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Allow HK’s MTR Corp to enter Singapore’s rail market

Given that there continue to be breakdowns on the Singapore MRT network (“Power trip causes rush-hour chaos, blackouts at 3 MRT lines, LRT network”; April 26), I suggest Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation be allowed to enter the rail market here.

Given that there continue to be breakdowns on the Singapore MRT network (“Power trip causes rush-hour chaos, blackouts at 3 MRT lines, LRT network”; April 26), I suggest Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation be allowed to enter the rail market here.

MTR Corporation operates and owns railways in cities worldwide, including Beijing, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, as well as Melbourne, London and Stockholm. It has an excellent operation record, with trains arriving on schedule 99.9 per cent of the time, according to the Hong Kong-listed company’s annual report for the past year.

The 2015 annual report also states: “In Sweden, MTRS recorded excellent operational performance in 2015, setting record-breaking levels for punctuality across all metro lines in Stockholm.”

One reason for the high performance rate of MTR’s rail operations in Hong Kong is that it spent more than HK$7 billion (S$1.2 billion) on maintaining, renewing and upgrading its Hong Kong network last year.

It has the deep financial pockets to acquire equity stakes and operating rights in foreign railways. If the rail industry here were to be opened up to more operators, MTR Corporation could be a strong contender for taking over some of the networks here.

At the very least, the company could be engaged to advise on our plans to improve rail reliability.

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