In the event of an extended MRT service breakdown, commuters will be able to resume their journey with free bus …
Commuters will be able to take free bus rides in the event of extended MRT service disruptions.
Public transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit will be offering commuters the free use of bus services calling at designated bus stops and interchanges in close proximity to the stations, in the event of an extended MRT service disruption.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Land Transport Authority announced the arrangement and said, "This will allow affected communter to quickly resume their journey on available bus services at the affected stations instead of waiting for the activation of free bus bridging services to the next MRT stations."
The fares on these free bus services will be borne by the operator of the disrupted MRT line.
Apart from free bus services, the transport authority has also worked with the operators on other measures to improve the commuter experience.
In the event of a train breakdown, announcements on free bus services and bus bridging services will be made at the affected stations to guide commuters towards bus bridging points. More signage will also be put up to guide commuters to designated bus stops and interchanges.
Additional information panels will also be introduced at stations and designated bus bridging points for commuters to be notified of bus bridging routes.
"Overall, this will provide commuters with informed choices for the necessary transport connections they need to make during train service disruptions and minimise the impact of these disruptions to affected commuters," LTA said.
A Yahoo! Singapore reader Tan Elice said such arrangements are welcomed but transport companies should be wary of the traffic congestion it may potentially cause.
"It's good but in case of disruption, it's very important to increase number of buses and the frequency to cater for inflow of commuters. In addition traffic congestion must be avoided to prevent a repeat of the extremely bad congestion in some locations that occurred during the major disruptions last year," Tan said.
Another reader Dayana Noor agreed and said, "The least that can be done is to provide alternative transportation when there are disruption to train service. And of course we do not expect the train to be down all the time."