Buskers, themed cabins for a better MRT experience

LTA to pilot social initiatives at some stations over next few months to assess receptiveness

By Joy Fang, TODAY, 30 Jun 2014

Buskers performing at train platforms, elaborately-decorated themed carriages and staff clutching stuffed toy flowers and giving out tissues to welcome commuters — these are among the “social experiments” the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is embarking on over the next few months to make commuters’ train journeys a little less harried.

Efforts are already under way to upgrade ageing train infrastructure and improve service quality, but these projects will take years to bear fruit. For example, new trains will only arrive from this year, while the sleeper replacement project will be completed by 2016.

In the meantime, the LTA hopes these social initiatives can make commuters’ journeys more palatable and encourage people to smile.

LTA director of corporate transformation and futures Agnes Kwek said the authority is seeking to improve the train experience in every possible way. “But, in addition, public transport is very much a shared social space and our interactions with other commuters affect our train experience,” she said. “We’re launching a series of trials to foster a positive commuter culture — be it behaviour, interaction or atmosphere.”

The initiatives will be piloted at selected SMRT train stations on a small-scale basis, so the LTA can monitor commuters’ receptiveness before assessing whether to implement them at other stations.

Kicking off the initiatives is a football-themed cabin on the North-South Line. It comes decked with 3-D turf grass and soccer ball toys, as well as stickers of a football pitch and prints of cleats directing commuters to the middle of the cabin.

A collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic Design School students, the 3-D features will only run until tomorrow, but the stickers will be present until the end of the World Cup.

The LTA is also planning to have buskers perform at station platforms or concourses, in a tie-up with the National Arts Council (NAC). This will not only add vibrancy to the stations and make the public transport experience more interesting, but will also provide an additional platform for local performers to showcase their talents, the LTA said. Currently, busking on station premises and trains is not allowed.

A spokesman said it has identified suitable locations and types of performances with the NAC and SMRT. “We want to ensure commuter flow will not be impeded during the trial. We will monitor commuters’ response to our busking trial and consider allowing performances in trains going forward.”

In London, where busking in stations is common, space for buskers is clearly defined by a semi-circular floor graphic and a sign on the wall. The LTA hopes to create something similar.

The pilot will start from July for three months at five MRT stations — Jurong East, City Hall, Raffles Place, Eunos and Bukit Batok. Buskers will be endorsed under the NAC’s Busking Scheme and will perform during the morning and evening peak hours. They can also collect donations.

A test run was conducted at Jurong East, City Hall and Raffles Place MRT stations in May and commuters’ response was positive, said the LTA. Buskers who have performed told TODAY they were encouraged by the reception.

Ms Chen Qing Ying, 38, who played the guzheng at Raffles Place and City Hall MRT stations for about two hours, said: “Sometimes, when people are waiting for the train, they are probably feeling anxious ... If there is music, they can listen while they wait and time can pass a little faster.”

Ms Leticia Habon Caya, 60, the vocalist of husband-wife duo D’Highlights, said her 20-minute performance at Jurong East MRT Station had “felt exclusive because it was within the platform”.

Singer-songwriter Marcel Lee Pereira, 33, said stations are packed with commuters and give buskers good exposure. In December 2011, his band The Glad Stones hopped on and off trains for a few hours and serenaded commuters with their guitars. “People were pleasantly surprised and one or two even had song requests,” he said.

Neither Mr Pereira nor Ms Caya was perturbed that they would only be allowed to perform at designated spots. “It’s okay as long as I can provide music to commuters,” said Ms Caya, noting that equipment for her performances also keeps her in one place. Mr Pereira added: “Busking itself is very interactive ... You will always see new faces. It’s also easier if you have a location and you don’t have to move your gear.”

Commuter Daryll James, 24, was sceptical of the LTA’s efforts. The civil servant, who takes the train three or four days a week, said: “The issue is not about a boring wait, but whether my journey is more effective and actually pleasant. This means having trains that are not crowded and having proper air-conditioning, and having them arrive on time.”

Freelance writer Lilian Ang, 28, on the other hand, found the initiatives refreshing and hopes they continue on a larger scale. “It wouldn’t hurt to have some live music while I am waiting for the train in a crowded station.”

Heritage, entertainment videos to be played at train platforms
By Joy Fang, TODAY, 30 Jun 2014

Expect more entertainment to make time pass a little faster while waiting for trains, with display screens at train platforms to play heritage videos and entertainment clips from the third quarter of this year.

Airtime will be allocated for both commercial and non-commercial videos, and all groups, including MediaCorp, are welcome “to share content which is meaningful, informational and entertaining with us”, said a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson.

These are among the initiatives the LTA is piloting over the next few months to enhance the commuter experience at train stations. They include a partnership with the National Library Board (NLB) to allow commuters access to NLB eReads, its catalogue of digital offerings, from stations. Details are still being worked out, but the LTA is exploring making available a QR code at stations where commuters can scan and access eReads.

Ms Alina Boey, SMRT director of media and marketing communications, said SMRT is constantly striving to enhance the travelling experience. “We recognise that there is room to improve every touch point within our network,” she said.

SMRT is also launching its own series of “commuter-centric initiatives” to make rides more pleasant and will reveal details “in due course”.

“We look forward to commuters’ support and participation as we work towards providing more enjoyable train rides for everyone who journeys with us,” she added.

Separately, implementation work to provide Wireless@SG services at station platforms at 28 MRT stations has begun. The LTA said it will provide updates on its progress when ready.

Post by Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving.

LTA starts 3-month pilot programme for busking at MRT stations
By Faris Mokhtar, Channel NewsAsia, 25 Jul 2014

Don't be surprised if you happen to see a busker playing at MRT platforms near you - it's part of a three-month pilot programme that started today, initiated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in partnership with the National Arts Council (NAC) and SMRT.

Over the next three months, buskers will be allowed to perform at five MRT stations - Eunos, Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Raffles Place and City Hall. LTA says the aim of the programme is to add vibrancy to the stations, and provide an additional platform for budding performers to showcase their talents. 

LTA says buskers will be allowed to perform every weekday from 7.30am to 11.30am at Eunos, Bukit Batok and Jurong East MRT stations. They can also perform from 5.30pm to 9.30pm at Raffles Place and City Hall MRT stations. During weekends and public holidays, they are permitted to perform from 10am to 9pm at all five trial stations.

Buskers selected for the trial scheme are endorsed under the NAC's Busking Scheme. They are issued a Letter of Endorsement, after successful audition conducted by the council. This Letter allows buskers to perform in public while being exempted from public entertainment licensing. Unauthorised buskers will be instructed to leave the railway premises.

Currently, five buskers are involved in this pilot programme.For now, their performances will only involve musical instruments without any sound amplification devices, so that volume levels will not be excessively high.

The move to implement this pilot programme came after a two-day trial in late May this year. LTA says its officers will be at the five selected stations to monitor public feedback. 

Busker Daniel Beng believes it will take some time for people to get used to the idea, but he says the the initial reactions, in his experience, have been positive. “I believe there are people who enjoy the music and they hang around and listen a bit and actually forego their train ride to enjoy the music,” he said. “So I think it's a wonderful start."