Train buffs get Friend of LTA award

SGTrains Trainspotters lauded for participation, feedback on rail system

By Royston Sim, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2012

WHEN the final stretch of the Circle Line opened to commuters in October last year, a group of train enthusiasts noticed that some commuters were confused over travelling to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station from HarbourFront.

They could either take a 10-minute journey on the North-East Line (NEL) or take a roundabout route on the Circle Line, which would take an hour.

Members of SGTrains Trainspotters thus suggested to rail operators SMRT and SBS Transit, and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), that station signs be made clearer.

Signs at HarbourFront now state that commuters on the Circle Line will get to Dhoby Ghaut only via Bishan, so more people will realise that the NEL offers a faster - and cheaper - route.

For its participation and feedback on the rail network, the Trainspotters was presented the Friend of LTA award last night at the biennial Land Transport Excellence Awards held at Swissotel The Stamford.

It was among the 23 individuals and organisations honoured; altogether, the 19 award categories drew 115 nominations from among public transport operators, their employees, engineering companies and suppliers.

Speaking at the ceremony last night, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew praised the Trainspotters for its contributions.

He said of the group, which is more than 100 strong: 'They are young people who need to be taken seriously. They exemplify what it is to be active citizens.'

The two-year-old group takes part in LTA activities such as focus group discussions and visits to station sites.

United by a passion for rail travel, some take a keen interest in train signalling systems; others pore over information on rolling stock models and parts.

SGTrains president Ong You Yuan, a 20-year-old student, recalled that its group members had suggested a way of stabilising the vertical grab poles in train cabins by affixing brackets to them.

The brackets are still in use today.

The Transport Thought Leader award was among six awards given out for the first time, with SIM University (UniSIM) chancellor and chairman Cham Tao Soon being the first recipient.

Professor Cham, chairman of the LTA Academy Advisory Board since 2008, was the prime mover behind the master's programme in urban transport management, run jointly by the academy and UniSIM.

On his watch, the LTA launched the World Urban Transport Leaders Summit in November 2008, and set up the International Association of Public Transport's Centre for Transport Excellence here.

Another person honoured was Bukit Timah Citizens' Consultative Committee chairman Kenneth Yap, who was named Land Transport Star Ambassador for working with the LTA and transport operators to improve transportation in the area.

As a result of his efforts, the route of SBS' service 284 was extended in Clementi Avenue 4, saving elderly commuters a long walk to the town centre.

He said: 'For our seniors to age in place, we have to pay attention to their daily mobility and transportation needs.'