The frequency of train breakdowns have unfortunately (or fortunately) lost its effect on me. The days of being a frustrated and anxious commuter are long gone; I’ve turned into an accepting individual who uses the breakdowns as excuses to be late for work.
It’s clear though, that many are still affected by the train breakdowns – a screenshot of a search on SMRT set the Internet abuzz yesterday.
In case you haven’t noticed, look under “Type of business”.
Perhaps, it might have been an honest mistake by the contributor who keyed in the data, but it wouldn’t be possible without the ringing reminder of our frequent breakdowns.
The Bigger Picture
There are things worth celebrating about our train system. The occasional breakdowns are like small bumps on an otherwise even, well-paved road. Above all, you still have a pretty reliable transport system.
How Incredibly Clean The Trains Are
Coming from an ivory tower, it’s hard to see what’s so commendable about our MRT system. A quick look at Tripadvisor and you can see what foreigners have to say about our train system – nothing but praises.
Take our cleanliness for example – more often than not, our train stations are spotless. Besides the infrequent yet mind-boggling things that people do on the train, we have a world-class mode of transport.
‘Prevention Is Better Than Cure’
This quote still stands today. But when things go down south, we still need a Plan B to rely on.
We ought to thank the contingency plans in place that get activated when our train services go down. Not only are there chartered buses, free regular bus services that are also available near the affected stations.
I was surprised with a free bus ride once – even though the train breakdown didn’t affect me, I happened to be in the vicinity of the affected area. I doubt that contingency plans in the event of train breakdowns would be as efficient elsewhere.
The Mass Extension of MRT
It wasn’t always this easy to go for your night out at Holland Village – take a look at the MRT route map back in the 1980s.
Feeling lost?
It’s safe to say that our little red dot has gotten even smaller given the fact that our train services now reach almost every end of Singapore.
All our previously undiscovered spots are now merely a few stops away. Ever come across Instagram photos of abandoned rail tracks in Singapore? It’s no longer as obscure since Sixth Avenue – where the tracks are – is now more convenient to visit. If you prefer staying indoors, you can also check out the other fresh places to visit along the Downtown Line here!
Cheaper Fare
The Early bird catches the worm holds especially true with this initiative – as long as you tap into the station before 7.45am, your trip is free!
On December 29th, this initiative by the Public Transport Council (PTA) will go into full swing. For those in school or stuck with 8 am working schedule – you’ve struck the jackpot. That’s $2.50 saved weekly, or a plate of chicken rice for lunch.
This is also an extension of a scheme that was implemented in 2013 and extended till mid-2016. The scheme now applies to train stations nationwide, and all commuters who board from existing train stations will benefit from the discounted train-fare starting late December.
Commotions on various social media platforms have undeniably elevated the graveness of a train breakdown. Instead of the negativities, putting the matter to rest and enjoying the overlooked blessings of our transport system could be a better thing to do.