Refining the provision of alternative travel options for future service adjustments

Oral Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow

Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister for Transport

a.           what lessons in relation to crowd management, shuttle service patterns, and communications about disruptions have been learnt from the recent closures of the Circle Line; and

b.           how will these lessons be applied where train service closures are needed during the multi-year renewal programme for the North East Line.

Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow:

1.           For the ongoing service adjustments along the Circle Line for tunnel strengthening works, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has kept commuters informed well in advance through publicity and community engagement efforts. At the affected stations, crowd marshals were also deployed to guide commuters and manage the crowds. We also started the replacement shuttle bus services two weeks early to allow commuters to familiarise themselves with alternative routes before the service adjustments, which improved the situation significantly in the initial period.

2.           With these measures in place, we have kept waiting times and loading for trains manageable. Most commuters continue to be able to board the first train, other than at certain busy stretches where higher crowding is observed even without the planned closures.

3.           We have not decided yet if scheduled closures are going to be needed for the North East Line improvement works, but we will incorporate these lessons and feedback from commuters in refining our provision of alternative travel options for future service adjustments.