. In particular, note the unusual phrasing of the sentance underlined in bold.

Although Mr Ong Ye Kung CMI in GE 2011, it looks like his star is rising nevertheless. Good chance he will follow the footsteps of ex-Minister Mah Bow Tan who made it to Minister post haste despite losing to Mr Chiam.

Minister Lui who is currently running Transport should take note of Mr Ong. If he does well in the inquiry, Mr Ong might just become the next Minister of Transport.


http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/ong-ye-kung-to-head-smrts-investigation-team/

The Board of SMRT apologises to the travelling public for service disruptions in the past week.

We acknowledge the disruptions to our train service last week were of an unprecedented scale since SMRT started operating the service 24 years ago.

The Board’s priority is the safety of our commuters and reliability of our system, and to ensure that management is adequately resourced and maintenance not compromised.

Our immediate focus is to do everything necessary to regain the confidence of our commuters and the public by ensuring safe, reliable operations and improved communications processes.

SMRT will work closely with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to restore service levels as quickly as possible without compromising the safety of our system. The Board has full confidence in the technical competence of our professional team in managing and maintaining our train system.

The Prime Minister has said the government will be appointing a Committee of Inquiry (COI). SMRT will assist the COI in whatever ways we may be called upon to do. The CEO whom the Board holds accountable for the proper management of SMRT, and her team, will have to play an important role in this.

The Board takes the recent disruptions very seriously and has appointed Mr Ong Ye Kung, an independent Director of SMRT, to head an investigation team comprising external experts and internal resources to conduct the investigation into the root causes of the disruptions, adequacy of our emergency response and the required remedial actions. This is an internal investigation separate from the COI and the team will report to the Board. Where issues are identified that require action, the Board will take that action. And we will share the results of our internal investigation with the COI.

The disruptions last week have shown we need to improve on our emergency response and management procedures, as well as how we communicate with commuters and the public in an incident of this scale. We hear the public’s concern in this regard. We will move quickly to implement learning points that have come out of these disruptions.

Some immediate actions and improvements have already been taken, but we acknowledge more needs to be done, and we will do so.

 

[Varuna]

I think you meant Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which are the 2 main regulators of the aviation industry. This industry has so many regulatory bodies that we get mired as to which ones are relevant to a particular airline. But the 2 mentioned are the most important ones including IATA. Every country has their local version of CAAS. FTA is not required for airlines.

That's the difference, FAA has power and no airlines want to mess around with it. If a new directive or compliance comes down, any airline that values its rice bowl and reputation will scramble to comply, especially if it is technical and concern safety. When LTA and SMRT gets too close, they need a crisis to wake up. The culture here, especially civil servant, shrinks balls and discourage individual to speak up against bosses. So we have CEO and her men, always ready to swing to her side and make her job cushy and effortless. It was then, it is still so now.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

The other is the safety issue. The crowd milling around at Jurong East is unacceptable. Subways in other countries will close barriers when numbers exceed platform capacity. Then you have the massive failures in communication and incident management. Totally not acceptable. Especially when Singaporeans are trained for NS and this should be second nature. The principles are similar.

The jurong situation is one of the most infuriating. Its been going on for years, but only recently was additional platforms created. Extremely bad and absolutely no initiative, no forward planning.

When shanmugam said SMRT is responsible for safety and onus is on them alone, I was shocked. You can delegate authority but not responsibility. As far as SMRT is concerned, safety and perimeter security must be closely monitored by the relevant govt agencies because the infrastructure is nationwide. This is not suntec city where onus is on the estate managers.

 

[scroobal]

Double whammy for the lady. She announced that she will personally led the investigation and that evening, the Govt announced a public inquiry and now SMRT is conducting its own investigation without her. Good luck. Ong's appointment shows how politically sensitive this is.

The Prime Minister has said the government will be appointing a Committee of Inquiry (COI). SMRT will assist the COI in whatever ways we may be called upon to do. The CEO whom the Board holds accountable for the proper management of SMRT, and her team, will have to play an important role in this.

The Board takes the recent disruptions very seriously and has appointed Mr Ong Ye Kung, an independent Director of SMRT, to head an investigation team comprising external experts and internal resources to conduct the investigation into the root causes of the disruptions, adequacy of our emergency response and the required remedial actions. This is an internal investigation separate from the COI and the team will report to the Board. Where issues are identified that require action, the Board will take that action. And we will share the results of our internal investigation with the COI.

The disruptions last week have shown we need to improve on our emergency response and management procedures, as well as how we communicate with commuters and the public in an incident of this scale. We hear the public’s concern in this regard. We will move quickly to implement learning points that have come out of these disruptions.

Some immediate actions and improvements have already been taken, but we acknowledge more needs to be done, and we will do so.

 

[scroobal]

Years ago I kept hearing about people complaining about Jurong East. About 3 years ago, I went to see it for myself and was shocked. People were just behind the yellow line. No crowd control at all. For some reason there was no template so nothing was done. No one in SMRT felt it important to do anything.

The jurong situation is one of the most infuriating. Its been going on for years, but only recently was additional platforms created. Extremely bad and absolutely no initiative, no forward planning.

When shanmugam said SMRT is responsible for safety and onus is on them alone, I was shocked. You can delegate authority but not responsibility. As far as SMRT is concerned, safety and perimeter security must be closely monitored by the relevant govt agencies because the infrastructure is nationwide. This is not suntec city where onus is on the estate managers.

 

[SalahParking]

They should have a separate entity to look after the engineering of trains just like SIA has an engineering company. The infrastructure should go back to the goverment. The operator should just bid on short term contracts and pay rent. Cut off the damn buses and taxis, its embarassing.

 

[Windsor]

Seriously, this shows the weakness of the SMRT management. Absolute chaos and utter lack of procedures in a crisis. To allow the flashing of messages to their taxi drivers to the lack of communication and improper instructions to bus drivers who lost their way.

Should this also be the template throughout all other government and government-linked bodies, Singaporeans have been shortchanged, paying top dollar to all these so-called management gurus. The best part is, hardly anyone will be held accountable. Look at MBT, Raymond Lim and Dr Ng Eng Hen, who left their ministries that are causing today's problems? They are now enjoying themselves in less troubled areas and probably after leaving, we might yet find these areas in a mess for others to take the blame.

 

[aurvandil]

Ong's appointment shows how politically sensitive this is.

No matter how they play it, this incident is going to leave a permanent scar. Even if the trains don't break down, they are still going to be massively overcrowded. Every day the thousands who have to ensure an uncomfortable MRT ride are reminded of the PAP's policy failures.

The next flash point for the SMRT saga will be when the public learns of just how much SMRT has paid to CEO Saw and her team in terms of bonus. These were paid out prior to the breakdown.

If the woman and her team have any sense or decency, they will return the money and give it out to rank and file SMRT staff who are working 14 to 18 hours a day to repair the system keep it running over the holiday period.

 

[captainxerox]

The next flash point for the SMRT saga will be when the public learns of just how much SMRT has paid to CEO Saw and her team in terms of bonus. These were paid out prior to the breakdown.

how much would that bonus be? she earns $2 million a year i think and that alone is enough to make the man on the street furious (that said, almost any amount makes the man on the street furious)

 

[aurvandil]

how much would that bonus be?

Should be around S$ 1 million based on last year's payout.

 

[TracyTan866]

Years ago I kept hearing about people complaining about Jurong East. About 3 years ago, I went to see it for myself and was shocked. People were just behind the yellow line. No crowd control at all. For some reason there was no template so nothing was done. No one in SMRT felt it important to do anything.

It shows that safety of commuters is not a priority to SMRT management.

 

[po2wq]

Years ago I kept hearing about people complaining about Jurong East. About 3 years ago, I went to see it for myself and was shocked. People were just behind the yellow line. No crowd control at all. For some reason there was no template so nothing was done. No one in SMRT felt it important to do anything.

ah sor nids time 2 tink how 2 make mor profits 4 smrt ...

ze prob was left 2 solf by itself wat! ... now, no mor comprains ... no mor prob! ...

 

[red amoeba]

I think you meant Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which are the 2 main regulators of the aviation industry. This industry has so many regulatory bodies that we get mired as to which ones are relevant to a particular airline. But the 2 mentioned are the most important ones including IATA. Every country has their local version of CAAS. FTA is not required for airlines.

yes, FTA...IATA.

no one gives a fuck to CAAS once the plane withdraws its wheels because you are outside Singapore airspace.

IATA is the international governing body which CAAS is a subset of.

 

[red amoeba]

They should have a separate entity to look after the engineering of trains just like SIA has an engineering company. The infrastructure should go back to the goverment. The operator should just bid on short term contracts and pay rent. Cut off the damn buses and taxis, its embarassing.

like viacom (viacon)?