Transport — Topics

19 Feb 2018

Reinvesting Cost Savings by Public Transport Operators from Going Cashless Towards Improving Customer Experience

Leon Perera questioned how the Ministry would ensure public transport operators reinvest cost savings from going cashless into improving customer experience.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that e-payments increase convenience and allow eventual removal of cash facilities, freeing up space, manpower, and resources.
He noted that savings from streamlined ticketing infrastructure can be directed towards building new transport infrastructure.
The Minister added that staff freed from cash handling can better focus on managing rail operations.

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19 Feb 2018

Collection of Ride-pricing Data to Assess Market and End-user Experience for Flat Fare Pricing and Surge Pricing

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) collects data on taxi fleet availability during peak hours but not on private hire car availability, and dynamic pricing methods like flat fare and surge pricing are seen as complementary to metered fares, with surveys indicating improved commuter satisfaction with waiting times.
The Second Minister for Transport noted that while specific complaint data on surge pricing is not available, commuter surveys show general satisfaction with private hire cars due to lower fares and upfront pricing transparency.
For feedback on private hire platform operators, including concerns about surge pricing, the public can use the usual channels available to LTA.

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19 Feb 2018

Tests on Autonomous Public Buses and Inclusion in Public Transport Mix

The Land Transport Authority is working with Nanyang Technological University and ST Kinetics to develop autonomous buses, with trials scheduled to begin in 2019 at controlled test centres before expanding to designated light-traffic areas.
Trials will initially take place at the CETRAN Autonomous Vehicle Test Centre and later extend to locations like NTU, CleanTech Park, and Jurong Island to gather operational insights for future public road deployment.
The LTA has issued a request for information to gauge industry readiness and gather input on operational concepts for pilot deployments in Punggol, Tengah, and the Jurong Innovation District.
The pilot initiatives aim to assess commuter acceptance and infrastructure requirements to determine how autonomous buses can be scaled across Singapore’s public transport network.

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19 Feb 2018

Update on Work Done as a Result of Shutting of Train Lines for Scheduled Maintenance

The Minister reported that extended engineering hours enabled accelerated progress on the East-West Line re-signalling project, providing the equivalent of 40 extra nights of work and advancing the timeline by about 1.5 months, with completion expected by June.
During closures, maintenance work was intensified to 2.5 times the usual weekend volume, and noise barrier upgrades were completed at 1.5 times the normal pace, achieving 3–4 nights of equivalent work each weekend.
The Ministry plans to continue using this approach for future upgrades, such as power system renewals, while minimizing commuter disruption through early announcements and alternative transport options.

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19 Feb 2018

Record of Incidents on MRT and LRT Trains Such As Sudden Acceleration and Closing of Doors without Warning

The Minister reported an average of 20 cases of irregular sudden acceleration per year on MRT trains and 2 cases on LRT trains, with most incidents on older North-South and East-West Lines due to track maintenance speed restrictions.
Commuters reported an average of 125 cases per year of MRT train doors closing without warning, largely on lines where doors are manually closed by train captains, while LRT saw less than one such case annually.
Data on these incidents is primarily collated through commuter reports, each of which is investigated, and the new Communications-Based Train Control system aims to automate door operations to reduce human error.
The Ministry is considering publishing this data regularly as a performance indicator and is upgrading train systems, including signal renewals and replacing old trains, to improve reliability and commuter experience.

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6 Feb 2018

Profile of Persons Caught for Offences Related to Personal Mobility Devices and Efforts to Reach Out to Elderly PMD Users

About 460 PMD riders were caught for riding on roads in 2017, with roughly a quarter being over 50 years old, and 1,800 advisories were issued for unsafe riding on public paths.
The Land Transport Authority has run awareness campaigns in vernacular languages and works with volunteers to educate the public, including the elderly, on safe riding and active mobility rules.
Elderly PMD users can learn about regulations and safe practices through the Safe Riding Programme offered at community centres.

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6 Feb 2018

High Covered Shelter for Boarding and Alighting of Passengers at Bus Stops

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked if there are plans to install high covers (4.5 metres and above) at bus stops to shelter passengers during boarding and alighting.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that such shelters will be built where space permits, with priority for heavily used bus stops.
Priority will be given to bus stops connected to MRT stations, over a quarter of which already have cantilever shelters.

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6 Feb 2018

Underground Connection between Marina Bay MRT Station and Downtown MRT Station

Gan Thiam Poh asked about an underground connection between Marina Bay and Downtown MRT stations or a permanent covered linkway on the surface.
Khaw Boon Wan confirmed that an underground link will be built between the two stations.
The Land Transport Authority will work with the Urban Redevelopment Authority to incorporate this link into future plans.

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6 Feb 2018

Penalities for Bus Captains Using the Emergency Brakes

Melvin Yong asked about any company policy penalising bus captains for using emergency brakes, the number penalised in the past year, and the rationale for such penalties.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that no public bus operator penalises bus captains for using emergency brakes, emphasising their training in defensive driving and discretionary use of brakes for safety.
He explained that bus captains who brake hard frequently and indiscriminately may be sent for refresher training rather than penalised.

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6 Feb 2018

Measures taken to Manage Indiscriminate Parking of Shared Bicycles

Zainal Sapari questioned whether current measures to manage indiscriminate parking of shared bicycles have been effective and what conditions would trigger stronger regulatory actions to prevent public disamenities.
Khaw Boon Wan referred to a combined reply from February 2018 and announced that the Ministry will propose legislative amendments to establish a licensing framework for bicycle-sharing operators.
The debate highlighted ongoing concerns about the impact of shared bicycles and the government's move towards stricter regulation through licensing.

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6 Feb 2018

Public Education for Safe Use of Personal Mobility Devices

The Land Transport Authority and Singapore Road Safety Council have launched the Safe Riding Programme to teach safe practices, infrastructure use, and rules for bicycles, e-bikes, and PMDs.
The programme is not compulsory in schools but is being offered in institutions with cycling modules or interest groups, and is also promoted through videos and community venues.
The Government is working with various agencies and organizations to expand the programme's reach to community clubs, dormitories, and shopping malls.

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6 Feb 2018

Applications received for HDB Season Parking for Persons with Disability

The Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS) has been in place since 1980 and offers two types of labels for drivers with disabilities and caregivers transporting persons with disabilities.
SG Enable processes over 3,000 applications annually for CPLS, with more than 90% approved.
Unsuccessful applications are primarily due to medical professionals assessing that the applicant can use standard parking lots without needing accessible spaces.

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6 Feb 2018

Public Transport Network Improvements with Development of Punggol Digital District

The Land Transport Authority is introducing a new North-East Line MRT station in 2023, expanding expressways, and adding covered walkways and cycling paths to serve the Punggol Digital District.
Autonomous buses and shuttles will be deployed within the district from 2022 to improve first-mile and last-mile connectivity, with potential future island-wide expansion.
The Cross Island MRT Line is planned for the Punggol region by 2030, though no exact commuter numbers or transport mix for the district have been confirmed yet.
The government is working with other agencies to study demand and ensure connectivity while addressing potential workforce impacts from autonomous vehicles.

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6 Feb 2018

Motor Dealers Stockpiling Motorcycle COEs to Resell at Higher Price

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about motor dealers stockpiling motorcycle COEs to resell at higher prices and asked about investigation progress, Ministry actions, and shortening COE validity periods to curb speculation.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport, Dr Lam Pin Min, stated that data does not show widespread stockpiling except briefly after tiered ARF introduction, and all Temporary COEs (TCOEs) from that period have been used or expired.
Er Dr Lee suggested increasing the $200 deposit and shortening the six-month registration period to prevent stockpiling, citing resident feedback.
Dr Lam Pin Min explained that COE premiums fluctuate with demand and supply, and shortening validity periods could increase dealer costs by requiring larger vehicle inventories, while noting the deposit is low due to lower motorcycle COE premiums and policies will be monitored for adjustments.

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5 Feb 2018

Number of Traffic Accidents Involving Overseas Visitors Who Drive in Singapore

From 2015 to 2017, an average of 240 short-term visitors were involved in road traffic accidents annually, representing about 1.7% of all drivers in accidents during that period.
The Traffic Police distribute brochures and erect billboards to remind foreign motorists to drive safely and conduct regular operations at checkpoints to target those with outstanding summonses.
The numbers are considered low, and no further policy intervention is needed at this time, as it could have excessive knock-on effects.

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5 Feb 2018

Number of Vehicular Accidents Involving Singaporeans Overseas from 2015 to 2017

The Ministry for Home Affairs does not have data on the number of vehicular accidents involving Singaporeans overseas from 2015 to 2017.
The Traffic Police and the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS) share driving advisories through social media, websites, and booklets, but there is no requirement for the International Driving Permit issuer to provide destination-specific precautions.
The Ministry plans to continue collaborating with the Singapore Road Safety Council and AAS to raise awareness among Singaporeans about safe driving practices overseas, including understanding local traffic rules and conditions.

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5 Feb 2018

Annual Breakdown of Sexual Harassment Incidents on Public Transport from 2013 to 2017

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Transport for the annual number of reported sexual harassment incidents on public transport from 2013 to 2017 and whether public transport operators are required to implement safety policies against such harassment.
The Minister provided a table showing the annual number of reported Outrage of Modesty cases on public transport over the past five years but did not specify the exact yearly figures in the speech.
The Land Transport Authority, TransCom, and public transport operators have conducted public education campaigns to address Outrage of Modesty and encourage reporting, treating every case seriously.
These agencies commit to continuing collaboration to improve commuter safety and security on public transport.
The debate highlights ongoing efforts to educate the public and manage sexual harassment incidents, though specific annual data was not detailed in the provided text.

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5 Feb 2018

Compensation for Passengers Injured in Joo Koon MRT-train Collision

Dennis Tan asked how passengers injured in the Joo Koon MRT collision were compensated for their injuries, medical expenses, and other losses, and which party is responsible for these costs.
Khaw Boon Wan confirmed that SMRT, as the rail operator, has reimbursed and will continue to reimburse the injured passengers’ medical and related expenses.
The exchange clarified that SMRT is the party bearing the financial responsibility for compensating the affected passengers.

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5 Feb 2018

Regulatory Requirements for Private Hire Cars and Drivers

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Transport about the number of private hire cars, potential further regulatory requirements, and their implementation timeframe.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that approximately 47,000 private hire cars were on the road as of 31 December 2017.
He confirmed that regulations will be regularly reviewed, with current requirements including tamper-evident decals and a vocational licence for drivers under the same demerit point system as taxi drivers.

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5 Feb 2018

Update on Road-widening Works along Clementi Road between Jalan Anak Bukit and Ayer Rajah Expressway

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Transport about the completion timeline for major road-widening works on Clementi Road between Jalan Anak Bukit and the Ayer Rajah Expressway.
The Minister replied that the first phase between Jalan Anak Bukit and Ulu Pandan Road was completed in December.
The second phase between Commonwealth Avenue West and the Ayer Rajah Expressway will be finished later this month.
The final phase between Ulu Pandan Road and Commonwealth Avenue West is scheduled for completion by March 2018.
All updates clarify the phased completion schedule for the overall road-widening project.

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