Hopeless NEL
The northeast line (NEL) train line has been running since Jun 2003 and there are still teething problems. Among these problems, two most common ones stand out – namely the doors forcefully slamming into people without any mercifulness; and the train stalling at stations for “delays caused at another station”. Common teething problems. Yet…not fixed…
This morning, I witnessed the same problem again…The second problem. At Boon Keng station. “This train will stop here for 3 minutes due to an incident at Clarke Quay station. We apologise for the delay. Thank you.”
After 3 minutes, another announcement came…”This train will stop here for 5 minutes due to an incident at Clarke Quay station. We apologise for the delay. Thank you.”
That’s 8 minutes delay already. Harlow!!
When the train pulled into Farrer Park station, it stalled again. The same message. …”This train will stop here for 5 minutes due to an incident at Clarke Quay station. We apologise for the delay. Thank you.”
That’s a delay of 13 minutes.
And Singaporeans are such a predictable lot…especially the ladies…When the train stalls, what do they do? Whip out their handphones and start sms-ing away, telling the whole world they will be late…
When the train finally got to Little India station, the doors again refused to close. I made a decision to get off at the station and take a connecting bus to office. Listening to the same message blip again after me, I knew I had made the right decision.
World class transport system? Ya right…Driverless train? Ya right. Hopeless NEL. Better pull their act together.
