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(Poh S. Lim)

Musings on the state of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit

21/1/2014

 
Yesterday, it happened yet again.  It was Monday morning, the first work day of the week and thousands of commuters were rushing off to work.  When I went down the Junction 8 elevators of the mass rapid transit station, a scene greeting my eyes, and I immediately knew what had happened.  The transit train service had failed once again.  Hundreds of commuters were waiting impatiently for a train that did not arrive at the south-bound platform.  This was about 8.15 am in the morning.

I waited for a few minutes to to see if there were any announcements, but there was none. As I needed to get downtown by 9.00 am I decided to take an alternate route through the Circle Line and NorthEast Line to get to my destination, Tangjong Pagar.  At least I had an alternate route and I immediately acted on it.  I pity those who decided to wait at the long lines for the next train.  As I understand from the news report later that night, the disruption was slightly more than an hour, although SMRT had declared that the delay was only 20 mins. on the ride.
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Much has been touted about how new, efficient and effective Singapore's mass rapid transit is compared with those in the western cities like London and New York.  It must, however, be remembered that those have histories dating back to over a hundred years ago, whilst Singapore's mass rapid transit is much much younger in comparison, having begun operating in the 1980s.  So now what has happened?  In the span of about 20 years, the much touted system is beginning to show signs of strains over the seemingly unforeseen burgeoning of the population and the ridership of this mode of public transport. 
Now London and New York are much larger cities, and yet despite vilification on their operational efficiency, their metropolitan mass rapid transit systems continue to operate, in spite of the occasional 'failures'.  The rapid transit systems are only as good as the you maintain and improve on them.

I think there is much to be learnt from those who have much much more experience in running such systems over long decades of operations and we should have more humility when making comparisons in the future.

Year of the Horse

13/1/2014

 
31st of January 2014 marks the beginning of the Chinese zodiac year of the horse.  It is only 18 days more to the Spring festival which is celebrated by all ethnic Chinese as part of their cultural heritage.  China, itself, will see an internal mass migration of hundreds of millions, as they travel and make their way back to their home towns and villages.

As for the other Chinese communities in the diaspora of Southeast Asia, a number will also make such trips.  I am one of such and will be travelling back to my home city of origin, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The horse is considered a strong animal, used for many centuries as a means of conveying people and goods.  It is also known as a hard worker.  For those under this zodiac, it would not be unusual if the Chinese were to ascribe the same characteristics to the people born under this zodiac sign.
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Wishing all my Chinese friends Gong Xi Fa Cai
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    About 
    Poh S. Lim

    As an interested citizen of the world, I make observations and in my way, contribute to the sum total of human knowledge.

    My motto comes from Rene Descartes, French philosopher, who at the dawn of the European Renaissance, wrote:

    "Cogito, Ergo Sum"
    meaning, 
    "I Think, Therefore I Am"

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    Alumni, Class of '86 -- BA (Physics) Minor: Philosophy
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    The Minuteman
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    Some of my Professional Credentials:

    PictureIRCA QMS Lead Auditor


    PicturePracticing Management Consultant


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    Associate Member Singapore Human Resource Institute
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    Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (WDA-certified)
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    Certified IT Business Continuity Manager (CITBCM)
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    Associate Member, Singapore Institute of Directors

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