The Problem…
“With regards to SMRT added 1,110 train rides per week, we should note that these additional train rides were gradually added over the last two and a half years or so. Moreover, 1,110 train rides per week may mean an average of about 159 train rides per day. If the average train ride carries about 1,000 passengers, the increase in capacity per day may only be about 159,000.“
“Sometimes, a few trains come one after the other in one- or two-minute gaps, after which there is a longer gap of three to five minutes before the next train arrives. Because of this unequal frequency, the last trains in the first batch have fewer passengers, while the first trains in the next batch are overly crowded. It would be useful if the frequency of services was adjusted so every train carries an optimum commuter load.
I (writer) also think that the number of grab-poles in the carriages is minimal – there is one row on either side or just one row in the middle. I do not know if this is one reason why passengers often choose to stay near the doors. To make people move towards the centre, more grab-pole rows may be required.“
- Crowd congestions at MRT platforms – may lead to potential safety hazards
- Overcrowding and squeezing in trains, leading to uncomfortable experiences
- Heavily packed trains occurring especially during peak hours, and most people would gather around the area in which they came up from, or towards the area in which there would be a nearby escalator at their destinations.
- Peak Hours – Working/ Schooling hours. According to SMRT, Monday to Friday, between 8 to 9 am and 5.15 to 6.30 pm, Saturday, between 8.15 to 9 am and 1 to 2.30 pm.
- Notably a higher level of congestion at platforms such as Jurong East, City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut etc…or at most stations where it is easier to switch lines.
- Long and infrequent train intervals.
Current Solutions
- Cabins with no seats, more spacious, supposedly easier to board and alight
- More trains during peak hours
Other Solutions
- Dispatching of more trains at higher frequencies, especially during peak hours
- Reduce waiting duration
- Enable removable seats for more space
- Instead of 6 – 8 minutes interval, reduce it to 1 min (eg, Hong Kong)
- Extension of peak hour timings
