Trials to help elderly, disabled commuters at Outram MRT extended till end 2017: PTC

SINGAPORE – Help for the elderly, frail and disabled commuters making their way from Outram Park MRT station to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) will continue to be available at least till the end of year, said the Public Transport Council (PTC) on Tuesday (Sept 19). 

Two co-creation trials – named Heart Zone and Heartwheels – which was first launched on Aug 14 have benefitted more than 1,200 commuters so far, according to the PTC. 
As part of the Heart Zone trial, commuters who want help getting to SGH can head to red mesh benches at two meeting points set up at the East-West (EWL) and North-East Line (NEL) exits of Outram MRT. 

They then wait for hospital staff or willing members of the public who wish to render their assistance. The scheme operates during morning rush hour — 7.30am to 9.30pm — on weekdays.

Under the Heartwheels  trial, four wheelchairs are provided to help people getting between the EWL and NEL exits.

Two have been placed next to the lifts at each end of the 210m pedestrian linkway.

The wheelchairs were provided by the two rail operators and are free for public use throughout the day.

The PTC said it spoke to more than 700 out of the 1,200 commuters that have benefited from the trials. 

“Many, especially the elderly, felt that Heart Zone made their journey to SGH Campus more convenient and would like to see Heart Zones at other MRT stations. Commuters with mobility issues felt that using the Heartwheels enabled them to move along the transfer linkway at Outram Park MRT station with greater ease,” said the PTC. 

The trials also provide an opportunity for members of the public to offer help in ordinary ways. 

Volunteer Mr Tham Yih Chung said: “Many of us want to be helpful but perhaps we are shy and do not know the right approach to offer help. This initiative gives us a suitable platform to offer help in a very simple manner.” 

The two trials are a collaborative effort between the PTC, SBS Transit, SMRT and SGH. 

The PTC said it will include the findings from the trials in the recommendations of their next Advisory Report on public transport matters, which will focus on the theme of co-creation.