OVERCROWDING & LACK OF TRAINS THE TRUE CAUSE BEHIND MRT DELAYS

Refer to the posting on MRT delay today.

This is not new. It has been happening for the past several weeks at the Clementi Station. Since 2015 I have been feeding back to LTA and SMRT about Clementi Station always experienced too many commuters waiting to board the trains from 7:00 am to 8:00 am. Before June 2015, SMRT deployed one empty train alternately to Clementi Station between 6:30 am to 8:30 am.

However after June 2015 until now SMRT only deploys one empty train alternately between 6:30 am to 7:00am. As a result commuters arrive after 7am will have to board the crowded trains from Joo Koon. I had travelled to Pioneer Station myself several times to observe how the loading of SMRT train. I found that by the time the train arrived at Jurong East it would already be very crowded.

Now with the opening of the Gul Circle and as the trains are already crowded by the time it reaches Jurong Station, commuters at Clementi Station are getting more and more difficult to board the trains resulting in large crowds being form at this station.

I believe the situation will be worst when the other 3 western stations, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link are open for operation. Which mean commuters at Clementi Station will not even have a chance to board.

So far I don’t see LTA nor SMRT taking any action to address this.

KK
A.S.S. Contributor