The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, our train/subway system in Singapore, has been experiencing delays every once in a while due to technical faults. While it is easy to convince ourselves that MRT has been putting a significant amount of money into preventive maintenance to reduce the occurrences of technical faults, the fact remains that technical faults still happen, and result in delays.
Yes, the MRT is a complex train/subway system that move lots of people each day. Like all systems, it is not perfect and there is always the possibility of technical faults. But if we compare the MRT with the train/subway system in Japan, especially Tokyo, the MRT can no longer claim to be complex. And the Tokyo train/subway system moves much more people each day too. Yet it is rare that one hears the Tokyo train/subway system being delayed due to technical faults. Why?
What is it that the Japanese are doing that we are not already doing? In Tokyo, they have obviously mastered the system for an efficient train/subway system. No other city can compare with them in scale, complexity or punctuality (MRT is never punctual... it does not have a timetable, just an estimated interval between trains). What can we learn from them to better our system, especially as ours grow in complexity with the introduction of more lines in the future?
Or have we grown complacent enough to think that we have achieved world class? Has our cup become so full that we cannot pour any more into it?
* Tokyo trains do get delayed, but that is usually due to acts of God (like the need to check the system after each earthquake to make sure that it is safe) or accidents (such as people falling onto the tracks, or vehicles on the tracks), or the morning rush hour (people taking more time to get on/off trains). But the system always tries its best to get back on schedule.
Yes, the MRT is a complex train/subway system that move lots of people each day. Like all systems, it is not perfect and there is always the possibility of technical faults. But if we compare the MRT with the train/subway system in Japan, especially Tokyo, the MRT can no longer claim to be complex. And the Tokyo train/subway system moves much more people each day too. Yet it is rare that one hears the Tokyo train/subway system being delayed due to technical faults. Why?
What is it that the Japanese are doing that we are not already doing? In Tokyo, they have obviously mastered the system for an efficient train/subway system. No other city can compare with them in scale, complexity or punctuality (MRT is never punctual... it does not have a timetable, just an estimated interval between trains). What can we learn from them to better our system, especially as ours grow in complexity with the introduction of more lines in the future?
Or have we grown complacent enough to think that we have achieved world class? Has our cup become so full that we cannot pour any more into it?
* Tokyo trains do get delayed, but that is usually due to acts of God (like the need to check the system after each earthquake to make sure that it is safe) or accidents (such as people falling onto the tracks, or vehicles on the tracks), or the morning rush hour (people taking more time to get on/off trains). But the system always tries its best to get back on schedule.
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