Dear SMRT, what is your problem recently? After the Circle Line train delay yesterday during the morning peak hours, you pull another train delay on the North South Line today during the evening peak hours?
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will probably investigate these incidences and fine SMRT. But how much will it be? Considering that SMRT made a net profit (before tax) of S$191.7m in FY2010, how much should the fine be in order to be significant? For the recent security lapse at Bishan MRT depot in August, they were fined S$200,000. In absolute terms, S$200,000 may seem like a lot. But this is just 0.02% of their gross revenue, or 0.10% of their net profit. As further evidence, with regards to this event, their CEO Saw Phaik Hwa said in a seemingly flippant manner, "If LTA fines us, so be it."
Maybe I should buy some SMRT shares to make myself feel better whenever I get stuck in a train delay or when I feel irritated that they were fined just a nominal amount.
Now, I wonder what would Saw Phaik Hwa say this time? Last month she still had the audacity to comment that "I don't see anything significant" in the number of train disruptions and delays.
Additionally, according to the Straits Times, SMRT claimed to have issued travel advisories on signs at stations to inform passengers of the reduced frequencies. Well, I took the train yesterday morning from Lorong Chuan and there were absolutely no such signs. If there were, I could have walked just 3 minutes to the nearby bus stop to take a bus to Toa Payoh MRT, instead of being stuck at the train station for 20 minutes.
For the train delay just now, I went to their website for more information during the delay. There was nothing. For such a major train delay, SMRT did not even bother to update their website or Facebook page.
Update as of 928pm:
SMRT finally bothered to post something on their website at 835pm and 856pm. Hello, the delay started before 7pm! What took you so long?
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