Charter revenue offsets costs, may go to improving rail network

I am of the opinion that Dr Jaclyn Toh Ai Lin missed the point behind the public outcry (“Meet minimum service standards before accepting train charter”; Sept 2).

SMRT’s decision to allow organisations to charter trains was a great one. Such side revenues help lower costs. After all, public transport facilities in many countries are often under-utilised outside of peak hours.

Any utilisation during off-peak times offsets the fixed costs of public transport and labour.

SMRT’s “struggle” to maintain minimum standards has nothing to do with the chartering of trains.

Its failure to meet those standards has largely been due to unexpected reasons, for instance, when its trains broke down.

On the contrary, if SMRT were allowed to charter its trains, the additional revenue generated would probably help it maintain its rail network.

If anything, I am disappointed with the Land Transport Authority. Despite being the transport regulator, its rules regarding private charters did not appear to have been clearly set out before the public outcry arose.

Let us give credit where credit is due and not be swayed by misguided rants online.