Commuters Cheered By Plan For New MRT Lines

Source : The Straits Times, Jan 27, 2008

Those living in areas without MRT like Sin Ming look forward to end of feeder bus woes

FOR the past two years, Miss Ginny Goh, 28, has been leaving her home in Sin Ming an hour before she has to report for work in her Shenton Way office.

The tax consultant waits about 10 minutes to catch a bus for the 15-minute ride to the nearest MRT station in Bishan. From there, it takes her another 20 minutes to travel to Raffles Place MRT station.

But with two new MRT lines in 2020, commuters like Miss Goh will be able to shave 20 minutes off their daily commute to the city, said Transport Minister Raymond Lim on Friday.

The Thomson Line will join Woodlands to Marina Bay, while the Eastern Region Line will connect Changi to Marina Bay via Marine Parade. They will pass through neighbourhoods such as Sin Ming and Siglap that are currently not served by the MRT.

The new lines are part of policy changes to improve Singapore's land transport system.

Miss Goh welcomes the news, as walking to the new train station will 'definitely be more convenient' than having to take a feeder bus.

The inconvenience of having to wait for a bus to take them to the nearest MRT station is a common grouse shared by commuters living in such areas.

Mr Tong Chek Suan, 40, a mechanic who lives in Changi Village, says he usually waits up to 25 minutes for Service 89 which goes to Pasir Ris MRT station.

Long and winding bus rides to MRT stations also frustrate commuters like Mr Kenneth Quek, 23, who is studying at Singapore Polytechnic.

During peak hours, Mr Quek can take up to 45 minutes to get from Changi Village to Tanah Merah MRT station, a trip which takes 19 minutes during off-peak hours.

Commuters like Mr Benson Ang, 46, a businessman, prefer taking the MRT to buses because 'it's more efficient. The waiting time is more fixed'.

Others, like Miss Gwendolyn Loh, 32, a corporate communications manager whose Sin Ming neighbourhood will see a MRT station, are rejoicing for a different reason.

'Now my flat will increase in value!'


Getting to the city

THE two new MRT lines will benefit residents of neighbourhoods such as Changi Village and Sin Ming. The Sunday Times tested out the current routes to the city from those two locations to see how long they take and how much they cost.

Changi Village to City Hall

2pm: Changi Village bus stop opposite Block 4
2.05pm: Service 2 arrives
2.24pm: Bus reaches Tanah Merah MRT station after going past Loyang Industrial Estate, Upper Changi Road and Bedok market
2.32pm: Train arrives after a short walk to the MRT station and some waiting
2.52pm: Train reaches City Hall MRT station

Cost of bus ride:

Ez-link - $1.19
Cash - $1.40

Cost of train ride:

Ez-link - $1.03 (after 25-cent rebate)
Cash - $1.50

Total fare:

Ez-link - $2.22
Cash - $2.90


Sin Ming to City Hall

2pm: Sin Ming bus stop opposite Block 454
2.12pm: Service 52 arrives
2.25pm: Bus heads directly to Bishan MRT station
2.30pm: Train arrives after a short walk to the MRT station and some waiting
2.45pm: Train reaches City Hall MRT station

Cost of bus ride:

Ez-link - 67 cents
Cash - 90 cents

Cost of train ride:

Ez-link - 93 cents (after 25-cent rebate)
Cash - $1.30

Total fare:

Ez-link: $1.60
Cash: $2.20