Latest news with #LTA
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Johor Bahru bus drivers strike disrupts Singapore commute
JOHOR BAHRU: Private employee Saiful Umar, 37, was among thousands caught off guard when around 100 Malaysian bus drivers operating to Singapore suddenly went on strike early this morning at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI). 'I was shocked, there was no information at all (on a strike),' he said. Passengers arriving as early as 5 am found no bus services, forcing some to walk one to two kilometres across the Johor Causeway to reach workplaces in Singapore. Saiful, who had to walk nearly two kilometres to Woodlands before getting a ride back to Tampoi, expressed frustration over the lack of prior notice. 'This situation is not only inconvenient but also affects our work and image,' he told Bernama. A viral video showed crowds at BSI at 5.30 am due to the halted bus services. Reports suggest the strike stemmed from drivers' dissatisfaction over salary adjustments and allowance cuts, allegedly reducing their monthly pay from RM2,800-RM2,900 to below RM2,000. Another passenger, K. Ramesh, 40, called the situation 'ridiculous,' urging the bus company to resolve the issue swiftly. 'This affects our daily routine and careers,' he said. Bus driver Atoi, 35, confirmed about 100 drivers began striking at 5 am in protest. By evening, services resumed, with no further disruptions observed. Johor Public Works Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh confirmed the incident, having monitored operations with Singapore's LTA and bus operators earlier. – Bernama
Online Citizen
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Online Citizen
SMRT links July Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions to faults in newly installed Power Scada system
SINGAPORE: A nearly two-hour disruption to Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) services on 19 July 2025 has been traced to a fault in the newly installed Power Scada system. Transport operator SMRT confirmed in a statement on 20 July 2025 that its initial investigations found the power fault 'shares a similar failure mode' with an earlier three-hour disruption on 3 July 2025. All 13 stations on the BPLRT were affected during both service interruptions. According to Lam Sheau Kai, president of Singapore's SMRT Trains, the repeated faults were linked to the Power Scada system installed under the Land Transport Authority (LTA) Power Renewal Project. This system, still under its Defects Liability Period, is designed to monitor and control power distribution across the LRT line to improve safety and reliability. On 19 July, the power fault occurred at around 2.45pm, causing four trains to stall between stations. Traction power was restored at approximately 4.00pm, with services gradually resuming from 4.15pm onwards. To reinstate traction power safely, the Emergency Trip System (ETS) was temporarily bypassed. However, the fault in the Power Scada system had affected the ETS, which triggered a network-wide traction power trip. The LTA project team is now carrying out a detailed investigation, including a full design review by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) contractor. Lam said this aims to strengthen network stability and prevent similar faults from occurring. A key priority is ensuring a stable traction power supply as the system continues commissioning. The BPLRT Power Renewal Project is scheduled for completion by end-2026. SMRT stated it will continue to monitor the system closely as renewal works progress. Lam also thanked commuters for their patience and understanding during both incidents. He emphasised that SMRT remains committed to keeping BPLRT services safe and reliable while the renewal project advances. Past faults and upgrades On 1 July, a signalling fault at Orchard station on the Thomson-East Coast Line caused service delays between Napier and Great World stations for two hours. The Bukit Panjang LRT, which spans 8km, has a history of operational issues. The most recent major disruption occurred on 22 October 2024, when service stalled during the evening peak between Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang. Trains did not resume until the next morning. Initial investigations at the time pointed to a fault in one of the train's wheel assemblies. In response, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT announced reduced operating hours from Thursdays to Sundays, starting 14 November 2024 through to 31 October 2025, to accommodate renewal works. These efforts include upgrading the BPLRT's signalling system and testing both new and retrofitted light-rail vehicles. Since 2022, LTA has been progressively implementing a new communications-based train control system to enhance train speed regulation. The full system renewal is now slated for completion by end-2026, delayed by two years due to manpower shortages and supply chain issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, the LRT network, which includes the Sengkang-Punggol lines, recorded an average daily ridership of 210,000, reflecting a 4 per cent year-on-year increase.
AsiaOne
12 hours ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Bukit Panjang LRT outage: Fault linked to newly installed power system, says SMRT, Singapore News
The power fault which crippled services across the Bukit Panjang LRT line twice in July have been linked to a newly installed power distribution system, said rail operator SMRT. The first incident on July 3 saw no service at all stations on the LRT line for about three hours. In the second incident on Saturday (July 19), the disruption lasted for about two hours. SMRT said in a statement on Facebook that on-site investigations conducted on Saturday evening, after services were restored, indicated that the latest power fault was similar to the July 3 incident. On Saturday afternoon, a fault in the power distribution system halted train services across the line. Both incidents are linked to the newly installed Power SCADA system, which remotely monitors and controls power distribution across the Bukit Panjang LRT network. The system is part of the ongoing Power Renewal Project by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and is currently still under the warranty period for any defects, said SMRT. The public transport operator added that LTA is conducting a thorough investigation, including a full design review by the original equipment manufacturer contractor Schneider Electric, to strengthen network stability and prevent further recurrence. "A key focus is ensuring that the traction power supply remains stable, especially while the system is still being commissioned," it elaborated. The Bukit Panjang LRT Power Renewal Project is targeted to be completed by end-2026. "We thank all affected commuters for their patience and understanding during the disruption. SMRT remains fully committed to keeping BPLRT services running safely while renewal works continue," it said. [[nid:720223]]
New Paper
2 days ago
- New Paper
Another 10 motorists caught for illegal ride-hailing services amid enforcement blitz
A week after 22 people were caught for offering illegal ride-hailing services, another 10 motorists have been nabbed for falling afoul of the law, as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) steps up enforcement against those who offer point-to-point transport services without a valid licence. The sting was conducted on July 18 at Changi Airport, where the 10 illegal chauffeurs all had their foreign-registered vehicles impounded. As with the 22 caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay on July 11, some of the drivers were providing rides across the border with Malaysia without the necessary permits. The operations are ongoing. In June, eight drivers were caught giving illegal rides to Gardens by the Bay and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, in what was the first ever joint operation between LTA and the Singapore Tourism Board. LTA said in a Facebook post on July 19 that it had acted on a tip-off from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, which gave similar leads to the authorities for previous enforcement operations. LTA said the 10 motorists nabbed on July 18 were caught for providing illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore, as well as to and from Malaysia. "Such illegal services not only pose risks, as they may lack proper insurance, but they also undermine the livelihoods of licensed drivers," it added in a video on its social media pages. LTA warned that the escalation of its enforcement activities against illegal point-to-point services could be disruptive to passengers. But it said it remained committed to protecting their interests as well as those of drivers. To offer taxi or private-hire car services here, a Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL) is required. This also applies to drivers of foreign-registered vehicles offering cross-border services between Singapore and Malaysia. Only Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis approved by LTA and Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency are authorised to provide cross-border rides today. Besides the PSVL, Malaysia-registered taxis must also have an Asean Public Service Vehicle Permit. Since 2022, 104 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services using foreign-registered vehicles. LTA said the penalties for those who have been charged and convicted so far include fines of up to $2,600 and vehicle forfeiture. The maximum penalty for those who provide illegal point-to-point transport services in Singapore is a fine of up to $3,000, up to six months in jail, or both. Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said on July 12 that the authorities will not hesitate to press for heavier fines against illegal private-hire car service providers.
New Paper
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New Paper
Bike-sharing company HelloRide to expand S'pore fleet to 20,000
Chinese bicycle-sharing company HelloRide has been given the go-ahead to expand its bike fleet to 20,000 - up from 15,000 - starting July 1, and it plans to roll out two-wheelers with added features such as phone holders, better pedals and seats. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has approved the company's application to renew its licence to operate a fleet of up to 20,000 for one year until June 30, 2026, said an LTA spokesperson on July 1. LTA said that its considerations for granting HelloRide's new licence include the operator's plans to manage indiscriminate parking and its record for doing so, as well as efforts to educate users on proper parking behaviour. It added that it takes into account the total shared bicycle population in Singapore, demand for bicycle sharing services and availability of parking infrastructure when evaluating applications for fleet expansions. "We will continue to closely monitor the supply and demand of the deployed fleets, while ensuring all operators continue to manage dis-amenities," said an LTA spokesperson. The expansion will help HelloRide remain competitive amid the Government's plans to push for more walk, cycle, ride commutes and the opening of more bicycle paths, said HelloRide general manager Hayden Choo. "Walk, cycle, ride" is the Government's vision of sustainable transport, focusing on walking, cycling and public transport as the main modes of travel. The increased fleet will enable HelloRide to serve more users at peak times, reduce waits and improve bicycle availability in high-demand zones, HelloRide said in a statement on July 1. It added that the new bikes will be deployed progressively across key town centres and transport nodes. "As we scale, we remain focused on safe riding practices, parking compliance and operational excellence," said HelloRide. The fleet expansion comes after HelloRide increased its fleet to 10,000 shared bicycles in July 2023 from the 1,000 bikes it had when it started in 2022, with an add-on of 5,000 in October 2024. HelloRide also operates in Australia, New Zealand and, recently, in Hong Kong. The new fleet of HelloRide commuter bikes, called the OA70 model, has been tested in China. Each bike will come with a centre-mounted phone holder and improved seat adjustability to accommodate different rider heights. "These were the two most requested features from users, and we believe they'll be a clear differentiator compared with Anywheel," said Mr Choo. Anywheel, which was founded locally, is the other bicycle-sharing operator in Singapore. Mr Choo said HelloRide is also in the process of refreshing its existing bicycle fleet with new commuter bikes. The total shared-bike fleet allowed on the streets here has expanded to 55,000 under LTA's bicycle-share licensing framework, said LTA. This is up from 50,000 before the expansion. All bike-sharing operators in Singapore require a full licence under LTA to operate here. HelloRide, which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Alibaba's fintech affiliate Ant Group, was given a "sandbox" licence in 2022 when it set up shop here to operate a fleet of up to 1,000, and had to apply for a full licence when it increased its fleet. Mr Choo added that the firm will deploy the new bikes at various hot spots in Singapore to cater to casual lifestyle riders and those who use them to commute. Its shared bikes are now deployed at East Coast Park, Marina Bay Sands, National Stadium, parks along the Kallang River, and a few other districts including Little India, Bugis and Boon Keng. HelloRide has the second-largest fleet here after market leader Anywheel, which currently operates a fleet of 35,000, after operator SG Bike pulled out of the market in April 2024. Anywheel's chief executive Htay Aung said Anywheel now serves two million users in Singapore, since its launch in 2017, and has seen a five-digit growth of new users month on month. "We still see a lot of potential in Singapore based on current data," said Mr Htay Aung. The operator has expanded its fleet several times since its start here, including its first expansion to 10,000 bikes from 1,000 after graduating from its sandbox licence in 2018 and doubling its fleet from 15,000 to 30,000 in 2022. Anywheel's focus now is on rolling out its new generation of bikes in August to renew its bike fleet, after a test batch of about 1,000 bikes deployed on the streets here since February, said Mr Htay Aung. The operator also hopes to apply for a new licence to raise its maximum fleet size after the roll-out, but plans are contingent on data and whether there is a strong demand, he added. "Any competitor, including HelloRide, as long as they play fairly, I think they should be welcomed to Singapore. It's good for the market and good for us," he said.
