Public transport system based on balance of responsibilities: minister

SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said that the public transportation system is based on a balance of responsibilities between commuters, public transport operators (PTOs) and the government, in order to achieve quality service, affordable fares and a viable and sustainable system.

Mr Lui said the key to achieving this balance is a robust regulatory framework.

He stressed that the regulatory framework requires the PTOs to comply with prescribed service standards and maintenance requirements, failing which penalties will be imposed.

This helps to safeguard commuter interest through requiring the PTOs to invest sufficiently to meet these standards.

For example, when Land Transport Authority (LTA) completes its regulatory review in a few months’ time to further tighten rail service standards, the PTOs will need to invest more to deliver the higher levels of service and reliability required of them.

He was replying in Parliament to Member of Parliament for Tampines Group Representation Constituency, Baey Yam Keng’s queries on what measures are in place to ensure SMRT will not be distracted from its role as a public transport operator as it takes on retail operations at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Mr Lui said: "Beyond just imposing more stringent regulatory standards and heftier fines, LTA is taking a deeper look at the engineering and maintenance systems and processes that rail operators have put in place. This is an added safeguard following the Committee of Inquiry’s report.

"Let me assure Mr Baey that we are mindful of the concern that he has raised, that the rail operator might get distracted from its primary mission, or for that matter, simply focus on short—term profitability while scrimping on maintenance."

— CNA/xq