Social problem Pasar Seni bus hub

The Star covered a story on "Homeless people and foul stench greet commuters daily at Pasar Seni bus hub"

Commuters making their way from the Pasar Seni LRT station to board buses at the terminal are subjected to the unbearable stench of urine as well as the sight of homeless people sleeping at the seating area meant for passengers.

A homeless man climbing up towards the Pasar Seni LRT station after collecting discarded clothes from the Klang river bank.

When the station opens every morning, security personnel have to ask them to move away from the stairs to avoid blocking the way of people entering and exiting the station.

Although the security personnel have asked them to move away from the area many times, the homeless keep coming back, even more so now that the bus hub has reopened after being closed for upgrading works last year.

Don’t mind the noise: A homeless man sleeping under an escalator at the Pasar Seni LRT station.

RapidKL spokesman Azhar Ghazali said although RapidKL regularly notified DBKL about the homeless, the problem remained unresolved.

“Several operations were carried out and the homeless sent to welfare homes but when one group is taken away, another group turns up,” he said.

“Maybe we need to work with the relevant parties to find a long-term solution to the problem,” he said.

Airport Coach expands to Seremban

The route of express bus that is most profitable with highest frequency is none other than Kuala Lumpur - Seremban, vice versa.

Previously, two companies which are SKS KL and Suasana Edaran serve the route. However recently, Airport Coach joins the two rivals. They received a permission to run between Bahau - Seremban - Kuala Lumpur.

A reverse takeover was completed on November 2013, where operation is absorbed to Airport Coach.

The new livery of Suasana Edaran

Airport Coach is the sole operator for KLIA to KL Sentral. The bus company runs daily service with affordable prices and frequent service.

Open tender bus routes

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) announced that private stage bus companies will be able to bid for routes via an open tender system from April.

The routes in Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Perlis are expected for firms to bid over. It includes Port Dickson, Bentong and Perlis.

This system is said to be modelled after London's public transport model; where an authority would tender routes to private firms and make sure that standards were met.

Further details of the tender include: some high-traffic routes may be operated by two bus firms, have to follow strict schedules to prevent service clashes and Government-owned transport companies such as Prasarana would not be part of the tender unless it was necessary.

[KVMRT: Obviously SPAD has put an end of monopoly for lucrative routes that been a problem. It is also a better plan than just bailing out private bus firms, e.g Cityliner in Negri Sembilan.]

Land Transport Masterplan 2013

Part 1 of Land Transport Masterplan 2013 here


As part of the Land Transport Masterplan 2013, two new MRT lines will be built and three existing lines will be extended. This will double the current rail network from 178 km to about 360 km.

The CCL will close the link between HarbourFront and Marina Bay stations and save commuters the hassle of making multiple transfers. The extension, which will also pass through Keppel, is expected to be completed by 2025.

The DTL will be two km longer by 2025 -- to run through the East Coast area. It will be connected to the East West Line and the Eastern Region Line, which will be ready by 2020, so that commuters can transfer between the Downtown Line and Eastern Region Line in the east.

The NEL will be extended northwards by one station to serve Punggol North including the new Punggol Downtown.

[SG] More new MRT lines to be built by 2030

More new MRT lines to be built by 2030 (The Star)

Friday January 18, 2013

THE Government has announced a slew of new rail transit projects which will be completed by 2030.

By then, Singapore’s metro network will increase to 360km, from 178km today. The latest new rail projects were announced by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew during a visit to the Downtown Line 1’s Chinatown station yesterday morning.

The biggest project will be for a 50km MRT line running from Changi to Jurong that will be up by 2030.

Called the Cross Island Line, it will pass towns such as Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah, West Coast and Clementi.

Next is the 20km Jurong Region Line, expected to be completed by 2025, JRL will connect the Jurong region with the rest of Singapore. Commuters in the north will be also able to enter the Jurong area directly via the JRL, without having to interchange at the heavily-used Jurong East interchange. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Part 2 of Land Transport Masterplan 2013 here