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Trains need a break too, as humans do

Like many people, I was shocked and saddened by the accident near Pasir Ris MRT Station, where two young technicians lost their lives (“Shock and grief ripple through close-knit families”; March 23).

TODAY file photo

TODAY file photo

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Raymond Anthony Fernando

Like many people, I was shocked and saddened by the accident near Pasir Ris MRT Station, where two young technicians lost their lives (“Shock and grief ripple through close-knit families”; March 23).

I offer my condolences to the families and hope that, with support from agencies and the community, they will, in time, overcome their grief.

In a way, we must accept that train services will be disrupted time and again, but more so because our MRT system is ageing, transporting thousands of commuters daily and running at full steam nearly the whole day.

The trains need a break, just as humans do. To this end, commuters must be willing to sacrifice a little, so that the system that has been serving us for almost three decades is sustainable in the long run.

We must be willing to test out bold new ideas in our public transport system, especially when the MRT network is being expanded.

Perhaps the Land Transport Authority and the public bus companies could pilot a project to provide bus services that run parallel to MRT lines at late hours, say, from 10pm onwards once a week, fortnight or month.

Traffic would be lower than at peak periods, and this can be done in different zones on different dates, so there is less inconvenience.

If this proves useful, it would moderate the pressure on the trains as well as MRT staff, and maintenance work could be done smoothly, for the safety of all.

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