Public transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit have been catching some heat lately, following a spate of at least 15 instances of rail delays and interruptions since July.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place every Thursday as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

In the first three weeks of September, there were six incidents occurring due to train faults or signalling issues.

Meanwhile, the Land Transport Authority figures show the MRT network’s reliability over 12 months ending June 2025 fell to its lowest level since 2020.

It’s understandable why commuters are frustrated.

Upgrades have been made to refresh ageing MRT lines, and new lines have been added. Plus, MRT and bus fares for adults went up by 10 cents in December 2024.

Yet, troubles persist.

Earlier this week in Parliament, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow answered a range of questions from MPs about the matter, and spoke about follow-ups that the operators and LTA were working on together.

Was it an adequate response to the spate of disruptions, which have included hours-long disruptions on the East-West Line and Sengkang-Punggol LRT system in August? What else can be done to restore commuters’ confidence in our public transport systems?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I chatted with:

• Former ST senior transport correspondent Christopher Tan, who has covered Singapore’s transport scene since 1989, and

• Dr Samuel Chng, a research assistant professor who heads the Urban Psychology Lab in the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

2:16 A review of Mr Siow’s parliament debut

5:36 New trains, refreshed lines, so why the disruptions?

11:16 Is it fair to say the incidents are unrelated?

17:56 Plan Bs and Cs when trains go down

20:19 Not an apple-to-apple comparison with other cities’

25:13 What does MKBF mean for a commuter?

30:22 Expectations of the new rail reliability task force

35:28 With most trips running smoothly, is our frustration justified?

38:36 Mr Siow’s report card so far

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

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Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai, Natasha Liew and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

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