Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Delays prevent commuters from enjoying free MRT rides

I refer to the report “Govt offers firms cash grants to spur off-peak commuting” (July 31).

Only 7 per cent of commuters switched to travelling between 7am and 8am during the one-year trial. TODAY FILE PHOTO

Only 7 per cent of commuters switched to travelling between 7am and 8am during the one-year trial. TODAY FILE PHOTO

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

I refer to the report “Govt offers firms cash grants to spur off-peak commuting” (July 31).

Providing free train rides for commuters exiting at 18 city stations before 7.45am is an effective way of encouraging pre-peak-hour travel. Only 7 per cent of commuters, though, switched to travelling between 7am and 8am during the one-year trial.

The problem, I feel, is that trains tend to stop too long at most stations, which is enough to deter commuters from starting their journeys early. By the time they exit their stations, it would be past 7.45am and no longer a free ride.

If a 30-minute journey takes 45 minutes, one cannot expect commuters to keep shifting their starting times earlier to make up for the hold-up at most stations. It is also difficult to estimate the delay time for the journey.

Perhaps if the system could take into account the train delay time and not “penalise” the commuters, it would persuade more people to start early and convince them of the sincerity in offering the free rides.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.