i think they need to do more outreach, I believe even if they pay just 2.8 to 3 there will be plenty of singaporeans. They should go to kopitiam to do outreach. those kopitiam shake-leg uncle sure do oneeee... just need the right marketing and incentives...

Its not as easy & simple as you think. I use to work in a private bus charter before, many locals shun the job not because of pay, but they dun want to work at early/late hours & during weekends. We were offering 1.6k basic + allowance + OT most will hit 2.5k, yet the moment most locals hear the work shift they sian 50% and not interested.

Also SMRT / SBS bus operations are already deep in the red as it is and solely sustained by its commercial arm of advertising & store rents. It's easy for people outisde the industry to shout higher pay for the drivers & yet want lower fare for themselves. This will just bankrupt the company and the same people will ask government to bail out since it is for "greater good".

Plublic transport system is essentially a monopoly/duopoly. Some operations are profitable while others are not. The system must be approached in a holistic manner. While bus operations in general may not be profitable, other operations like running the MRT lines are profitable.

Perhaps we should consider nationalising the public transport system while ensuring that it is run professionally and in the best interest of the public. Just look at Changi Airport, it is corporatised but still running well and generates surpluses.

We should think of having stat boards running the public transport system but employ people with commercial skills to run in a manner that will be self sustianing in the long run.

This is contradictory. Aren't they doing that already? If private sector can't turn it self-sustaining in the long run, what makes you think that statutory boards can do any better?

[QUOTE=Unregistered;31147]Plublic transport system is essentially a monopoly/duopoly. Some operations are profitable while others are not. The system must be approached in a holistic manner. While bus operations in general may not be profitable, other operations like running the MRT lines are profitable.[q/uote]

NE line is barely profitable, Circle Line is break even, NE/EW line is profitable but declining very rapidly due to escalating staff & energy cost. All this talk about being holistic is all very good, but what does this really mean in terms of actionable items to turn public transport into a profitable model?

I don't think it's fair to compare an airport business with the public transport business. An airport does not need to go through PTC to raise its terminal charges or taxes nor does it incur the wrath of voters for even raising 1% of fees to cover 10%-20% increase in energy & staff costs.

The probelm is not about nationalizing, it's how to make the business viable. The government already owns 60% of SMRT, and its board is dominated by government folks. I fail to see how acquiring another 40% and "nationalizing" it will suddenly generate surpluses for no reason.

All this talk about nationalization is acutally an euphemism for the government to subsidise public transport for the masses. Whether the government should be subsidizing a public good depends largely on the citizen's percept of its social contract with the governement, so its hard to say whether it is good or bad, but let's call a spade a spade and not beat about the bush by pretending that nationalizing is anything but a call for government handouts.

The Worker's Party being a centre left party has been the voice for transport nationalization. Even they do not pretend that nationalization is going to turn this whole thing into some sustainable surplus unit, but are merely arguing along the lines the need for the government to control costs for a public good.

This is just idle talk that means nothing. You cannot run a sustainable business when your energy cost goes up 30%, staff cost up 7% and PTC bows to public pressure and only allow you to increase fare by a few %. Changing the board of directors into some stat board pannel isn't going to change this fundamental economic fact.

I know the industry as I have actually worked in a private transport company for years. The margins are razor thin and fares usually can't catch up with costs. SMRT / SBS bleeds badly and the governement steps in to "subsidise" them by opening up retail spaces for them to collect rent to make up for the losses. The original idea was that SBS/SMRT was supposed to be on operating contracts with LTA, but it has now evloved into a landlording company where retail spaces are given out to them by the government with nominal payments in order for them to stay afloat and continue to be "profitable". Last I heard they are now even sharing advertising revenue from bus stops with the 2 operators!

wow bro.. just listen to yourself.. listen to what you just say..

private cannot sustain because they have limited resources.

Government can sustain because they have virtually unlimited resources. no funds just request for more funds. they have so many organisations offering assistance like singapore business federation, Spring and many other productivity improvement advocates.. surely something can be done.

If a private company lack fund, they will be forced to fold.. If a stat board lack fund, government just pump in more funds lo.

Just to add in one more critical point for the bro who said self sustaining:

what do you mean by self-sustaining? the minute you privatised an organisation it can never be self-sustaining. Any private business is exposed to market forces.

However, a stat board or government is less affected or is able to prevent market forces from affecting its operation because it is less competitive in that nature. A public firm have no urgent need to response to market forces whereas a private firm has a responsibility to shareholders, owners of the majority stock of the firm. -_-

In short you are advocating government to subsidise transport for citizens. Just be upfront about it.

the public transport system is currently used by both citizens (Singaporeans) and non-citizens (PRs and foreigners who work or come here as tourists). so what needs to be done is to device a system whereby fares should be increased across the board but citizens will get transport rebates. this way we truly reflects the cost of operating a public transport system, while ensuring help for Singaporeans. nationalising the transport system may not be a bad idea as long as it is run by competent management.

you are too simple-minded. Do you think all the government can do is to subsidize?

The government can still make money through advertising and leasing.. these are things which have been put in place to create revenue, otherwise why the need to make such nice mrt stations...

Although I have to admit that to have the bunch of government dogs and cats to create more business revenue is almost inconceivable HAHAHA.... if they can do business.. cats and dogs will fly...