REACH (Telegram) 108 - What are your views on LTA’s rail reliability report and efforts to improve transport and mobility in Singapore?
(SK)
17 Nov 2025 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 9:45 am]
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REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 10:01 am]
📢 Topic 📢
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has released data on three new rail reliability indicators, which were published in the latest rail reliability report on Nov 14.
The release of the metrics comes after Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow told Parliament on Sept 22 that he had asked LTA to give the public more data for a fuller picture of rail performance. “We will be transparent, because we have a good system, and we have nothing to hide,” he said.
💬 What are your views on LTA’s rail reliability report and efforts to improve transport and mobility in Singapore?
📌 About the new rail reliability indicators 📌
The new indicators are the punctuality of trains, the impact of train disruptions on passengers, and the proportion of train services that operate according to schedule. These metrics are tracked as part of internal regulatory standards that the authority uses to monitor the performance of rail operators.
Singapore’s rail reliability is mainly measured by mean kilometres between failure (MKBF), which captures the average distance a train travels before encountering a delay of more than five minutes. It, however, does not reflect the actual impact on passengers.
Unlike the MKBF, which has a target of 1 million train-km for the MRT network, the newly published indicators were not presented with a benchmark or target.
📌 Train Service Delivery📌
Train Service Delivery measures the actual distance travelled by trains compared to their scheduled distance, expressed as a percentage.
This means that the higher the Train Service Delivery, the higher rail reliability, as it means that more train trips operated according to schedule.
While MKBF captures the kilometres between failures, Train Service Delivery captures the extent of the service disruption. For instance, longer disruptions will reduce the mileage that trains travel on schedule, hence lowering the figure.
Between 2020 to 2023, train service delivery figures ranged between 99.71 per cent and 99.99 per cent across five lines: The North-South Line (NSL), East-West Line (EWL), North East Line (NEL), Circle Line (CCL) and Downtown Line (DTL).
However, for the whole of 2024, the Train Service Delivery of the EWL fell to 99.42 per cent. The other lines were at 99.80 per cent or higher.
That year saw the massive six-day EWL disruption that affected about 500,000 train journeys.
The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) has been excluded from the new metrics, as it is still undergoing construction and extension and “will take time to stabilise”, said LTA.
LTA said it will review whether to include the data points for the TEL in subsequent publications, "based on whether these other indicators are reflective of the performance of the line".
📌 Train Punctuality 📌
Train Punctuality measures the percentage of train trips that complete their trips “on time” at the end of each line or a scheduled turnaround point plus or minus two minutes within schedule.
Train Punctuality is affected by service disruptions, as well as other operational problems that do not result in a full stoppage of service, such as slower travel speeds due to minor signalling or track faults, said LTA.
Therefore, a higher Train Punctuality rate means that more trips arrive within a specified time window, and this means the metro is more reliable.
From 2020 to 2024, Train Punctuality on Singapore’s MRT lines ranged between 98.85 per cent and 99.93 per cent. Between 2021 and 2024, NEL has the lowest punctuality score among the five lines.
LTA said that figures for the NEL are typically lower than for the longer lines, as it is the shortest line in the train network.
“It is more challenging to maintain Train Punctuality on shorter lines, as operators have less time to adjust travel speeds or dwell times to ‘catch up’ if the train meets with a delay,” said LTA.
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 10:01 am]
📌 Passenger Impact 📌
For severe disruptions lasting more than 30 minutes, LTA also provided additional estimates of the number of passengers affected, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of daily ridership for the affected line.
This is because the severity of a disruption can be measured not only by its length, but the number and proportion of passengers affected, said LTA.
For example, for the three-hour long NEL disruption in August, over 50,000 passengers were impacted, comprising 9.7 per cent of daily passengers along the line.
During a CCL disruption in March, between 5,000 and 50,000 passengers were affected, comprising 1.4 per cent of daily passengers.
📌 LTA starts largest engagement exercise to hear from commuters 📌
At the Caring Commuter Week 2025 launch event at Our Tampines Hub on Nov 15, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow announced that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has launched a nationwide public consultation exercise to refresh its Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP). Mr Siow said that the engagement exercise will run over a 12-month period.
Calling it LTA’s largest outreach exercise to date, Mr Siow said he hopes that more Singaporeans will feel a sense of ownership and work with the LTA as partners to shape the future of transport.
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/punctuality-passenger-impact-among-ltas-new-reliability-indicators-99-of-trains-on-time-in-sept
👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/train-disruption-rail-reliability-additional-indicators-lta-smrt-sbs-5465306
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lta-starts-largest-engagement-exercise-to-hear-from-commuters
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Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 10:04 am]
If the fault does not affect commuters severely it's ok. Ie. 10 mins delay(literally 10 min) . Not when system says 10 min but commuters say 30 min)But don't every time break down more than a hour
Nicholas, [17/11/2025 10:18 am]
Suggest to encourage commuters to wear medical masks when on a crowded train. It's quite nasty when someone is coughing and sneezing in a crowded train during peak hours and we can't move away from the person.
Daniel, [17/11/2025 10:37 am]
Subjectively, it feels to me that the rail transport is still very reliable in Singapore, even compared to other developed countries. I am taking the train to work and back and very rarely get affected by any breakdowns or noticeable delays. I feel the whole rhetoric about train reliability being very bad/getting worse is quite a bit overblown.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 10:37 am]
I got a request can build toilet within the gantry. Everytime travel halfway got difficulty to find toilets
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 10:38 am]
So no need to tap out and in again
Daniel, [17/11/2025 10:38 am]
That being said, I think it's good to have a broader set of reliability indicators, I feel those make it easier to understand what's happening.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 10:39 am]
I think reliability indicator needs to include break down timing. I think we are more ok for short breakdown but not ok with long breakdown
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 11:00 am]
[ Poll : I am confident in the reliability of Singapore's public transportation system. ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 11:02 am]
Dear Contributors,
Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference! You can choose more than one option and your vote is anonymous.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!
💬 What are your views on LTA’s rail reliability report and efforts to improve transport and mobility in Singapore?
Thank you.
Megan 😊
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:08 am]
Actually, no matter what indicators you use, if things are have been really bad, any indicator used would show the same problem. Does LTA have a breakdown/incident tracker? I have and would show it, but if LTA has and it's hiding it, is it just denying reality and have another agenda?
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:09 am]
Because let's remember that LTA is a government ministry and not a profit maximising private firm yeah.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:10 am]
No matter what breakdown short or long, it is not okay. We should not lower our standards/expectations just because LTA is going oh actually signal faults happen all the time one!! Only ghosts would believe you lol.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:12 am]
True. We should uphold our standard. Though occasionally we can tolerate we should have our highest expectations to lta.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:13 am]
Lta target all lines 3 yr 1 fault maximum
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:13 am]
If the indicators show something positive, I think it is safe to say LTA is running away from the problem. These 2 years have been anything but positive for the MRT/LRT. Yes on the whole the MRT is still going on as mostly per normal but with the number of incidents, it is too high.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:14 am]
Oh I can stomach that but has any line achieved that target within these 2 years? HAHAHAHA!!
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:15 am]
Then the thing is what is the extent of us being forgiving to them or for how long should we be forgiving to them? With my incident tracker, I've run out of goodwill for them a long time ago.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:18 am]
Passenger impact: don't need an indicator to tell me that if incidents happen succesively eventually everyone would be affected lol.
Engagement exercise: if you implement some of tehsiewdai's ideas then I'll think the exercise would've worked. If LTA continues down this path of gradual destruction of the public transport system by running away from the problems, then this is so tokenistic.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:19 am]
I think it's like a norm to break down lol. I hope circumstance will change. Miss the kaw boon wan era where he actually do something to upgrade
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:20 am]
Instead this siow Jeffrey saying it is impossible for mrt that not breakdown
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:20 am]
Also anyways on train punctuality, why not let's talk about train frequency instead. What's the explanation from a maximum 5 minute frequency on NSL to what I've been seeing, 7 minute frequencies on 1 of our busiest lines?
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:22 am]
Oh no don't let this 2 years bring down your expectations for our system!! We SHOULD continue to have high expectations for our system. How come from 2021 to 2023 everything was fine and then suddenly these 2 years are as such? We cannot lower our expectations in fact we must continue to raise them so our public transport system can do better.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 11:23 am]
We have a high quality system so we should see it constantly improving and it should continuously improve.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:23 am]
Maybe it's their strategy lah breakdown enough time than people will feel normal
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:25 am]
This is why previously I mentioned break down 1 time free one month ride penalty and 3 years not to raise the price
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:25 am]
Then they will feel the pain
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:27 am]
Now it's the commuters taking in the pain of raising prices and breaking down
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:28 am]
You only can raise price if you have delivered your service good
365, [17/11/2025 11:30 am]
It'll become a chicken and egg paradox, they also need the money for improvement and maintenance. While the current situation is less than ideal, withholding money will lead to a negative feedback loop.
While of course I rather the prices stay low, compared to other developed nations, I believe we are at the lower public transport cost to income ratio. Minimally, I'm sure we are definitely lower than Japan in this instance.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:31 am]
So what is the ideal punishment for them?
365, [17/11/2025 11:32 am]
I think there's a need for contingency as well, they are telling us the known issues. Signal faults and what not, what is the contingency when this happens? If this cannot be prevented 100%, at least have alternative measures to prepare against it when it inevitably happens.
365, [17/11/2025 11:32 am]
I think part of the issue lies in a private establishment being involved in public services.
365, [17/11/2025 11:33 am]
Ideally, the cash flow to the company does not stop, but the bonuses and salary of top executives get affected.
365, [17/11/2025 11:33 am]
Not sure how much control the gov have directly over the renumeration itself
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:34 am]
Ideally they should get pay cut per breakdown
365, [17/11/2025 11:34 am]
The issue is how much control the gov has over the renumeration of an employee of a private company
Jerard, [17/11/2025 11:35 am]
I would say that the LTA's efforts to improve rail reliability is an ongoing process to ensure operational reliability and efficiency. Despite the breakdowns/rail disruptions, Singapore still maintains the status of one of the most reliable rail systems in the world
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 11:36 am]
That's why transport should be on sgx when breakdown the share value drop then they will panic
365, [17/11/2025 11:38 am]
I'm aware of the rail reliability compared to the rest of the world, I also believe that we should be able to expect a standard higher than most of them.
I do not expect there to be zero hiccups, machines are machines and wear and tear is always an issue. But the lack of effective contingency against known hiccups is an issue.
Each time, we are told more or less, the same reasoning. I can accept that engineering wise, there's no 100% foolproof design. But what's your backup plan when you already know such issues are going to occur?
Jerard, [17/11/2025 12:08 pm]
but then, how can we further improve the rail reliability without compromising safety and efficiency?
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 12:17 pm]
Maybe put interchangeable track so trains can switch lanes in every station. So when train break down it only limits to one station
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 12:18 pm]
I am not a engineer so idk but ya maybe that's a stupid suggestion
Khai Mun L., [17/11/2025 1:37 pm]
Maybe, but got other considerations if listed. Shareholders would want profit/dividends, then jack up the bus/train tickets to maximise profit.
Close down those non-performing routes e.g. those at ulu places etc
365, [17/11/2025 1:42 pm]
That's a good point, how a publicly traded company operates will be vastly different from how a public service should be operating. Publicly listed company will prioritize maximum profit, something that usually opposes public goodwill.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 1:48 pm]
That's why, because they didn't lose any seats on 3 May they thought oh no consequences mah. People also ah, didn't think it was important enough as an issue. Oh well then we'll see when enough Singaporeans finally see is an important enough issue I guess.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 1:51 pm]
That time SMRT was privatised right then look what happened GE2011 someone's vote share fell really low haha.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 1:51 pm]
Okay ah not that I want something like that to happen again ah but if is the only way Singaporeans will wake up and realise what is happening then I don't mind.
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 1:52 pm]
Only when things severely affect people's daily lives then people will finally think is an issue. Because it seems like inflation wasn't a big enough issue on people's daily lives. When the complaint is not complaining hard enough haha.
Jerard, [17/11/2025 1:56 pm]
like LRTs?
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 2:01 pm]
📢 Topic 📢
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 3:29 pm]
1. The 3 new indicators are a better reflection of the availability of MRT services as compared to MKBF (Mean Km Before Failure) as they reflect the impact to commuters.
2. But not sure if other MRT in the world adopt the same 3 indicators – so that we can benchmark against them. If not, the 3 indicators will still be a good indication of the availability of our MRT services.
3. Let us visit what the 3 new indicators are :
a. Punctuality of Trains
b. Impact of train disruptions on passengers
c. Proportion of train services operate according to schedule
4. In addition, the TSD (Train Service Delivery) – that measures the actual distance travelled by trains compared to their scheduled distance expressed as % - that signal higher rail reliaibility is more train trips operate according to schedule.
5. Punctuality of Trains – I am quite satisfied with the punctuality of the MRT trains – often within 5 mins.
6. Impact of train disruptions on passengers – honestly I have never encountered a MRT breakdowns for a couple of years – short of 1 more than decades ago.
7. Proportion of train services operate according to schedule – almost all the time.
8. Hence despite a few headline news of MRT breakdowns, I fortunately have not encountered a breakdown.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:03 pm]
1. Having say so, I feel that redundancy in the train network will be important. So that in the event of a train breakdown, I can just hop onto a redundant line – not fully impacted by the down line and no need to be redirected into a replacement bus service.
2. However, if a redundant line is not possible, than a well drill, well practiced replacement buses directed by SMRT staff will be the 2nd best options.
3. Introspect, I noticed there are quite a number of redundant MRT lines already made available and even new lines (eg. The extended Thomson East Coast line) coming out – in which I feel that meeting the objectives of “hopping over redundant lines” will be available in many main MRT artery lines.
4. In addition, yesterday news feature many tracks are being replaced well before the lifespan ends with new modular tracks that have higher resiliency against failure. New communication signaling systems that are more pervasive and cover a larger MRT system for monitoring. New redundant power supply station that will facilitate seamless failover and redundant power lines. This will means our revamp MRT systems will become more and more robust and will succumb to less failure.
5. Hence, imposing high $ penalty for failure is not the right approach as the new revamp system needs $$ to implement. The $$ should be used to plan, design and better redundant system to make the entire MRT system more robust and less failure rather than a punishment that will not make our system better.
6. Any thing that deserve mention is the appointment of new Taskforce that make up of top train experts and management from all other Countries like China, Taiwan, Japan etc – to review and scrutinize our MRT systems what gaps need to be plugged and what improvement can be done to make it more robust and reliable not only pertaining to system, but also include processes, procedures, manpower staffing etc. This is certainly a wise move – by tapping the best mind in the World that have operated a very reliable system – and make our system even better (even though our MRT systems reliability is already very high).
Khai Mun L., [17/11/2025 4:06 pm]
And there is a cost to having redundant systems. Time and money spent maintaining/building them for scenarios that happen once in a while.
Have to decide how much of tax money to go into these extra systems
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:09 pm]
Yes understood.
A cost and benefits analysis need to be done.
That's what is the cost of train breakdown - economic cost eg. People late for work, study, social cost, reputation damage versus the cost of building a redundant lines.
I feel that the current and the up and coming MRT lines have extensively cover a large part of the entire Singapore.
Then the focus will be ensuring a replacement bus services if the train breakdown happen.
Another thing is to ensure the running system are robust enough, maintain enough to prevent breakdown as far as possible - though everything mechanical or electrical or electronic are bound to fail somewhere down the road. The trick is how to minimize the chances of failure.
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 4:17 pm]
📢 Topic 📢
Noor Naffissah, [17/11/2025 4:19 pm]
They should reduced the amount not increased the transport fee as not fair for the low income families..
Noor Naffissah, [17/11/2025 4:19 pm]
As the mrt always breakdown
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:20 pm]
I think LTA offer transport vouchers to low income families.
But must apply for it with the CC.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:22 pm]
Because if train breakdown, need money to revamp the system.
If lower transport fees, less money, Smrt cannot make the system better, than it will breakdown even more.
The service will become worst and worst.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:24 pm]
Actually Singapore MRT system is already one of the best in the world.
Not realistic to have zero failure. Because even the best MRT system in other countries also encounter disruption.
But currently, the government is putting alot of efforts to further make the train system more reliable and robust - which we should support.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:28 pm]
$60 Public Transport Vouchers to Provide Support for Lower-Income Households https://share.google/bbyIZiRZURieBVEdY
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 4:36 pm]
1. Next is the refresh Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP).
2. I feel the new areas that can include in the LTMP is :
a. To cover certain more remote places whereby taxis and private hires don't want to operate.
b. After midnight, where public buses, MRT stop services.
c. I feel that Driverless Autonomous Vehicles – eg. Buses, cars can fill the gaps.
d. But efforts must be looked into the jobs of taxi drivers, private hires drivers and public bus drivers to ensure a hybrid transport modes – that make up of public and private driver hires, driverless hires, MRT and buses are integrated and each performing an important part of the entire transport system.
e. Some efforts should be look into the dedicated cycling path and pedestrian path operating side by side – to ensure cyclists, PMD riders don't drive at high-speed or recklessly or racing one another on their cycling path or sometimes cutting into the pedestrian path – because the dedicated cycling path seems to offer them a licence to speed on their cycling path – that could endanger pedestrians walking.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 5:23 pm]
But it feels like punishing travellers because of their failures to maintain the system
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 5:25 pm]
Got to weigh the pros and cons.
Make Smrt replace a better system and make it more reliable so that we have lesser breakdown is better than punishing them and the system break down more often.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 5:25 pm]
End up consumers are the ones that always lose out and pay for their mistakes
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 5:26 pm]
Anyway the transport price is determine by many criteria - independent of Smrt.
So make Smrt on the toe is a different dimension.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 5:29 pm]
But I wonder what is the root cause for such a drastic drop in reliability for the 2 newer lines
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 5:29 pm]
When Smrt breakdown, commuters don't incur extra cost.
In fact, free shuttle buses or redundant lines are offered.
So commuters have no tangible monetary loss except the inconveniences or late for appointment.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 5:29 pm]
Not sure.
Jun Ming, [17/11/2025 5:30 pm]
Is it management problem or the engineers are less trained or not done pm servicing or the new upgrade system is shit
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 5:31 pm]
Not sure.
Got to wait for taskforce report
G, [17/11/2025 5:58 pm]
This is just LTA.
End of the day, they are not the actual service provider. There's only so much they can do to tarik the service provider should the service provider fail to meet KPIs.
Even better: despite significant service disruptions, the service providers still come asking to raise fares, and the transport authorities acquise to their request.
Why not revert to the old days where service was provided by a govt body.
In today's model, service is provided by multiple for-profit entities, meaning there's multiple expensive overheads to feed (C-suite levels). Don't these expensive overheads also contribute to significantly to transport fares hikes?
G, [17/11/2025 6:02 pm]
Furthermore, entities like SMRT have a habit of hiring ex SAF personnel.. and we all know how inflated the SAF salaries are compared to the rest of SG
And it's not unreasonable to assume that these ex SAF personnel have had their salaries matched or even increased to attract them to join an organisation like SMRT (thankless work)
Kai Bin, [17/11/2025 6:06 pm]
To further improve rail reliability, I suggest that LTA and the rail operators could consider closing one section of the MRT line in the day (during off peak. periods like weekends) for maintenance works
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:21 pm]
8/11/23, 4:26 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Another aspect that I disagree with WP proposal to nationalise the public transport --- is as good as saying, use taxpayers money to finance the day-to-day running of the public transport --- like the old communist countries way of State run enterprises of financing public goods and services.
Also without market competition, government run enterprise become less and less efficient leading to high overhead.
During the initial stage of development, whereby there are less capital, less talents and less resources, nationalisation is the right way to go.
But as a nation become more developed, privatisation is the right economic way to go.
2. Many Communist countries have already move away from nationalising the public goods and services eg. China, Vietnam and other East European countries - because it is inefficient and taxpayers money got to finance the inefficient way of running the public transport.
3. In addition, enterprise cannot go overseas to bid for foreign business such as the comfort delgro, SMRT, etc to earn foreign revenue if public transport is state run.
4. After collecting tax revenue and then subsidise the transport expenditure like what the current government is doing make more sense - without :-
a. tie down with day-to-day running of public transport which is inefficient.
b. use taxpayer money to run the public transport business
c. losing the foreign revenue - as state enterprise cannot bid for overseas public transport tender.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:22 pm]
If Smrt is run by government, how to bid for overseas contract?
We lose the external wing revenue to boost our Economy and create good jobs for Singaporeans.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:23 pm]
ComfortDelGro (CDG), not Transit Link, has won several overseas rail and bus contracts in recent years, including major rail contracts in Auckland (New Zealand), Paris (France), and Stockholm (Sweden). Transit Link is a Singapore-based company primarily focused on integrated public transport ticketing and payment services.
ComfortDelGro Overseas Contract Wins
ComfortDelGro has actively expanded its international presence, particularly in the rail sector. Key contract wins include:
Auckland, New Zealand: In August 2021, a 50:50 joint venture (JV) named Auckland One Rail (AOR) between ComfortDelGro and Australian rail operator UGL Rail Services was awarded a S$1.13 billion contract to operate and maintain the Auckland metro network. Operations began in January 2022 for an initial eight-year term.
Paris, France: In July 2023, a consortium comprising ComfortDelGro Transit, RATP Dev, and Alstom won a contract to operate the southern sector of Line 15 of the new Grand Paris Express metro system. This contract is for an initial term of six years, with services expected to commence by the end of 2025.
Stockholm, Sweden: In January 2024, a JV between ComfortDelGro and the UK-based Go-Ahead Group (Connecting Stockholm) secured an 11-year, S$5.1 billion contract to operate and maintain the entire Stockholm metro system, the largest rail passenger operation outside of Singapore for CDG. Operations are set to begin in May 2025.
Australia & UK (Bus Services): ComfortDelGro has also secured multiple bus contracts in Australia and the United Kingdom, including franchises in Victoria and New South Wales in Australia, and bus franchises in Greater Manchester, UK.
These international ventures are part of ComfortDelGro's strategy to grow its core public transportation business beyond Singapore's market.
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 6:26 pm]
📢 Topic 📢
G, [17/11/2025 6:36 pm]
This is all just theory. Supposedly privatisation would lead to more efficiency and in turn, more competitive transport fares
But what we seen in reality is the opposite. More inefficiencies due to the need to feed multiple expensive c-suite overheads. And less competitive transport fares that don't correlate to the service rendered (higher prices for lowered service)
If the current model of earning foreign revenue translates to lowered transpor fares in SG, then that's good for SG. But we haven't seen that.
If overhauling the transport ecosystem by forgoing foreign revenue translates to a more efficient and cheaper transport ecosystem here in SG, wouldn't that be better for SG?
여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆, [17/11/2025 6:37 pm]
+ management problem. SMRT should not be an SAF retirement home.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:38 pm]
Many countries has convert State run enterprise into private companies or government linked companies.
And economies have grown significantly.
If we go back to nationalisation, our economy GDP will shrink from 2025 back to 1990s.
These are math.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:39 pm]
Also best to read up what is macroeconomics free market system.
The only State run enterprise is North Korea.
G, [17/11/2025 6:40 pm]
So what?
Has higher GDP led to swiss standards of living as promised in the 90s? Only see swiss cost of living
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:40 pm]
Singapore GDP PPP is the highest in the world.
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:41 pm]
Singapore's total GDP (PPP) was approximately $910 billion (current international dollars) in 2024, while its GDP per capita (PPP) was around $132,570 in 2024. GDP (PPP)
G, [17/11/2025 6:41 pm]
You said here that govt run enterprise become less and less efficient leading to high overhead
But what we see today is unnecessarily high overheads because of the multiple c-suites that need to be fed. If govt run, just 1 set of c-suite to feed
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:44 pm]
Singapore civil service and public service is the smallest and most efficient in the world because Nationalisation has been discarded and many State run enterprises have become GLCs eg. Singtel, PSA, ncs, ST engineering, Keppel corp, Smrt , comfort delgro etc that make Singapore sovereign funds one of the largest in the world.
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 6:46 pm]
Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:46 pm]
GLCs make up few hundred billions of dollars and contribute to Singapore large sovereign funds.
Imagine few hundred billions of dollars have to contribute by taxpayers instead of earning revenue for Singapore?
Wonder does the math add up?
LCL (Danny 心), [17/11/2025 6:48 pm]
Just wondering whether WP and oppositions know how to run Singapore or not?
Or worst bring Singapore progress backward from 2025 to the 1990s?
G, [17/11/2025 7:00 pm]
So what.. has this led to lowered transport fares?
Last don't don't need transport vouchers for the lower income families and they could still get by
REACH Singapore, [17/11/2025 7:00 pm]
Dear Contributors
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
====
心法, [17/11/2025 11:28 pm]
After Note (about Nationalisation, what is the impact):-
Assume what WP and the oppositions say, let us revert back to Nationalisation – by converting all GLCs (that provide public goods and services) to State-Run Enterprises, what will be the implications :-
Funding – how and where to get the money to buy out all the public shares in the Singapore Stock Exchange eg. Singtel, PSA Corp, NCS, ST Engineering, Keppel Corp, Smrt , Comfort Delgro, DBS, Sembcorp, SIA, SIA Engineering, Scoots etc ?
a. Liquidate half of Temasek Holdings GLCs' assets to pay shareholders holding all these GLCs shares and delist from the Singapore Stock Exchange (about $200 billion). What will be the implications:-
SES (Singapore Stock Exchange) portfolio diminished drastically – and can no longer function as a stock exchange as the market capitalisation heavily front by GLCs. SES paralysed and could become dysfunctional as the remaining shares are SMEs or smaller values in capitalisation.
Temasek Holdings' asset values as Sovereign Fund cut by half – and the NIRC and the profit earned will be greatly reduced. Hence the half of NIRC contributing to the fiscal budget will be greatly reduced – means more taxes in the form of GST, personal income tax, corporate tax etc will be needed. We as a taxpayer will have to pay more taxes – don't know how many percentage more taxes that we need to pay to make up for the lost government revenue earned from the NIRC.
b. If financing the Nationalisation of all the GLCs are not to be funded by the liquidation of Temasek Holdings, then Government will have to make use of taxpayers money to “Nationalise” the GLCs – assume Government need to collect additional $200 billion more taxes to do that. Now with GST, personal income tax, corporate tax, NIRC, other taxes – we collect about $100 billion to finance our yearly government spendings. To finance another $200 billion to “nationalise” the GLCs, taxpayers got to pay 200% more in terms of GST, personal income tax, corporate tax, NIRC, other taxes etc for the government to collect $200 billion more --- are taxpayers willing to pay 200% more taxes? Not to mention getting CDC vouchers, GST vouchers etc ---- taxpayers will have to pay much more taxes to “Nationalise the public goods and services” with no more CDC or GST vouchers.
c. The impact to our structure of our Economy and GDP is huge – we immediately drop from a very rich country to become a 3rd world country – from 2025 back to 1990s or 1970s – this is the impact of mismanaging our Economy if WP and the oppositions play their cards to push for Nationalisation of our public goods and services.
d. In addition, all our GLCs without subjecting to market forces and market competition will fall into inefficiency – because it cannot benchmark to market competitive pricing – as these State-Run Enterprises (SOEs) will keep putting out their hands to the Government for funds year after year. How do the various Ministers determine if the funds requested by the SOEs are reasonable if there are no market competition and benchmark? Where do the Ministers get the fund from short of taxing taxpayers to pay them?
e. GLCs if nationalise cannot tender and compete for business in overseas market – whereby currently, most if not all our GLCs gain very huge revenue and profits from overseas business because Singapore domestic market is very small unlike overseas world market - then we are losing billions and billions of $ in foreign earnings.
Only North Korea are using SOEs to run public goods. Many current and previous communist countries such as China, Russia, Vietnam, East European countries have long discarded Nationalisation and convert to Privatisation or GLCs (Government Linked Companies) operate in a market economy precisely the negative impact of a SOEs.
Now our oppositions, WP want to revert back to Nationalisation of our public goods and services started with SMRT?
Are we dooming ourselves to place our trust with the oppositions and WP?
心法, [17/11/2025 11:28 pm]
I am surprise that WP has an Economist that work with international economic bodies – but fail to understand this very basic fundamental principles of macroeconomics – free market economy versus the impact of State-Run Enterprise (SOEs).
