Ample and timely investment in asset renewal, a structured and disciplined maintenance regimen, and a suitable operating and financial model make successful MRT networks. These were some of the key findings of rail operators from around the world.

Operators from 16 cities - members of the Community of Metros (CoMet) - convened in Singapore on Wednesday for a four-day meeting to share operational experiences, assess how their metros have performed, identify best practices, and learn from one another as part of an effort to uplift standards of service around the world. This year's meeting is hosted by SMRT Corp.

Taipei Rapid Transit Corp Vice President Kuo Tsair-Ming said being a nationalised entity contributes to its success. Taipei has the most reliable system in the world, with one delay for every 800,000 train-km operated, compared with 133,000km for Singapore and 360,000km for Hong Kong. "There's nothing particularly special about us," he said. "But being nationalised is like being a tenant who does not have to pay rent. The rent in this case, is a special fund we can draw upon for the system, to supplement our fare revenue." Because of that, 'we don't have to worry too much about budget'.

Mr. Richard Anderson, Managing Director of Railway & Transport Strategy Centre at Imperial College London, which administers CoMet, noted that Singapore's performance had improved significantly in recent years. "You've seen a doubling of reliability since 2011, which is one of the most significant improvements worldwide," he said. "There's a limited amount of resources, but you have good value for money as fares are relatively low in Singapore." He said 'there's always that balance' between available resources to be reinvested back into the system and fare levels.