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May 20, 2010
About that train squeeze out West
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WE THANK Mr Krishnan Muralidharan for his Forum Online letter, 'The train squeeze out West, (May 8) and suggestions to ease congestion during peak hour
During the morning peak period, SMRT operates some north-bound train services that travel to Jurong East interchange station and continue on to the east-bound towards Pasir Ris.
Many passengers take these trains as they connect to the city directly without any transfers. Should Mr Muralidharan find it difficult to board the train, he may wish to consider boarding at a less crowded area of the platform, or wait for the next train, which runs at an average frequency of about three minutes.
With regard to the suggestion to skip Jurong East station, we will not be implementing it as this would inconvenience passengers at the station and within the train who wish to board and alight respectively at Jurong East.
The writer also suggested that the direct train service be extended in the reverse direction during evening peak hours. We would like to clarify that this would require the west-bound train from Pasir Ris to use the middle track at Jurong East interchange station.
As there is only one track available, the track would have to accommodate trains that are entering from the depot, as well as north-bound trains that use the middle track to turn around for south-bound service. It is therefore not feasible to implement this direct service during evening peak.
Mr Muralidharan commented that the trains arrive at different frequencies. This is because north-bound train services that continue on the east-bound share the same platform at Jurong East interchange station with east-bound trains coming from Joo Koon station. Due to the use of a common platform, train frequencies are planned to ensure optimal use of the platform.
As for synchronising different-direction-bound train services at Jurong East interchange station, this is not always possible as the train services operate at different frequencies.
During peak period, the North-South Line at Jurong East interchange station can support a train frequency of only three and a half minutes, while the East-West line operates at a frequency of about two minutes. This is due to infrastructural constraints at the station.
The situation will improve with the construction of an additional station platform and railway track by the Land Transport Authority, which will be completed by 2012. This, together with the delivery of 17 additional trains, will give us the flexibility to increase train trips on the existing lines.
Lastly, we wish to share that more than half of our trains have been upgraded since 2006. In these upgraded trains, the train cars contain two rows of overhead horizontal handrails with hand straps placed along each row. There are also vertical handrails installed near the train doors and seven three-way grab poles in each car for passengers to hold on to.
Nicole Batchelor (Ms)
Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications
SMRT Corporation
About that train squeeze out West
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
WE THANK Mr Krishnan Muralidharan for his Forum Online letter, 'The train squeeze out West, (May 8) and suggestions to ease congestion during peak hour
During the morning peak period, SMRT operates some north-bound train services that travel to Jurong East interchange station and continue on to the east-bound towards Pasir Ris.
Many passengers take these trains as they connect to the city directly without any transfers. Should Mr Muralidharan find it difficult to board the train, he may wish to consider boarding at a less crowded area of the platform, or wait for the next train, which runs at an average frequency of about three minutes.
With regard to the suggestion to skip Jurong East station, we will not be implementing it as this would inconvenience passengers at the station and within the train who wish to board and alight respectively at Jurong East.
The writer also suggested that the direct train service be extended in the reverse direction during evening peak hours. We would like to clarify that this would require the west-bound train from Pasir Ris to use the middle track at Jurong East interchange station.
As there is only one track available, the track would have to accommodate trains that are entering from the depot, as well as north-bound trains that use the middle track to turn around for south-bound service. It is therefore not feasible to implement this direct service during evening peak.
Mr Muralidharan commented that the trains arrive at different frequencies. This is because north-bound train services that continue on the east-bound share the same platform at Jurong East interchange station with east-bound trains coming from Joo Koon station. Due to the use of a common platform, train frequencies are planned to ensure optimal use of the platform.
As for synchronising different-direction-bound train services at Jurong East interchange station, this is not always possible as the train services operate at different frequencies.
During peak period, the North-South Line at Jurong East interchange station can support a train frequency of only three and a half minutes, while the East-West line operates at a frequency of about two minutes. This is due to infrastructural constraints at the station.
The situation will improve with the construction of an additional station platform and railway track by the Land Transport Authority, which will be completed by 2012. This, together with the delivery of 17 additional trains, will give us the flexibility to increase train trips on the existing lines.
Lastly, we wish to share that more than half of our trains have been upgraded since 2006. In these upgraded trains, the train cars contain two rows of overhead horizontal handrails with hand straps placed along each row. There are also vertical handrails installed near the train doors and seven three-way grab poles in each car for passengers to hold on to.
Nicole Batchelor (Ms)
Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications
SMRT Corporation
