FEBRUARY 2019

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RAIL ENGINEERING’S FANTASTIC FOUR

S T A N D A C H A N C E T O W I N P R I Z E S W O R T H $ 4 0 ! RAIL ENGINEERING’S FANTASTIC FOUR In 1999, four engineers from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) were featured in Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao. They were lauded as key figures of ’s rail engineering who joined the then Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) in the 80s as young engineers and dedicated themselves to the development of Singapore’s rail system.

1999 2019 Lianhe Zaobao © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission. Press Source: Lianhe Zaobao © Singapore

10 years is too easy for these stalwarts #LTA20YearChallenge

Twenty years on, after more than three decades on the job, they are the steady stalwarts who have steered Singapore’s rail system For the quartet, each career through all its significant milestones. They helped to shape the spans over three decades, a nation’s transport network, from breaking new ground with driverless trains on the North East Line (NEL) and ground freezing feat that shows commitment on the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), to extending to their job. the rail network with the Downtown Line (DTL), TEL and the upcoming Cross Island Line (CRL). Rail engineering’s Fantastic Four – Chua Chong Kheng, Sim Wee Meng, Ng Kee Nam, and Ow Chun Nam – share insights into the Today, they are still in service and tirelessly improving highs and lows of their careers, their most memorable projects, connectivity for commuters. They also walk alongside a new lessons learnt and how they have striven to provide the best transport batch of young engineers, imparting their wisdom to the experience for commuters. next generation who will eventually take over the helm of Singapore’s land transport system.

CHUA CHONG KHENG DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE (INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT)

BREAKING NEW GROUND Autonomous vehicles might be the hot topic in recent years, but few realise that Singapore already had one up and running years ago, in its rail system.

The North East Line (NEL) boasts many firsts. Opened in 2003, it is the world’s first fully automated and driverless high- capacity rapid transit line, and the first MRT line to run entirely underground.

One of the men behind the ground- breaking line is Chua Chong Kheng, who was then NEL’s senior project manager. “There were many ‘firsts’ with the NEL. It was the first line with an integrated control system and also the first to use an off-site facility “It was the first-ever planned MRT service Chong Kheng is always on the lookout for disruption. And the project involved a ideas to improve the commuting experience. with a customised few weekends where we had to work 52 Other noteworthy projects under his belt test track built for hours non-stop, starting on Friday night include installing giant fans at above-ground and re-opening service on Monday,” says train platforms, such as at Pioneer station, to us in France.” Chong Kheng. help commuters stay cool, and retrofitting to enhance commuters’ The NEL project, he adds, “provided a The team took two years to plan it and to safety and reduce track intrusions. ‘base’ for the subsequent implementation make sure work would be executed safely. of similar fully automated systems for the “There’s never a dull moment,” he Circle and Downtown lines. We broke a Furthermore, there were inclement weather observes about his work. lot of ground and it was a bold move at conditions to deal with. “On one Sunday, the time.” we had to stop work for 4 to 5 hours due to lightning. It was nerve wracking, and we “I always encourage DRIVEN TO SUCCEED worked until the last minute.” young engineers to Like the NEL, Chong Kheng is a man think out of the box. of many “firsts”. Another milestone Despite the Herculean task of the project that he led was the Jurong East upgrading work, the LTA team completed We should not always Modification Project (JEMP) in 2011, where it safely and on time. a train platform was added at Jurong think that what’s there East MRT station to ease crowding, and The success of JEMP, he says, gave them cannot be changed, or additional tracks added to separate the a blueprint for similar future projects, North-South and East-West line operations. such as a new platform planned for that it’s good enough. It was the first time train service had to be Tanah Merah station in 2024. There is always a better disrupted for upgrading work. way of doing things.” Upon returning home in 1978, however, his Many contractors were based overseas SIM WEE MENG first job was with the Public Utilities Board and had to call in to the discussions,” he SENIOR GROUP DIRECTOR (RAIL) where he worked on laying cables that explains. “If software patches were required, supplied power to new towns. He later joined the offshore contractors were required to a consulting firm, designing power systems. examine the logs and provide software FULFILLING HIS PASSION patches the following day.” For Sim Wee Meng, being a rail engineer But building a rail system remained a was written in the stars. As a child, he dream. And the chance to fulfill it came His hard-nosed approach and perseverance enjoyed dismantling moving parts and was in 1982, when he answered a recruitment paid off. With close cooperation, intense curious to find out how things worked. advertisement in the newspapers for effort and great teamwork, Singapore’s – electrical engineers to build Singapore’s and the world’s – first fully automatic steel “I liked to tinker with mechanical objects, MRT system. wheel and steel rail MRT system was ready and was always intrigued by moving for its trial run in May 2003, to Mr Sim’s parts, such as those of a bicycle or clock,” He got the job, and worked on constructing great relief. he recalls, adding with a laugh, “I would the North-South and East-West lines, dismantle a clock to see how it worked, Singapore’s first and second MRT lines. “You must be passionate about your and get a scolding when I could not put it work, get your hands dirty and be back together.” “I told my former employer, ‘I am resigning. prepared to work long hours to learn the I want to fulfil something that I’ve been trade. You can’t get far if you only work Mr Sim, as he is known to everyone in LTA, telling myself to.’ They were surprised from 9 to 5.” attended a technical school before heading because I had to take a pay cut. But I said I To young engineers, his advice is: to the University of Glasgow to study had made up my mind.” electrical and electronic engineering. This steely resolve is evident in Mr Sim’s “It will be rewarding As a student, he rode the London Tube approach to tough jobs. Mr Sim recalls at the end of the day. and was impressed with the system. facing many complex issues getting core systems to work together during the final You will see a product testing stage for the NEL, which he says is that can serve the “I told myself that his biggest challenge to date. if Singapore had a community for a long “Every night, after completion of planned time. Your work will metro system, I would testing at around midnight, the project team want to be part of the and contractors would huddle together on the touch the lives of top floor of Sengkang Depot to go through many.” team to build it.” the list of failed tests and work out solutions. The project remains etched in his mind “New stations will be sited near NG KEE NAM today. There were some technical residential areas and businesses. GROUP DIRECTOR, THOMSON-EAST challenges but it was extremely rewarding This means we have to either under- COAST & CROSS ISLAND LINES (CIVIL) for Kee Nam to see the benefits the station cross or over-cross these structures, and brought to whole communities. look for innovative solutions to lessen the impact on the surroundings while TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE “The viaduct between protecting the environment.” Today’s Sembawang is a bustling and Admiralty stations traversed thick residential town in northern Singapore. vegetation and farmlands,” he recalls. “Conventional ways may not work But Kee Nam still remembers the rural “There were many wild dogs, and we anymore. So we must look into backwater of the past. could only reach the area using four- innovative solutions and be bold to try wheel drive vehicles.” new ways of doing things. An example Once dotted with farms, it was also would be our use of ground freezing home to a British naval base. Even up technology,” Kee Nam adds, referring till the 1970s, there were hardly any “It is a thriving to the method of using ice walls to amenities there. town now, and I stabilise the earth in the tunnelling of the Thomson-East Coast Line. Sembawang was a blank canvas, and Kee am glad to have Nam was one of the artists who would been involved in Training, he believes, cannot be just breathe new life into the area. He was about theory. “Besides spending time part of the project team that built the this transformation with younger engineers, I invite them to Sembawang MRT station in 1992, which of the Singapore ask questions, test them and let them take altered the landscape for good. the lead while I observe. I have identified landscape.” a few high-potential engineers along The opening of Sembawang MRT station, the way who are ready to write the next as part of the Woodlands MRT Extension, These days, Kee Nam spends a lot of his time chapter of our rail story,” he shares. spurred the development of Sembawang mentoring young engineers who face a New Town. The station served as a whole new set of challenges. central hub around which residential, “A good engineer commercial and industrial zones began “As our transport network gets is made through springing up. denser, our stations become obstacles themselves. Building new lines is exposure and becoming more challenging,” he notes. experience.” OW CHUN NAM DIRECTOR & CHIEF TUNNEL ENGINEER

CHALLENGING THE GROUND Ow Chun Nam would be the first to tell you that his job is “not glamorous”, and that most civil engineers like him are the “pai kias” (bad boys in Hokkien) who do the “dirty work”. But in truth, a civil engineer’s work is as distinctive and invaluable as it is sophisticated.

Chun Nam, who is LTA’s chief tunnel engineer, has weathered various crises and is battle-hardened.

In 2008, tunnelling works for the Circle Line caused a cave-in off Holland Road and he was woken up by a call at 4am.

“When you are doing tunnelling work, you can’t sleep well every night,” he reveals. “You are worried when your phone rings. You wake up and, most of the time, there is an issue.” A slurry tunnel boring machine, for instance, is used in highly permeable and “We learn through He rushed down to the site. A 10m-wide unstable terrain, or under civilian structures stretch along Cornwall Gardens had experience and, sensitive to ground disturbances. been swallowed up after loose ground sometimes, mistakes.” caused the road to cave in, resulting in The sinkhole was not the first such a 4m-deep crater. The water supply to He was the first Singaporean resident setback for the Circle Line project. The some homes was cut off as the pipes had engineer hired by LTA, among the most serious incident occurred in 2004, snapped when the road crumbled. pioneer LTA engineers who were when a cave-in at the Nicoll Highway mentored by the late Terry Hulme, a tunnel killed four persons. It was memorable because of the founding member of the Tunnelling unprecedented challenge, but he stepped and Underground Construction Society Chun Nam was asked to lead LTA’s crisis up to it. He had to immediately secure (Singapore). “He was my guru.” management team. To him, the work the area, and minimise the impact on is not only about solving engineering activities around the accident site. Chun Nam has earned his stripes the problems. The human element is also Thankfully, there were no casualties. hard way. one of the most important aspects.

It was an important lesson on the risks “If you didn’t take the initiative and “The accident happened in the day. that come with tunnelling. Today, Chun ask questions, they wouldn’t share I went to the site at night and it was Nam constantly tells his engineers information,” he says, referring to the unusually quiet,” he recounts. to familiarise themselves with all the expatriate engineering experts who came different techniques and the various mainly from Australia and Britain in the “I saw the silhouette of a man. He was a types of tunnelling machines, as each early days of his career. “They didn’t have manager from the Japanese company one is suited to a specific type of terrain. much time for everybody. You had to ask, contracted for the project. He was feeling “Singapore’s geology is not homogeneous and learn through observation.” down and meditating.” but stratified, with layers of rock, clay and other soil types,” he says. “This His advice to young engineers: “I placed my hands on his shoulders and poses a lot of challenges, including the didn’t say a word. I didn’t know what to importance of assessing the terrain and say. It was a sad moment.” “Be inquisitive. Always ground conditions. During tunnelling, one stretch may be soft soil, but another make an effort to learn.” Yet, there is a learning moment from may be hard rock.” every crisis. OW CHUN NAM NG KEE NAM SIM WEE MENG CHUA CHONG KHENG

Studied Studied Studied Studied Civil Engineering at then Civil Engineering Electrical and Electronic Electrical and Electronic Engineering Singapore University University of London Engineering at University at then Nanyang Technological of Glasgow Institute (NTI)

Joined Joined Joined Joined Mass Rapid Transit Mass Rapid Transit Provisional Mass Rapid Mass Rapid Transit Corporation in 1984 Corporation in 1984 Transit Authority in 1983 Corporation in 1985

“Use your initiative. “The level of job “If you have no “I have been involved Don’t be afraid of satisfaction is on a passion for your in MRT development making mistakes.” whole new level because work, you will not for over 30 years but you see the benefits last very long.” I am still learning new to communities, the things every day. It is transport convenience and deeply satisfying to connectivity. I developed know that you have a lifelong career here and been a part of building never looked back.” a legacy that will benefit generations of people today and many years down the road.” CROSS ISLAND LINE FIRST PHASE TO OPEN BY 2029

Interchange Station CRL 1 (Completion by 2029) CRL Subsequent Phases (Under Study)

Our 8th MRT line, the Cross Island Line (CRL) will serve commuters in the eastern, KEY FACTS western & north-eastern parts of Singapore. about CRL1 MRT The 1st phase (CRL1), which stations begins work in 2020, will serve 12 residents in areas such as Tampines, KM Pasir Ris and Ang Mo Kio. 29 long Commuters can look forward to Interchange shorter travelling times, more stations route options across the rail 4 network, and easier access to WATCH this video for more destinations such as Bishan-Ang Connecting to NSEWL, NEL about the CRL1 Mo Kio Park, Changi Beach Park, and the upcoming TEL Hougang Mall and Ang Mo Kio Works to begin in 2020, Hub via public transport! estimated completion by 2029 Meet Ong You Yuan and Singapore Institute of Management. His special affinity with MRT trains started at A ‘RAIL’ Liang Ge Song, Friends of the age of five. Land Transport whose love LOVE for locomotives led them Today, the trainspotting duo are part of a team that runs a website called SGTrains, to run SGTrains, a website which is dedicated to everything rail- FOR that shares everything you related in Singapore. wanted to know about the trains that ply our tracks. A key feature of SGTrains is its dedicated TRAINS travel guide, which includes first and last train timings that are consolidated across Even with their eyes closed, Ong You all MRT lines. The website also includes Yuan and Liang Ge Song can identify the frequently sought-after tips such as train different types of MRT train models – etiquette and safety guidelines. just by the sounds the motors make.

SGTrains has become a go-to page site for “The fourth-generation trains make a many commuters, receiving over 20,000 higher-pitched sound than the older monthly views. Their pages featuring trains, which are noisier,” said Ge Song, 19, train timings, and early closures and late a Human Resource Management student openings on certain lines, are among the at Singapore Polytechnic, who became most popular as they provide convenient hooked on trains seven years ago. and reliable information to commuters. Both used to spend hours recording the The group also engages the public through registration numbers of passing trains events such as the annual Singapore – a hobby known as trainspotting. “We Train-Enthusiasts’ Amazing Race, where FRIENDSOF could identify patterns and know which participants traverse Singapore using trains were not running on any day,” public transport to solve puzzles. They also explained You Yuan, 26, a recent LAND frequently hold Facebook contests, with Business Information System graduate prizes like limited-edition EZ-Link cards from the University of Wollongong at TRANSPORT up for grabs. They have also set up booths and conducted activities for the public at LTA events such as the opening of the Downtown Line. Photo credits: SGTrains Photo credits:

You Yuan and Ge Song checking out a Bombardier train at the InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin. Photo credits: SGTrains Photo credits: Brandenburg Gate

Exhibition InnoTrans Berlin - September 2018

They have even gained international The team has visited sites like MRT depots A GERMAN ADVENTURE recognition, as some tourists use their website and the upcoming Thomson-East Coast to plan their travels around Singapore. Line (TEL) tunnels. LTA also invited them One of the most memorable trips for to Jurong Port in May 2018 to witness the the duo came in September 2018, when “As the majority of Singaporeans use public delivery of the first trains for the TEL line. transportation giant Bombardier invited transport, we help to provide accurate For these enthusiasts, the experience was them to the biennial InnoTrans exhibition information on trains,” said Ge Song. exhilarating. “It was the first time we saw in Berlin. This is the world’s largest trade such a process of trains being delivered and fair for the rail transport industry. SGTrains has built up a sizeable online transported to the depots,” shared Ge Song. presence since its launch in 2011. Over The Canadian company, which built 300 train enthusiasts have joined the the Downtown Line (DTL) trains, group, and its Facebook and Instagram Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) trains, pages count more than 6,100 and 1,300 and the upcoming R151 trains for the followers respectively. North South & East West Lines (NSEWL), had been impressed with SGTrains’ You Yuan and Ge Song are part of LTA’s engagement with the public. Friends of Land Transport (FoLT) programme, which engages people interested in land In Berlin, You Yuan and Ge Song saw transport. Through the programme, they exhibitions showcasing the latest rail- have been able to visit LTA sites for an up related gadgets and services, met some of Watch SG Trains’ video of their close and personal look at developments in visit to Jurong Port Bombardier’s top brass, visited its factory land transport, often sharing their feedback and tried its Virtual Reality (VR) technology on land transport issues which has been that is looking to revolutionise how rail constructive and useful. maintenance is being done. With VR, staff can say goodbye to Both are considering careers in land transport, tediously flipping through user manuals although You Yuan points out that passion and fixing parts concurrently. Now, they and work are two “different things”. are able to identify parts of a train that require repairs – even before getting their It has been quite a journey for a website hands dirty. It is similar to Singapore, that began as a local forum. Now, it where LTA is currently exploring the use is almost like a Wikipedia page of rail of VR to train employees to dismantle and information, including blog posts on assemble train components. interviews with the biggest names in the rail transport industry. The duo also explored Berlin’s public subway system. “I think Singapore’s For these train aficionados who have is better. Their trains do not have air seen what other countries have to offer, conditioning so it’s really hot,” quipped Singapore’s trains still top their rankings. You Yuan.

As Berlin’s subway uses a shared track “Our trains are already system between many train lines, they had to occasionally wait up to 15 minutes for among the better ones trains. “We found that the trains aren’t as in the world in terms efficient as Singapore’s,” he added. of reliability, comfort These train enthusiasts were more and operations. If you impressed with Berlin’s public buses, especially the electronic displays that go to Tripadvisor, you’ll give detailed information on bus see tourists praising and train services at subsequent bus stops. For first-time visitors like our system. I think themselves, it was extremely helpful Singaporeans should as they were able to make connections between services seamlessly. be proud of our train

“As tourists, we weren’t afraid of getting systems.” lost. The small details that they have ONG YOU YUAN focused on make the commutes very FRIEND OF LAND TRANSPORT interesting and easy,” said You Yuan.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR COMMUTERS

Back in Singapore, the SGTrains team also acts as a link between commuters, East side gallery public transport operators and LTA.

Inevitably, SGTrains receives many queries and feedback from commuters, and they dutifully forward them to the relevant parties with whom they have established a working relationship.

“In a sense, we help the authorities maintain communications with the commuters. You could say we are like an informal corporate communications SGTrains Photo credits: team,” joked You Yuan.

When taking trains, they also look out for defects and notify the operators. “We know that people are benefitting from what we do, and it motivates us to keep it up,” said Ge Song. GROWING UP WITH DOWNTOWN LINE We engage in some #throwback moments as we trace back SGTrains’ journey along with the construction of the Downtown Line. Try and see if you can spot some familiar faces here!

2009 2011 First visit to Commencement of DTL Mock-up DTL2 tunnelling Train works

2013 2012 Sharing the Interaction excitement at with our DTL1 opening engineers

2015 2017 Celebrating Helping to the opening improve the of DTL2 DTL3 signage

The next generation of transport enthusiasts

What a treat! A group of 17 children A gallery tour, an art participated in a fun-filled event as part jamming session, and of the Friends of Land Transport Juniors programme, which was launched in March being a train captain 2018 to engage primary school-aged children. for a day. The children toured the Singapore Mobility Proudly displaying their artworks Gallery, which showcases interactive and These junior transport enthusiasts also tried Art Jam multi-sensory exhibits on how LTA plans a realistic simulation programme developed and builds our land transport system. by the Friends from SGTrains which allowed them to “drive” a train along one of the MRT The Friends from SGTrains were on hand lines. To cap off a colourful experience, to quiz the children on public transport the children painted their imaginative and etiquette and gracious behaviour, and intricate visions of Singapore’s future land answer their many queries on the transport system. For children who love trains intricacies of our land transport system. and everything to do with land transport, look out for our next event for our junior Friends! SMARTER JOURNEYS

A one-stop web portal where you can WITH ENHANCED perform vehicle-related transactions, including payment of fines and fees. Vehicle owners can now enjoy secure DIGITAL SERVICES and seamless access to an even wider array of services with an enhanced user interface.

Launched in 2018, the transformed portal features improvements not just for motorists, but also for other road users such as Personal Mobility Device (PMD) riders who can look forward to transferring and deregistering their devices on the same portal.

“One.Motoring has been revamped with an enhanced navigation experience to make it even more user-friendly. Users can access useful information and popular digital services within a few clicks.” TAY KAI LUN DEPUTY MANAGER OF SERVICE TRANSFORMATION AT LTA

“With the revamped One.Motoring portal, we hope to keep the We are embracing technology to make life easier for entire motor industry commuters and motorists with more seamless and speedy competitive and aligned services online. As part of LTA’s digital transformation to our broader smart journey, we have revamped services to deliver a new level nation initiative.” of convenience and efficiency for users. Here’s how two of THAM BOON LEONG our digital initiatives help to serve you better. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF VRL SERVICE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION AT LTA RENEWING YOUR CHANGING CARS: ROAD TAX FROM TRANSFER VEHICLE WHEREVER YOU ARE OWNERSHIP WITH EASE

After a weekend of family-filled You see an advertisement for the latest Since November 2018, motorists have adventures, your children are sound hybrid car and figure it is time to change been able to perform a wider range of asleep in their beds. You sit down to take gears from your petrol guzzler to a more high-value vehicle-related transactions care of some mail and household matters sustainable sedan. on the One.Motoring portal. Users can when it suddenly dawns on you that your now securely authenticate themselves road tax is due that very day! Thankfully, you are able to quickly close through SingPass or CorpPass 2-Factor a deal with an interested buyer for your Authentication (2FA). In the past, you would need to head down current car and transfer the vehicle to a road tax collection centre or find an ownership speedily and easily through Besides the efficiency and convenience AXS machine to renew your road tax. the enhanced One.Motoring portal. enjoyed by vehicle owners, the new But this time, there is no need to panic digital service is also expected to improve as you can renew your road tax from the This is a big change from not too counter staff productivity as they can be comfort of your own home using LTA’s long ago when you had to request a redeployed to do higher-value work. One.Motoring web portal. Transaction Personal Identification Number (TPIN) – a special password that A new online appointment system is also The portal was recently revamped with was previously sent through snail mail, in the works to cut down waiting times at an enhanced navigation experience to or obtained over the counter at LTA’s LTA’s customer service centre. make it even more user-friendly. You can customer service centre at Sin Ming, access useful information and popular before you could perform high-value If you are not technologically savvy, digital services with just a few clicks. transactions such as vehicle ownership fret not! Service ambassadors at LTA’s transfer and deregistration. Sin Ming office will be available to guide users on One.Motoring LTA is going paperless Being able to handle this easily yourself services. Motorists can also turn for all notifications, also removes the need to hand over your to CitizenConnect Centres (CCCs) personal documents, like your identity located at community centres island- except summonses, card, to vehicle dealers to take care of wide for assistance. from the middle of such things on your behalf. this year for timelier updates.

So from now on, a road tax renewal reminder will be sent directly to your mobile phone via SMS. No more missed reminders buried under piles of envelopes! MYTRANSPORT.SG A transit app that serves as a mobile guide to public transport services around Singapore, MyTransport.SG Mobile has come a long way from displaying general traffic information to providing motorists, commuters, and cyclists with a more personalised user experience.

Eight years after it was set up, and almost 4 million downloads and over a thousand counts of user feedback later, the new MyTransport.SG Mobile 2.0 is ready to make commuting even easier. Some new services include a ‘Near You’ function to display SAVVY COMMUTER: PEDAL POWER: nearby bus, train, and traffic information, a WAYFINDING ON FINDING NEARBY multi-modal journey planner, and a bicycle THE FLY PARKING parking map.

If you are searching for the fastest route Since bicycle sharing services first “In the previous app, to your next destination, the updated started, you have enjoyed getting on a multiple steps were MyTransport.SG Mobile app can be your rented bike and cycling around town. handy personal travel concierge. needed to check bus You believe in shared bicycles as a arrival times. But with Imagine you are running late for your form of commuting, but one pet peeve aunt’s housewarming and you need to is how it is sometimes hard to find the new app, all I have find the fastest way to get to her house a proper space to park your bicycle, to do is to open it and from your workplace. especially in areas that you are less familiar with. I can see my favourite Flipping furiously through the various taxi booking apps, you find it tough to The new MyTransport.SG Mobile bus stops, as well as book a ride during the evening rush app solves this problem. It provides the nearest bus stops hour. Just then, the colourful icon of cyclists with nearby bicycle parking MyTransport.SG Mobile app captures information, including the location on the home screen.” your attention, and you decide to tap on and parking capacity of nearby bicycle JOEY FOO it and input your aunt’s address. parking spaces. COMMUTER Planning a journey has never been The LTA team behind the app is actively easier with the new multi-modal journey working on fine-tuning and updating “I see the app as a planner, as it is now able to recommend the features and user interface based on routes across buses and trains. The public feedback, so you can look forward form of public service customisable notification function can to more improvements in the future. to cater to the needs also provide commuters with real-time transport alerts on traffic and train delays of our increasingly nearby or on favourite routes. It is the Download the latest version of tech-savvy commuters. first time you are visiting your aunt’s MyTransport.SG today! new house but you are pleased to learn We will do our best to that the app gives you clear directions to serve them and help get there via train and bus. everyone plan their You decide to try the route journeys better.” recommended by MyTransport.SG Mobile, and to your surprise, you reach RUFAN MO your aunt’s house not much later than EXECUTIVE IT SYSTEMS ANALYST AT LTA your cousin who took a taxi and was caught in rush hour traffic! ON-DEMAND PUBLIC BUS: HAIL A RIDE WITH YOUR MOBILE PHONE! Commuters can now hail a bus through an app, picking you up from any bus stop within a defined area. This six-month trial was realised from an idea to use technology to optimise resources while providing more seamless and convenient commutes.

What if there was a way to only route and commuters will no longer need A PROJECT OF FIRSTS buses to places where there is demand, to transfer between buses within the while skipping other bus stops? defined area. Routes will be determined based on real-time commuter demand. Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary This idea was conceived about two years learning about the ago, and at that time, the concept was on-demand bus service from Alan Lin, being tested in other countries such as “At the end of the day, Assistant Manager, the US and Finland. Bus Licensing Division, it is about leveraging LTA, during the launch. The intent was to provide more seamless the latest on-demand journeys for commuters through the use of a mobile application, where buses and technology to optimise passenger bookings can be matched by resources, while at the an algorithm to provide the service on a dynamic basis. same time providing The six-month On-Demand Public Bus commuters with (ODPB) trial is the first in Singapore, as It also addressed the issue that some public well as in South-East Asia, involving public bus services were facing low utilisation a more seamless buses with a mobile application at its core. during off-peak hours, allowing limited resources to be better utilised. journey.” FRANCIS TEO Faced with many unknowns, it was a challenge even at the initial stage to draft This concept of dynamic routing means DEPUTY DIRECTOR, BUS LICENSING the requirements for vendors to develop that buses will not operate on a fixed DIVISION, LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, the mobile application. The team went on a route and pre-determined timetables, PROJECT OIC study trip to New South Wales, Australia, to meet the local transport authority, and bus operators that were in the process of rolling out on-demand transport pilots. Commuters boarding the on-demand public bus in Marina-Downtown.

“The study trip was an eye-opening experience, as we managed to glean insights into the preparatory work undertaken prior to the roll-out of the on-demand transport pilots, such as stakeholder engagement and publicity,” noted Annabelle Latiff, Assistant Manager, Bus Licensing Division. “All in all, this was a steep learning curve with much learning HOW IT WORKS done on the job. It was a very iterative During the trial, commuters can request to be picked up and dropped off at any bus process.” stop in the defined areas using an app on DESMOND TAY 01 their smartphone. ASSISTANT MANAGER, BUS LICENSING DIVISION

Based on the selected pick-up and drop- But thanks to good team effort, they were off points, the app may offer an ODPB or able to overcome the challenges. regular bus, depending on the expected 02 wait time, to maximise efficiency.

Commuters can use the BusNow app for the weekday ODPB trial in Marina-Downtown and the Night ODPB trial from CBD to the Bedok- 03 Tampines area, and the BusGo app for the weekday ODPB trial in Joo Koon.

Watch the video to learn more Francis hopes commuters will be receptive to the concept of riding on-demand public buses, about the ODPB trial! and will provide feedback to improve the system. “Ultimately, the use of a mobile application to hail a bus is aimed at enhancing convenience for people to better plan their journeys,” he concluded. So hop on for a ride and let us know if ODPB is the way to go!

Weekday Service Night Service Weekday service by SBS Transit at Night service by SMRT Buses The BusGo and Marina-Downtown and Joo Koon from the CBD to Bedok and BusNow apps are Tampines, via Geylang Marina-Downtown now available on From 11am–3pm and Google Play and 8.30pm–11.45pm on weekdays CBD-Bedok & Tampines Apple’s App Store. (excluding public holidays) From 11.30pm–2am Joo Koon on Fridays, Saturdays From 11am–3pm and and the eve of public 8.30pm–11.30pm on weekdays holidays. (excluding public holidays)

Card Cash Flat fare $0.83 $1.50 $4.50 (Cash/Card) *Based on fixed distance of 3.2km

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L-R 1. Bukit Panjang 2. Chinatown

3. Geylang Bahru

clothes flying in the wind. the in flying clothes

artwork gives the illusion of of illusion the gives artwork

public housing landscape, this this landscape, housing public

familiar sight in Singapore’s Singapore’s in sight familiar

Taking inspiration from this this from inspiration Taking

their flats since the 1960s. 1960s. the since flats their

dry on bamboo poles from from poles bamboo on dry

hanging their clothes out to to out clothes their hanging

Singaporeans have been been have Singaporeans

by Cheo Chai-Hiang Chai-Hiang Cheo by

FLYING COLOURS FLYING

ground, a safety boot and other items in the station. the in items other and boot safety a ground,

included pictograms of a construction worker drilling into the the into drilling worker construction a of pictograms included

and Vice-Dean at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, she also also she Arts, Fine of Academy Nanyang the at Vice-Dean and

daily business captured in Yang’s artwork. A Senior Lecturer Lecturer Senior A artwork. Yang’s in captured business daily

scenes & objects of a Singaporean community going about its its about going community Singaporean a of objects & scenes

on a ladder painting a wall and a kitten – these are some of the the of some are these – kitten a and wall a painting ladder a on

Whimsical pictograms of a bag of kopi-o (black coffee), a person person a coffee), (black kopi-o of bag a of pictograms Whimsical Singaporeans’ curiosity. Singaporeans’

the flats represent represent flats the

Yang Marienne by boys peeking around around peeking boys

CONSTRUCTED MEMORIES CONSTRUCTED while the giant kampung kampung giant the while

long hilly landscape, landscape, hilly long

to the neighbourhood’s neighbourhood’s the to

Clang’s images are a nod nod a are images Clang’s

public housing blocks in in blocks housing public

Malay. The rows of tall tall of rows The Malay.

means ‘long hills’ in in hills’ ‘long means

The name of this station station this of name The

by John Clang John by

HILLS

OF THE LONG LONG THE OF

PUNCTUM

you can identify which Downtown Line stations these eye-catching artworks are from. are artworks eye-catching these stations Line Downtown which identify can you

next destination, pause and take a moment to admire the works of art that add colour to your commute. See if if See commute. your to colour add that art of works the admire to moment a take and pause destination, next

Blink and you might miss some of the creative artworks adorning our MRT stations. Instead of rushing to your your to rushing of Instead stations. MRT our adorning artworks creative the of some miss might you and Blink ART IN TRANSIT IN ART