Taipei MRT Vs Sg MRT
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like what littlespeck said, for Singaporeans who think theirs is the best in Asia outside Japan, think again.http://www.theedgesingapore.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1254%3Awhy-taipeis-mrt-trumps-singapores&catid=979%3Asunita-sue-leng&Itemid=54&showall=1
Why Taipei’s MRT trumps Singapore’s
Written by Sunita Sue Leng
Dec 30, 2008TAIPEI’S CITY Hall is so proud of its mass rapid transit (MRT) system that it runs a competition every year, asking people to send in poems about the MRT. I can see why.
The MRT is clean and comfortable (in addition to chewing gum, the nasty habit of betel chewing nut has been banned).
People queue up in a civilised fashion before boarding trains. And, when the doors open, they don’t barge in before passengers can exit.
Signs and announcements are in Chinese and English and all carriages have electronic displays showing which station is coming up next.
Every carriage has special seats for old folks, pregnant women or people with disabilities. I’ve never seen fit, young people pretending to be asleep in these seats.
However, the best part about Taipei’s MRT is its frequency.
According to Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC), the company that runs the system, trains arrive at two to four-minute intervals at peak hours. Off-peak, it is four to seven minutes.
In reality, it is much more frequent. I know because I’ve timed it. At peak hours, trains come as often as every minute.
As for off-peak hours? Well, I’ve never had to wait more than three or four minutes. As a result, even during the morning rush hour, the trains are never as packed as they are in Singapore.
TRTC has won praise not just locally but internationally. It has been ranked No 1 for reliability for four straight years (2004 to 2007), according to the Nova/CoMET International Railway Benchmarking Group (of which Singapore’s SMRT Corp is also part).
All this got me wondering just how TRTC is able to deliver such a world-class MRT service.
Perhaps, it doesn’t have to transport as many people as in the crowded Lion City? Perhaps, it’s government-owned and isn’t under pressure to make as much money as possible and can run more trains?
So, I pulled up some numbers (see table below). And the broad conclusion is that Taipei proves it is possible to offer a high-quality, high-frequency and affordable MRT service without losing money.
Tracking the MRTs
Singapore population: 4.6m
Length of MRT: 109.4km
No. of MRT stations: 66
No of MRT lines: five
Average daily ridership: 1.56m
Average ticket price: S$1.00
Average trip distance: 11.2km
Total passenger-trip distance
(passengers times km traveled) annually: 5,714.5km
Average daily train runs: Just over 1,000
Taipei population: 5.5m
Length of MRT: 74.7km
No. of MRT stations: 69
No of MRT lines: eight
Average daily ridership: 1.14m
Average ticket price: NT21.9 (S$1.00)
Average trip distance: 7.9km
Total passenger-trip distance
(passengers times km traveled) annually: 3,298.9km
Average daily train runs: 2,171
It also suggests that certain services, such as public transport, tend to function optimally as natural monopolies and ought not to be owned by companies that seek to maximise profits.
Let’s look first at the one common element between the two: the cost of taking a train.
Average ticket prices in Singapore and Taipei are about $1. This is pretty low by international
standards, as anyone who has had the misfortune to take the London Underground knows.
Singapore and Taipei are also pretty dense cities, but the latter packs more folks (5.5m of them) into a smaller area (272 sq km). In comparison, Singapore is home to 4.6m residents spread over some 692 sq km.
As such, in terms of coverage, Singapore’s network of five MRT lines is more extensive, totalling 109.4km, versus TRTC’s 74.4km network.
However, TRTC has more stations on its smaller network, which means less distance between stations and greater convenience for commuters.
More trains in Taipei
Just how many people take the MRT each day? In 2007, Singapore’s MRT moved an average of 1.56 million people a day. That’s just over a third more than what TRTC transported last year. So yes, TRTC’s network is smaller and it moves fewer people, which is one reason it feels les crowded.
However, what is illuminating is the difference in frequency. Last year, TRTC made an average of 2,171 train runs a day.
SMRT clocked in at just over 1,000 a day for its fiscal year ended March 2008. This is not strictly an apples-with-apples comparison.
SMRT’s system is older, has heavier loads and travels further than TRTC’s — factors which play role in how often trains can be run.
The comparison also doesn’t include data from SBS Transit, which runs the North- East Line. But, as SMRT accounts for more than four fifths of total MRT ridership, it is fairly representative of the whole picture.
Since February this year, SMRT has added about 900 extra train trips each week.
According to the company, on average, its train frequency during peak hours is between two and five minutes.
During off-peak hours, it is now between 3.5 and seven minutes. Given the existing signalling system and infrastructure, its average peak-hour frequency puts it among the top 20% of the world’s major metro operators, SMRT adds.
SMRT more profitable
Still, it’s safe to assume that its bumped-up frequency continues to lag TRTC’s. And this, to an extent, is reflected in SMRT’s bottom-line, which is much heftier than TRTC’s.
In FY2008, SMRT’s rail operations saw revenue of $436.9m. Earnings before interest and tax was $129.3m.
In comparison, TRTC saw approximately $415 million in fare revenue in 2007 and just $41.3m in pre-tax profit.
TRTC is 73.75% owned by the Taipei City Government. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications owns a further 17.14% while the Taipei County Government owns 8.75%.
Clearly, public-listed SMRT’s returns on its rail operations are far better for its shareholders than TRTC’s.
However, TRTC — which has been profitable every year except its first two — is better for its
commuters, who have been inspired to pen a poem or two in praise of their well-regarded metro.
(Sunita Sue Leng, previously an associate editor at The Edge Singapore, is now based in Taipei and writes on Greater China issues). -
yes.. taipei MRT in indeed good
but the human congestion in singapore is due to expensive cars.. when i mean expensive is REALLY expensive
in taiwan an average cost of SGD 392 dollars is needed for a month including oil, insurace instalment
in singapore u need at least 700-800dollars for a month without including oil!
(including instalment)
singaporeans all si bei kiasi..
if singaporeans were to be more paitence like taiwanese.. i can tell you is equally the same..
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Singaporeans rush into the train because there's not enough seats for everyone. If there are enough seats for everyone, such rushing wont happen.
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taiwanese are one poeple, we are different, we got PRC gals and guys, bangalas, Tamil nadu citizen, filipinos, mynamars, India, sri lankans, nepals, thais, malaysians, indonesians, teochew, nonya, hokkien, hakka, cantonese, malays, javaneses, buayansese, bugis, acehneses, north and south indians, mongolians, westerners and eurasians.
So how to be good if the chinese spitting on the lfoor, the indian smell the bangalas talk loud, the mynamars chew betel, the thai drunk, the filipinos talk no stop, the tamil fix at gals etc etc etc
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...and finally the singaporeans jumping into MRT.
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Originally posted by FirePig:
Singaporeans rush into the train because there's not enough seats for everyone. If there are enough seats for everyone, such rushing wont happen.
Not true. It's our behaviour and mentality. I sometimes need to force my way through the door (out of the train) when people at the certain station fighting and squirming their way through in order to snatch the last 2 or 3 seats available. How crude.Whereas, as compared to Taipei , i have been there and boarded their transport system. The people there just patiently yet steadily make their way into the train in an orderly manner.
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No Comment..
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Noted
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Originally posted by angel7030:
taiwanese are one poeple, we are different, we got PRC gals and guys, bangalas, Tamil nadu citizen, filipinos, mynamars, India, sri lankans, nepals, thais, malaysians, indonesians, teochew, nonya, hokkien, hakka, cantonese, malays, javaneses, buayansese, bugis, acehneses, north and south indians, mongolians, westerners and eurasians.
So how to be good if the chinese spitting on the lfoor, the indian smell the bangalas talk loud, the mynamars chew betel, the thai drunk, the filipinos talk no stop, the tamil fix at gals etc etc etc
U funny leh, u half taiwanese, you should know there are also other race residing in Taiwan.Different culture from different countries so people behave differently from singaporeans.
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Originally posted by Yomigaeru tsubasa:
Not true. It's our behaviour and mentality. I sometimes need to force my way through the door (out of the train) when people at the certain station fighting and squirming their way through in order to snatch the last 2 or 3 seats available. How crude.Whereas, as compared to Taipei , i have been there and boarded their transport system. The people there just patiently yet steadily make their way into the train in an orderly manner.
i think it is more because frequency is too not enough. If it is at 2 min interval there would be no need to push and rush. And why is the frequency so long? It basically boils down to the fact that MRT is a private company which definitely will try to maximize profits. -
Originally posted by pearlie27:
i think it is more because frequency is too not enough. If it is at 2 min interval there would be no need to push and rush. And why is the frequency so long? It basically boils down to the fact that MRT is a private company which definitely will try to maximize profits.The govt companies in Singapore are known as Pte Ltd just for wayang only. Basically nothing changes, it exists to serve the purpose of the PAP before the people. I was in a govt company with Pte Ltd in the name but it functions exactly like the government sector. Worst, charity in this organisation is forced, not voluntary ==> staff force to get donation card to collection donation for President's Challenge every year. The HR rold me over and over again that they are good citizens so follow whatever the govt do.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
The govt companies in Singapore are known as Pte Ltd just for wayang only. Basically nothing changes, it exists to serve the purpose of the PAP before the people. I was in a govt company with Pte Ltd in the name but it functions exactly like the government sector. Worst, charity in this organisation is forced, not voluntary ==> staff force to get donation card to collection donation for President's Challenge every year. The HR rold me over and over again that they are good citizens so follow whatever the govt do.
Of course we all know that. They call those companies pte ltd so that they have the pretext to maximize profits! -
Try india's train
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Originally posted by pearlie27:
Of course we all know that. They call those companies pte ltd so that they have the pretext to maximize profits!
frankly, we don't need businessmen to run the country. If they have in mind as profit making as their main motive of entering politics to run the country, they can jolly well go do business and spare us the pain. even during this serious financial crisis they have to go ahead to increase the rental and calling charge on Singtel residential phone line. evil! Hope these evils will be stuffed and suffocate by money and die. Let MM Lee be the first to go. -
Originally posted by Fantagf:
frankly, we don't need businessmen to run the country. If they have in mind as profit making as their main motive of entering politics to run the country, they can jolly well go do business and spare us the pain. even during this serious financial crisis they have to go ahead to increase the rental and calling charge on Singtel residential phone line. evil! Hope these evils will be stuffed and suffocate by money and die. Let MM Lee be the first to go.
There are many many more e.g. of their unconscionable acts. That is the trouble with govt that has been in absolute power for too long. Sigh.... -
Originally posted by pearlie27:
There are many many more e.g. of their unconscionable acts. That is the trouble with govt that has been in absolute power for too long. Sigh....
It is sad that singaporeans are not united to get rid of them. They may be ah bian of singapore. they are more sophisticated that ah bian.During this serious worldwide financial crisis, theirs is the only secure rice bowl in the world.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
It is sad that singaporeans are not united to get rid of them. They may be ah bian of singapore. they are more sophisticated that ah bian.During this serious worldwide financial crisis, theirs is the only secure rice bowl in the world.
It is difficult to get rid of them but we should try to rein their authoritarianism. -
Originally posted by pearlie27:
It is difficult to get rid of them but we should try to rein their authoritarianism.Not possible with the Lees around, especially that evil senile dictator. The best is to vote them out and never give them any chance to be in parliament or hold any MP's position lest they start they evil work again.
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Originally posted by Spikyorca:
Try india's train
Are you kidding me?
Let me re-iterate Singapore's statistics from TS's post:
Singapore population: 4.6m
Length of MRT: 109.4km
No. of MRT stations: 66
No of MRT lines: five
Average daily ridership: 1.56m
Average ticket price: S$1.00
Average trip distance: 11.2km
Total passenger-trip distance
(passengers times km traveled) annually: 5,714.5km
Average daily train runs: Just over 1,000And then India's
India population: 1billion
Length of Tracks: 63,332km
No. of MRT stations: 6,974
No of MRT lines: N.A.
Average daily ridership: 6billion annually & 350m tonnes of frieght annually. That is approximately 16.5m per day
Average ticket price: From $0.10 onwards to over USD 700 per night.
Average trip distance: Couldn't find stats or hard to calculate from what I have.
Total passenger-trip distance
(passengers times km traveled) annually: 534.4m
Average daily train runs: Couldn't find stats or hard to calculate from what I have.Total investment in 2005-06 was SGD 35.1 Billion. Approximately 30billion investment each fiscal year.
You need more info then go here:
http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/deptts/stat-eco/YB-05-06/key-statistics.pdf or here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_India
Still want to compare the two railways? Its like comparing a amoeba against a human being. :lol:
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Come on
I just want to say, no matter how many people, at least you still in the train not on the top of it.
No offence -
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Originally posted by angel7030:
taiwanese are one poeple, we are different, we got PRC gals and guys, bangalas, Tamil nadu citizen, filipinos, mynamars, India, sri lankans, nepals, thais, malaysians, indonesians, teochew, nonya, hokkien, hakka, cantonese, malays, javaneses, buayansese, bugis, acehneses, north and south indians, mongolians, westerners and eurasians.
So how to be good if the chinese spitting on the lfoor, the indian smell the bangalas talk loud, the mynamars chew betel, the thai drunk, the filipinos talk no stop, the tamil fix at gals etc etc etc
lol
u took the time to type out all the races
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Originally posted by Spikyorca:
Come on
I just want to say, no matter how many people, at least you still in the train not on the top of it.
No offenceNone taken.
You have to go there and travel and see la. Interstate travelling in trains in India is one of the best experiences you can have. Of course you don't travel on top of those trains. Your idea of travelling on top is seriously flawed mate. Thats more like stereotyping. I have travelled more then any of you on trains in India probably. Journeys lasting almost 62 hours and more.
I have yet to come across people who travel on the top :) Yes I have seen those pictures and yes they do happen but not for people like us. Those are extremely poor class. You go there and spend about 30SGD and u can travel in superb comfort with meals inclusive, power for your laptop and now even internet in the trains. Yep.. I am talking about long journeys here by the way.
For ladies, they have ladies only compartment for the extremely low class tickets and try getting into it and I am sure you will be beaten into pulp by the ladies themselves :p
I am going back for holidays to India next week and one of my prime attraction is my train travel :p Its the best and most memorable. Nothing like travelling in the mrt here which is overridden with kiasu people who only know how to rush into the trains and don't give seats up to more needy people. Always an unpleasent experience.
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Originally posted by gigabyte14:
lol
u took the time to type out all the races
Yeah and she managed to stereotype every race! Well Done! I am sure you are well embedded with Singaporean culture now.
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I like the trains itself only,.