Transport Minister cites response to pre-peak hour train rides as 'encouraging'

In a written parliamentary reply to Nominated MP R. Dhinakaran, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew revealed yesterday that the response to the free pre-peak hour train rides to be 'encouraging'. The Straits Times reported that the minister also revealed commuter traffic has reduced at the 16 stations involved in the trial.

Before the free-ride trial started, the number of exits for the period between 8:00am and 9:00am was 2.7 times the exits from 7:00am to 8:00am, which has since reduced to 2.1 times. He also reported an increase of up to 19 percent in exits at the participating city stations from 7:00am to 8:00am and a decrease in traffic by up to 7 percent from 8:00am to 9:00am.

The figures are adjusted to seasonal effects that cause changes in ridership.

The Transport Minister also emphasised the success of easing peak-hour congestion to employers allowing staff to work at flexible hours. While the Public Service has implemented flexible working hours, the Government is working with several large private sector organisations to offer similar arrangements and requested other employers to follow suit.

He also revealed on top of the free-ride initiative, new rail lines, additional trains and upgrading of signalling systems are some of the several measures the Transport Ministry is commissioning to ease congestion. "We are determined to do whatever it takes to reduce crowdedness on our rail network, both in the short term and the longer term," he added.