Press Releases In 2009
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Renewed calls for public transport subsidies for the disabled
SINGAPORE: Singapore's disabled can now travel on buses more conveniently as SBS Transit rolls out eight new wheelchair accessible bus services to commemorate World Disability Day on Thursday.
The services are numbers 13, 15, 36, 52, 54, 57, 291 and 333.
The move will bring the total number of wheelchair accessible bus (WAB) services introduced this year to 16.
In total, SBS Transit will have 38 WAB services running on the roads.
It said ridership on its services by passengers-in-wheelchairs has increased steadily.
In November, close to 1,000 trips were made by passengers-in-wheelchairs on 30 wheelchair accessible bus services, and the company said it is expecting the numbers to grow as more WAB services continue to be rolled out.
A passenger who benefits from the WAB services is Hong Kai Siong, who suffered a stroke three years ago. His family said they are happy the service is affordable.
"Taking taxi is very expensive, I find taking bus is very convenient, said Mabel Tan, his caregiver. "(We) will take buses that have handicap logo."
However, disability group "CAN!" said providing such accessibility is not enough, and members are renewing calls for public transport subsidies for the disabled as they say not everyone can afford the fares.
Its coordinator Reena Rajeswari, who is visually impaired, has been pushing for transport subsidies for a decade now, so that the disabled community can travel without financial worries.
"I realise there are many disabled people who are not willing to come out because of insufficient funds for transport," she said.
The group held a two-week campaign to petition for their cause in May.
Nearly 400 signatures were collected but the group claimed it has not been easy to hand over the petition to the relevant authorities.
CAN! said it will continue to petition for a subsidy similar to that given to senior citizens, but without the restricted hours.
When contacted, the Public Transport Council said it does not administer any form of subsidy, but both SBS Transit and SMRT said they are exploring the possibility of concessionary travel for the disabled.
SMRT said that any concessionary travel is effectively cross-subsidised by full-fare paying commuters. Hence, there is a need to exercise prudence in granting travel concessions.
The public has been mostly receptive of the idea of subsidised fares for the disabled.
"There should be some benefits for them, looking at circumstances, some of them don't work, they can’t get work," said a commuter. "People need to be educated, like in England, you actually have a disabled badge and only those people get free access on the public transport and on MRT... and even free parking."
"I believe there should not be subsidies but more so giving them facilities to help them get around conveniently," said another member of the public.
The Public Transport Council said there are agencies which provide transport help, specifically for the disabled to get around conveniently.
The National Council of Social Service, for example, administers the Land Transport Authority's Cares Fund, which provides reimbursements to disabled persons for journeys to-and-fro home for employment or schooling purposes.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1022256/1/.html
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Change in Service Information Plates
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/download/155_Poster-Final-031209.pdf
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What's the point of putting a sign with just a number in either red or white for services with KUBs (currently, only svc 60)? Regular commuters might be used to using colours to tell where the bus is going, but not for commuters who just happen to be visiting the area.
IMHO, the sign should either display the destination of the service clearly, or the alternative is not to use the signs at all and force people to rely on the EDS to determine the direction of the service.
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Originally posted by supremebull:
What's the point of putting a sign with just a number in either red or white for services with KUBs (currently, only svc 60)? Regular commuters might be used to using colours to tell where the bus is going, but not for commuters who just happen to be visiting the area.
IMHO, the sign should either display the destination of the service clearly, or the alternative is not to use the signs at all and force people to rely on the EDS to determine the direction of the service.
they should display the destination just like Sv170 do. also programme the side EDS to show the destination as well.
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Originally posted by lemon1974:
they should display the destination just like Sv170 do. also programme the side EDS to show the destination as well.
The problem is those idiots in SBST don't seem to be able to get a proper EDS done. They should have continued on with the format Tridents are using right now instead of using an insipid arrow in front and having the side desto showing a cycle which non-regular passengers wouldn't know how it starts or end, especially for the feeders.
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Festive cheer at City Hall MRT Station as SMRT gives away first 6-month free travel for two in Ride Free with SMRT
http://www.smrt.com.sg/Upload/200912715553963840.pdf
SMRT Challenge debuts on national television (Tonight, 8pm!)
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SMRT Relocation of Boon Lay Int poster out.
From 27/12/09, Svcs 172/178/180/187 all extended to serve Boon Lay Way > Jurong West St 64 to Boon Lay Int & vice versa. They will also called at an additional pair of bus stops(Blk 662D/Opp Blk 662D) along Jurong West St 64
Skip that heavily use Jurong West Ctrl 2/3 junction when the AC Boon Lay Int opens on 27/12/09.
PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THIS MSG WHEN THE OFFICIAL SMRT PRESS RELEASE IS OUT. THANK U!
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Originally posted by brotherchen1982:
SMRT Relocation of Boon Lay Int poster out.
From 27/12/09, Svcs 172/178/180/187 all extended to serve Boon Lay Way > Jurong West St 64 to Boon Lay Int & vice versa. They will also called at an additional pair of bus stops(Blk 662D/Opp Blk 662D) along Jurong West St 64
New route = fare stage increase = paying more...
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not necessarily increase fare stages..
but when the temp AMK int opened last time, farestages increased by 0.5 to 1.0 (but returned to the old ones when the new int re-opened) -
Relocation of Boon Lay Bus Interchange with effect from 27 December 2009
http://www.smrt.com.sg/buses/documents/Relocation_of_Boon_Lay_Interchange.pdf
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EB88 will cease operations on the 1st of Jaunary 2010.
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Time to say 'bye-bye' to TV Mobile...
MediaCorp to discontinue TV Mobile from next year:
SINGAPORE: MediaCorp will discontinue TV Mobile, the free-to-air mobile digital television broadcast service, next year.
MediaCorp said in a statement released on Tuesday that it has decided to terminate the service upon expiry of its current agreement with SBS Transit on January 1.
The company said the discontinuation comes after a careful evaluation of the viability of the service, as resources required to operate and maintain TV Mobile are substantial.
When the service was launched in 2001, it was the only platform in Singapore that offered digital content to public commuters.
MediaCorp said it will re-deploy all TV Mobile staff to other operations within the company.
- CNA/ybhttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1024864/1/.html
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Originally posted by sbst272:
Time to say 'bye-bye' to TV Mobile...
MediaCorp to discontinue TV Mobile from next year:
SINGAPORE: MediaCorp will discontinue TV Mobile, the free-to-air mobile digital television broadcast service, next year.
MediaCorp said in a statement released on Tuesday that it has decided to terminate the service upon expiry of its current agreement with SBS Transit on January 1.
The company said the discontinuation comes after a careful evaluation of the viability of the service, as resources required to operate and maintain TV Mobile are substantial.
When the service was launched in 2001, it was the only platform in Singapore that offered digital content to public commuters.
MediaCorp said it will re-deploy all TV Mobile staff to other operations within the company.
- CNA/ybhttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1024864/1/.html
oh, no more news to watch in the morning..
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Sengkang LRT West Loop will run in both directions during weekday peak hours.
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/download/SK_West_Loop_Peak_Hours.pdf -
Temporary route diversion for SMRT Bus Services 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700A, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR6, NR7 & NR8 from 25th December 2009 (1pm) to 26th December 2009 (1am)
http://www.smrt.com.sg/buses/documents/services_updates/CCIS%202009.pdf
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De-Staggering of bus stop along Connaught Drive
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/download/De-staggering_of_bus_stops_along_Connaught_Drive_271209.pdf
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Bus and Train Services During Year-End Festive Season
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Temporary bus route diversion for Marina Bay Countdown 2009/10, from 31 December 2009 (5pm) to 01 January 2010 (2am)
http://www.smrt.com.sg/buses/documents/services_updates/MBSC_2009.pdf
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Boon Lay Bus Int Relocation (SBST)
woah , claims to be the
First and Largest Air-conditioned Bus Interchange to open in the Westhttp://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/2009-12-25-01-S.aspx
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/NR_New_BL_Bus_Interchange.pdf
wow.. haha
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Originally posted by SBS BUSES LOVER:
Boon Lay Bus Int Relocation (SBST)
woah , claims to be the
First and Largest Air-conditioned Bus Interchange to open in the Westhttp://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/2009-12-25-01-S.aspx
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/NR_New_BL_Bus_Interchange.pdf
wow.. haha
First and Largest Air-conditioned Bus Interchange to open in the West
Come Sunday, 27 December 2009, residents living in Boon Lay will be able to wait for buses in air-conditioned comfort.
The Boon Lay Interchange, which is situated along Jurong West Central 3, will open its doors to commuters this weekend. Integrated with the Jurong Point retail mall, the new facility will take commuting to a whole new level as residents can shop, dine and hop on a bus under one roof!
Located a stone’s throw away from the current interchange, the new facility will also rank as Singapore’s busiest interchange – with 30 bus services operating from its berths. Three services – Services 179, 179A and 199 – will continue to run from the current interchange for the time being due to their heavy passenger volumes. They will gradually be moved to the new interchange.
At its full capacity, this new 20,000 square metres Boon Lay bus interchange – which is the largest air-conditioned interchange – is expected to have an average daily passenger boarding of 55,000 on weekdays.
Similar to the first three air-conditioned bus interchanges in Toa Payoh, Sengkang and Ang Mo Kio, the new Boon Lay bus interchange is also equipped with automatic sliding doors for the convenience and safety of passengers.
To optimise traffic flow within the interchange and along peripheral roads, the 30 bus services have been carefully allocated to their respective berths. SBS Transit’s bus services calling at Berths 1 to 6 will make a left turn when exiting from the interchange and on their return journey, conduct a right turn entry into the interchange. On the other hand, services serving Berths 7 to 17 will perform a right turn when leaving the interchange and on their return, make a left turn entry into the interchange.
As a result of this, the routes of eight services – Services 182, 182M, 194, 199, 240, 242, 254 and 405 – will be amended with some of these services calling at additional bus stops and by passing others along the amended routes. Due to the close proximity to the new interchange, the bus stop along Jurong West Central 3 (Bus Stop 22581, opposite Jurong Point) will be removed and seven services – Services 157, 174, 174e, 198, 199, 242 and 405 – will cease to stop there with effect from Sunday, 27 December 2009.
With the opening of this new interchange, additional staff will be deployed in the first few days of operation to assist passengers.
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/NR_New_BL_Bus_Interchange.pdf -
Bus Stop Changes for Services 194 & 240
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/download/Svc194_240_Skipped_New_Calling_Stops.pdf -
Originally posted by sinicker:
Bus Stop Changes for Services 194 & 240
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/download/Svc194_240_Skipped_New_Calling_Stops.pdf
they skipped boon lay way... is it because of private buses, which crowd that area during peak hours ? -
Originally posted by azharjj:
they skipped boon lay way... is it because of private buses, which crowd that area during peak hours ?+ difficult to change from left lane to right lane for turning right to Jln Boon Lay/JW St 64 during peak hrs