The Rise and Fall of the LRT

[@tehsiewdai]

hey everyone, i wasn't expecting this video to gain so many views and my apologies that i can't reply to everyone individually! some of you guys have really great questions and queries, so i'll do my best to answer them! i'll add more to the list if there are other popular ones! 1) the LRT is more convenient than the bus, factoring in wait times - that's why the LRT is better! the reason why this happens is because upon completion of the BPLRT, several bus routes were withdrawn (eg: TIBS 344, 345) or had frequencies cut! this was met with resistance from local residents though, but went through, making the LRT the fastest mode of travel as compared to the bus (since it's gone / made less convenient) other towns with LRT systems generally have feeder bus frequencies of 10-15 minutes, even though some routes don't run near LRT lines compared to non-LRT towns where they arrive as frequently or more frequently than an LRT does (eg: 238 having 2-6min frequency for the entire day) 2) why don't you comment more about SK/PG LRTs? the concept of these systems aren't great, but they are much much better than BP, and i don't have complaints about its day to day operations! (apart from the lack of an arrival timing board) these systems are also futureproofed in terms of capacity, where they are able to accommodate growth of up to 4 cars and also not have accessibility or reliability issues as severe as BP. if you'd like to learn more about what about those systems can be made better, there are great pieces out there on medium and wordpress! 3) are people movers completely bad? nope - it's about using the right tool for the right job! need an inter-terminal transit system in an airport? they're excellent! however, the scope of applications where such a system makes sense is much smaller as compared to conventional rail though i gotta say that it's the intention of constructing such systems in SG that made me upset - public transit shouldn't be needlessly overelaborate, or built to prioritise the movement of those who already have greatest mobility (aka the wealthy), but rather, built to serve and prioritise the majority of people who use public transit on a daily basis!

[@laujunming4152]

You should pin this, or it’ll get buried

[@coolman444]

@@laujunming4152 how can it be buried?

[@laujunming4152]

@@coolman444 Other comments might become more popular and get shown earlier, making OP’s comment harder and harder to find.

[@marvint480]

Yes, think you did a great job at offering alternatives. I don’t mean to be negative, however, I do have reasons why your solution won’t work in SG context. 1. People mover / Trams usually takes up a lane of space, in addition to the usually two lane roads may not be viable in a city like Singapore where space really matter. 2. People mover or Trains usually consist of Tram wires to produce electricity for the train to move around. As you maybe know that Singapore is a country that focuses aesthetics，wires are hidden underneath the roads. In conclusion your solution won’t work if I’m from the governing body.

[@cyrusmarikitph]

Here in the Philippines, our LRT is also ELEVATED. But the glass is functioning and the speed is 50km/h I think, and the rail was not light too just like the normal MRT. I usually ride the MRT in Metro Manila, and I saw that was slightly faster by 10km/h. Other features of our LRT are that the concretes are strong enough and still standing for 41 years; our LRT is longer but same as our MRT, and the tracks are mostly straight. Actually, since the road that spans our LRT is narrow, the LRT is faster than the jeepneys and buses on the same route. But there are disadvantages of our LRT too. One of them is that our LRT fare is slightly expensive than our MRT. Most of the stations are not “modernised” yet unlike the MRT, that was rehabilitated last year, but the rails are still function because possibly the materials they used. In cleaniness, they are both clean. They have both train marshals to protect passengers from stealers. In comparison, our LRT is better than LRT in Singapore even I did not went to Singapore.

[@GohKaixuan]

As someone who lives along the Bukit Panjang LRT sure it's packed during peak hours and the ride is not comfortable at all, but factoring in the waiting times for the buses it's a decent (not great) alternative to buses.

[@Benjamin-wy4dj]

Wonder how much of an improvement will the BPLRT system be once the upgrades are complete. Supposedly the similar upgrades to the NSEWL. So higher frequency and newer trains.

[@lzh4950]

BPLRT probably makes even more sense if the trains were longer with fewer stops e.g. express frm CCK to _Bt Panjang_ & minus the loop, as its population is quite significant & far out frm the MRT, back when DTL perhaps made less financial sense as it passed thru less densely populated areas. Then the next question is why the gov't decided to build the town there, as it feels more out of the way, being surrounded on 3 sides by forest. If housing was built closer to the MRT line instead (before DTL materialised, which was long after Bt Panjang 1st developed) there'd be less need for the BPLRT or DTL stage 2

[@funi1083]

i literally havent taken the LRT in 5 years I just walk, take the bus or take downtown line

[@cooltwittertag]

so the only reason why its better is because other services are cut back because this service exists

[@vczm]

As a transport planner and traffic engineer working in Singapore, your videos are highly technical and knowledgable in urban and transport planning perpectives. Policy makers in Singapore must have the courage and receptive to new ideas. I noticed a lot of transport enthusiast like you and I suggesting very good ideas but end up not implementing it because.... The transfer penalty at BP station is tremendous. City like HK will demolish old station to integrate well with new station but that is not happening in Singapore.

[@lzh4950]

Heard the LRT was built as an experiment after the then transport minister was amazed at the technology after seeing it at an exhibition. Looks like the experiment was deemed to have failed as we didn't build more LRTs afterwards. Probably would've made more sense if the stations were further apart & in more linear fashion, like a MRT-lite, especially for route alignments that require sharper curves. But with population growth & a new MRT line planned, Fernvale could become a secondary Sengkang transport hub which'd make the SKLRT's W loop more important

[@ishaqmo7200]

@@lzh4950 I feel like stations shouldn't be too far apart as these lrts are meant for more suburban residential areas to feed into the through-running mrt

[@chinoloko82]

People mover in miami

[@papabearspitz557]

Well, it is easier said than done. In Singapore, its the transport minister whose has the final say in transportation. I am staying in Punggol with the completion of the expressway in Pasir Ris Industrial Rise 1 the traffic jam in Punggol has been somewhat resolved. I have stayed in the eastern part of Singapore since 1950s and Punggol to me is the most convenient area to take the LRT, MRT to town or other part of Singapore. Of course I still rely on Grab if I intend to travel to the airport and back. As a retiree, and for someone who think talking with little action is pointless as until the present and future transport minister could come up with a better solution to our transportation needs, the present LRT/MRT is the most convenient for seniors like myself and wife.

[@utterbullspit]

They should be building around undesirable stations so people have a reason to travel and stop there.

[@laujunming4152]

And as though all that wasn’t enough, the Sengkang/Punggol LRT systems are a nightmare for newbies to use. Both systems have two loops (East/West), and each loop has two services, one clockwise and one counter-clockwise. Now, this wouldn’t be too much of a problem if the loops were separated, but fun fact: No. Both loops terminate at shared tracks and platforms at the central station (Sengkang STC/NE16. If I recall correctly, east loop clockwise and west loop counter-clockwise at platform 2 and vice versa for platform 1), and the only way to tell the difference between west loop train from its east loop counterpart is by looking at a screen that lights up just before the LRT arrives (In other words: Not enough reaction time if you’re a panicking and uncertain newbie) What does this mean? Well, if you’re new to the system, you have to spend several minutes breaking down the convoluted mess of a map SBS Transit provided, and if you’ve misunderstood it and took the train in the wrong direction, or worse, the wrong loop, you’ve just wasted 5-10 minutes. Happy commuting!

[@isxuanhere]

Totally agree, It was my first time taking SK LRT and nearly got into a mental breakdown because of the loops…

[@goldkwi]

Yeah that's only for newbies and a first time mistake... Well when Punggol West Loop opened i also accidentally took the wrong loop once. But it has never happened again and for residents like us, we are at max tricked once or twice.

[@laujunming4152]

@@goldkwi True, practice does make perfect. Funny thing, the LTA actually planned to build a Punggol North LRT, which is why there’s a spare track at Punggol and a extra wide platform. Imagine the mess of a map SBS would have to cook up lmfao

[@goldkwi]

@Lau Jun Ming i still have the old maps of the old Punggol North Line. Just extend the MRT, that would do. LRTs don't increase the value of the property. It's quite a pity despite it being convenient and fast

[@laujunming4152]

@@goldkwi Well yeah, the government scrapped that plan in favour of extending the NEL. NE18 Punggol Coast is opening in a few years I think

[@visqueraient]

Amazing discussion! I agree that traffic in the three LRT towns are terrible. The flatter terrain in Punggol/Sengkang would enable an easier transition to car-lite transport. And yes, a video about structures of cancelled plans/lines eventually built using conventional rail would be good!

[@darerenin]

If I'm not wrong, one of these was the canned Buona Vista LRT line, which was eventually found to not be cost-effective. The Circle Line took over some of it, going to one-north and Kent Ridge (NUS and NUH), although there is no nearby station to Science Park though. There's also that pending extension via Jurong Region Line too.

[@poteyatocheapp6978]

The traffic around sengkang west loop on the roads is actually not that bad at all but thats probably because its not as dense as rivervale and compassvale yet

[@tehsiewdai]

@@darerenin yep, you're right! i might make a video about those plans, so glad that they are replaced by conventional rail!

[@kagenlim5271]

Not to be a damper, but 8:35, buses are legally supposed to be on the most left side, not the right

[@lzh4950]

Think Punggol's traffic jams are also due to it not having any entrance/exit to the expressways from its eastern end, before Pasir Ris Industrial Dr 1 was extended frm Lor Halus to Punggol Ctrl at the start of the pandemic

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

We don't have an APM of any kind, but we do have trams in Pyongyang (and Chongjin in the northern part) along with the world-famous Pyongyang Metro. The first line of the current Pyongyang tram system opened in 1989, and there are four lines in operation using trams made in our country and the former Czechoslovakia. The latest line opened in 1995 to serve the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun (where my father and grandpa's embalmed bodies are located) to replace Kwangmyong station on the Metro which closed when the palace became a mausoleum

[@noorulhasan4904]

Can i have your nuke launch code?

[@ethanang3527]

Not happy with USA and NATO, just launch it to them. Don’t hold it back anymore. Fight for your and your grandfather rights, show it to UN that they are wrong to invade that place.

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Man just saw this comment... Super hilarious left me laughing non stop...

[@GenericUrbanism]

Do you all in the DPRK have the political will and resources to extent the Pyongyang metro to the other side of the river?

[@jaslueasi]

Did you escape from North Korea?

[@glitchFan2428]

Hey, finally got around to watching this, I have to say well done! Very well researched and delivered video with easy to understand points and infographics. At the end of the day, the BPJ LRT is the cheapest roller coaster ride in Singapore :)

[@coolman444]

wait, maxson, your also here? i didnt know because he is using your vids which is copyrighted

[@glitchFan2428]

He asked for permission which I granted

[@coolman444]

@@glitchFan2428 really? at where?

[@coolman444]

@Andre Mel sim (Peircess) um... no?

[@idromano]

10:10 The country that takes space from cars the most is, surprisingly, the one where it's best to drive in. +1 for the argument that balancing street space is also good for drivers.

[@kasvinimuniandy4178]

I really like videos like this that investigate and discuss local issues that actually affect the people.

[@syncout9586]

Oh wow, a channel dedicated to talking about city planning in Singapore! I love urban planning channels like City Beautiful and Not Just Bikes. Glad to have one for Singapore! Instant subscribe

[@DrifterD]

You've probably put in more time and effort for the research in this video than any of my projects ive done in uni combined. Great vid!

[@defbbcivy]

"I won't say I enjoyed the ride, it caused me dizziness also, but that is life" idk who you are, but your wise word will forever linger in my mind

[@DressedRunner]

I used the Bukit Panjang LRT line almost everyday (thank god for wfh now) for commute and didn't realise how masochistic the experience was until I stumbled upon this video. I guess I was just too used to it. I moved from Punggol and experienced the LRT line there, so initially the biggest turn off was how the rail was in the middle and so if you missed your stop or something you had to go down and up again to the other side. However, the only reason why I still use it over public bus was because at least the intervals of each train are somewhat consistent, whereas public bus can be quite unreliable especially during peak hours.

[@empressmanchae]

Hey me too! I moved from Punggol to BP as well - had the opportunity to try both LRT systems, and yes, I didn’t realise how masochistic the BP LRT is, and I agree that the train intervals were more consistent than buses especially during peak hours.

[@hectorpoh5297]

Hit the nail on the head. Especially the last section. The government's focus is not to increase mobility and efficiency for the entire population. It is to make travelling by car easier and more comfortable for the minority elite who can afford the increasingly exorbitant costs of car ownership and use.

[@zhiweiyeo7752]

I agree that car ownership is getting more expensive, but it does not necessarily mean that the rest of the population are subject to poorer commuting experience. Hourly car rentals and grab/gojek have become so mainstream now that lesser cars on the road would mean commuters travelling by non-owned cars would have an improved experience and mobility. Instead of buying a car for $100,000 and using it occasionally, how bout sharing it among five friends for $20,000? How about sharing it with 100 friends and pay $1000 a month? That's pretty much like taking a cab and paying what you need while it is on the road and letting others use it rather than the car staying idle taking up real estate in the car park. If Singapore wants to move forward, we need to give up the idea of car ownership and not link it to our social standing. Understandably, some people will have specific needs to be fulfilled with a car, but 90% of car owners don't.

[@benchiaase]

@@zhiweiyeo7752 Singaporeans don't have sharing mentality lah. Look at all the cars from the car sharing services, all abused like hell. If they can afford they would much rather have something that is theirs and theirs only.

[@miketan4803]

Imho it's a necessary thing to reduce number of cars on the road else Singapore will be to demolish more residences / commercial areas for even more roads. Simple maths.

[@malibutatn]

Make car ownership cheaper, then we will need 5 hours to travel from punggol to town.

[@sootuckchoong7077]

@@benchiaase Might as well take a cab or Grab. So much stress free and cheaper, but of course, more expensive than LRT.

[@eclairity]

As someone who sweats easily, having an LRT in sengkang is great. No more sweating at the bus stop for 20mins when I miss a bus! I'll take LRT over a bus anytime.

[@bukancalonpns]

I just realized that's a bus (has a wheel, haha) on the rail. That's why it feels more "unstable" than MRT. SG's MRT and LRT are the first mass transit I try, then KL, BKK, and now commute every day with Jakarta MRT.

[@basquebird1164]

your video randomly popped up on my algorithm and im so glad it did! the effort you put into each video is astounding. your passion for human-centric infrastructure is infectious and brings to light issues i've genuinely never even thought about as a singaporean. we'd be a much kinder city if more people were like you, in more ways than one. thanks for the sharing, liked and subscribed :)

[@angmlr007]

TSD, I watched every one of your videos ever since I stumbled upon your channel. Your video production and writing has improved tremendously. Thank you for giving a voice to SG urban planning; I never realized how badly we needed things like (good) cycling infrastructure until you went to the ground and critically examined it, backing your videos up with suggestions for improvement. I hope you get to lead URA some day and actually make car-lite a reality for us. :)

[@yjjcoolcool]

Excellent video! I don't live in any of these LRT towns, so I don't really know the problems of the LRT, but this video is well researched and gives an excellent breakdown of the problems of the LRT, which most I didn't even know of. Also, I really love that you made a comparison between the LRT and Bus - I always thought the LRT was faster! By the way, love the "Adam Something" style of explanation. It's really funny and entertaining!

[@vincentkohlumcfan22]

HIIIII

[@yjjcoolcool]

@@vincentkohlumcfan22 Hey there! Didn't expect to see you here

[@vincentkohlumcfan22]

@@yjjcoolcool heheh urbanists assemble

[@lzh4950]

LRTs are faster than buses when the distance travelled is longer I think, otherwise the transfer time (which is longer for rail than buses due to reasons explained in this video) makes up a larger proportion of your total travelling time

[@johnwig285]

The video creator didn't take into account the transfer time and waiting time for BUS & LRT. You can't conveniently take into account Access Penalty of 1 min but not consider waiting time of 3 mins + transfer time to MRT under 1 min compared to waiting time of bus + walking from interchange to MRT...

[@MohammadEkmal]

Hello! I came across your video and found it to be very informative. It highlighted some of the drawbacks of LRT. I am currently in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, where we are working on improving our public transportation system. Initially, we were considering implementing an LRT system, but after learning about the successful implementation of ART in Amsterdam, we have decided to explore that option instead. Although our traffic situation is not as severe as that of Singapore, we can still learn from their experiences with LRT. We hope that implementing ART will help reduce traffic congestion, especially on the route from Samarahan to Kuching. Thank you for sharing your insights.

[@jedrzejmajewski7179]

Unfortunately the Kuching system appears to be heading for the same rubber wheeled system albeit on the road not raised. Kuching badly needs ANYTHING right now so this is still needed, but I have doubts about the dedicated lanes staying clear when people can see a shortcut...

[@fogger2]

Got to thank the KZbin algorithm for popping this video up. Much (transportation) business analysis. Such informative. So astute observation. Lovely humourous inserts. Good job!

[@Raptor-xk5jm]

Was recommended your channel after avidly following urban planning channels on KZbin. Am glad I found it as I was craving for local content on car centric approaches in SG that I have been noticing ever since I got into urban planning. SG may not be as car centric as suburban North America as it's density is high (by necessity rather than smart planning so we are lucky that we don't have suburban sprawl) and we do have high quality public transport but we keep building 4 way roads in the middle of some nice estate like Pasir ris where I live. One can only dream of an SG where cars are severely limited in their movement and roads are pedestrianised and cycling a default mode of transportation.

[@lzh4950]

Heard the gov't had smoother business in mind when deciding to build wider roads e.g. speedier deliveries. Another notable characteristic is that we have many wide 1-way roads too, which can force buses to stop further from your destination e.g. walking ~10min after getting off frm 23 along Jln Besar to get to City Sq Mall, or the same distance in the opposite direction frm S'goon Rd to transfer between buses if say you live in Pek Kio & want to go to Swee Choon/Berseh hawker centre

[@HydeBlurryEyes]

One reason why riding bicycle won't get that much traction in Singapore is because... of the weather. When I was living in Japan, I enjoyed riding bicycle for commute in most months except in summer.

[@lzh4950]

Cycling here makes more sense for making more rural areas more accessible to public transport e.g. if the florists near Khatib MRT are moved to Sg Tengah, or like how some of my schoolmates took ~1/2h to walk to the nearest public transport after visiting Switzerland's embassy during a field trip

[@christopping5876]

Singapore drivers tend to think they are entitled and that cyclists and pedestrians must bow down before them. 9 years here, and they are some of the poorest drivers in the whole of SE Asia, given their supposed high quality of education.

[@coshatiuav]

Me, seeing how the Kelana Jaya and Jabodebek LRTs would qualify as 'metros' by international standards:

[@tehsiewdai]

👀

[@vincentkohlumcfan22]

The only downside is that Kelana Jaya line was at overcapacity pre-covid and we desperately need a better crowd relief solution huhu

[@amirism91]

@@vincentkohlumcfan22 thats why MRT2 and LRT3 are built and soon MRT3. Greater Klang Valley population is almost double the population of the whole of Singapore

[@vincentkohlumcfan22]

@@amirism91 building new lines doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. Rail isn’t a magic wand to car congestion, what say rail overcrowding

[@kauaku4424]

@@vincentkohlumcfan22 wow.... They do need some improvement.... When Terminal bersepadu Gombak oprate there will be more passanger use this LRT....perlukan lebih gerabak mungkin??

[@danpootato896]

Really well made video. Awesome work. 👏🏻 As someone living in Bukit Panjang, I’m looking forward to seeing the future of BPLRT.

[@tehsiewdai]

thanks!

[@notthatntg]

Trams (which are a form of LRT) are very common across the UK. They can be found in a variety of cities such as Sheffield, Manchester and Nottingham.

[@JosephGoh-g2m]

This is so detailed and technical, amazing work! And love the jokes and puns embeded

[@shahmudinkarim4910]

The LRT was built to help residents get to main bus station at Bukit Panjang. Long time ago there were few bus services plying thru Bukit Panjang. So people spend more time walking as the buses only ply certain routes. I remember when i work in Orchard i need to walk all the way out to the main street to take service 190 which comes from Chua Choa Kang which plys thru Bukit Panjang. Thankfully with better planning now i can go to Orchard or Choa Chu Kang taking a bus infront of my block. The buses has now go to most places in Bukit Panjang. So in that sense the LRT has become obselete.

[@dannytay8496]

A very well put together and narrated video! Let's hope it gets more views!

[@tanpingyi4771]

you need to factor in the frequency between the trips. I am sure sure buses would lose out in this aspect.

[@lun9502]

That part of of good factor is removed and added some elements that are not relevant, to make it more convincing.

[@afiq980]

I agree. I take an LRT to my friend's home sometimes and I know the LRT will come in a few minutes, not 15-20 minutes by bus.

[@johnwig285]

Especially transfer time from lrt to mrt. Compare this to bus to mrt

[@charished080]

I liked how elaborate this video is! It's so informative and entertaining even though I don't live in Singapore. Very impressive.

[@stevenelson3515]

Have used the Punggol LRT a number of times on visits to Singapore (we’re from the US). While somewhat convenient to our destination, it was not that comfortable and when the second loop opened, it got a lot more complicated for those of us who don’t know the area or use the system on a regular basis. We found it more convenient to go the the bus interchange.

[@itsmz827]

Why did you visit Punggol lol

[@stevenelson3515]

@@itsmz827 Stayed with my wife’s relatives.

[@sdqsdq6274]

let me guess , you went the wrong direction before?

[@stevenelson3515]

@@sdqsdq6274 Multiple times. LOL…..slow learner

[@walkersretirement]

It isnt comfortable because they decided to have rubber wheels on concrete tracks for some reason, and when its a straight track and it speeds up, the train wobbles a lot when it passes by a crossover track and especially when its changing tracks it has to slow down which is big nonsense. Sometimes the LRT simply stops in the middle of nowhere for about 5 minutes even if there aren't any oncoming trains.

[@JasonRuppVlog]

Brilliant. I was always curious about that part of the public transport map.

[@lapislazulimoon]

great video, I hope for the day where we have actual car-lite infrastructure instead of lip service and constantly widening roads

[@firstnamelastname6071]

Still better than Malaysia, our city planning is a goddamn nightmare. Only hope SG can turn away from this car-centric mindset.

[@larrydestiny2184]

very insightful review of the LRT and probably the entire SG transportation system.

[@cds327131]

I think they can make them a more entertaining to ride rather than a practical way of transportation. I think Tokyo’s Yurikamome is the best LRT system despite being expensive and having tons of alternative lines. Its just fun to ride so ppl love it

[@goldkwi]

PG/SK's LRTs are actually driverless so you can stand at the front of the LRT and watch the tracks. In that way it is similar to ゆりかもめ

[@cds327131]

@@goldkwi I think the problem is the aesthetics and seneries, the sensibility and excitement is simpley absent in Singapore;s landscape tbh, not a lot of people will go and take LRT to look at HDBs...

[@not-AK]

It's nice to see some videos about Singapore that aren't done in the Vox "let's dump a bunch of infographics on the screen" style. :)

[@kimyong7031]

LRT failed miserably. Two carriages for each trip and max accomodate 80 pax. Every morning there are 50,000 to 100,000 fighting for seats. LTA was quite dumb to accept the feasibility and efficiency study and proposal. High cost to maintain and inaccessibility as you still need to take a feeder bus to take LRT and get down and walk few hundred metres for MRT. 😓

[@lzh4950]

If you believe the official stats each LRT car is licensed to carry 14-18 seated & 87-91 standing I remember

[@TheT3MK4]

shame now in mongolia our authorities trying to build those LRT by chinese state bank loans. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@walkersretirement]

@@lzh4950 What nonsense 91 standing is already ten times more than a standing capacity on our buses

[@lzh4950]

@@walkersretirement I calculated based on the officially listed capacity of each LRT car (105 passengers), then subtract frm that the no. of seats in each car

[@walkersretirement]

@@lzh4950Bro who in their right mind put the capacity as 105? an LRT car is way smaller than a bus and a bus can hold about 80-90 passengers.

[@YounesLayachi]

this channel has great potential

[@l33wan]

I just got to take the LRT a few years ago in Punggol and was left dumbfounded at how user unfriendly it was. I wanted to go to SAFRA Punggol which was 1 stop away from Punggol MRT and was left wondering which track to take from as the trains from both loops ended there. A SBS staff saw me confused and told me to see the light on top of the platform to see which train would come. Second downer was that it was unidirectional and I had to take one big loop around Punggol to reach 1 station away. And there were no escalators at the station, so you had to take 2 flights of stairs to go to street level.

[@HumdrumSingaporeanREACTS]

Was recommended to this video... ... and to be honest with you~ am glad to be part of the 2.85k sub to your channel

[@HumdrumSingaporeanREACTS]

😌

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

To be fair, it isn't the only APM used outside airports that makes sharp turns as there's also Miami's Metromover as well as the Zhujiang New Town APM (which is actually the most expensive people mover system in the world) like you mentioned. The Metromover opened in 1986 so it's older than the Bukit Panjang LRT, but unlike the LRT, the Metromover is a success as it has led to development surrounding its stations downtown. Not to mention, it's FREE to ride! I used to live in Jersey City which has a proper light rail system using rolling stock built by Kinki Sharyo, connecting the city from the Heights on the northern end to the West Side on the southern end, as well as with neighboring places like Hoboken, Weehawken, North Bergen, Bayonne, and Union City. Can confirm it's so much better than monorails and APMs. Like the Metromover, it brought new development like housing and connected more people to PATH stations to take the PATH to NYC. More people are realizing if they wanna work in NYC, they can just live in Jersey City where it is still cheaper yet just as convenient.

[@emagenie]

Love the comprehensive study that you've presented ! I'm an immediate fan !

[@DarylSpykerman]

Thank you for sharing about the Automated People Mover System (APMS) vs LRT, I've been using the Sengkang LRT for 19yrs and its been good, they added a 2nd carriage for peak hours cos the population keeps rising. Clearly our roads have been designed from a car driver point of view.

[@jinbesan5732]

Great points raised in this video on Singapore’s LRT but the solutions might not be as simple as converting one side of the road for level rail. Singapore’s road usually have lots of infrastructure that’s hidden underground (Gas pipes, Networking, Drainage) so it would need to be regularly serviced hence converting a 3 way lane to a 2 way one would lead to even worse traffic congestion if any infrastructure works need to be done (Plus a reduction of a lane for vehicles to U-turn)

[@theSpian1]

Induced demand. Make public transport so good, that even with decreased lanes, roads are still LESS congested because everybody is choosing to take public transport.

[@invinciblemode]

Use dedicated bus lanes instead then. It’s not an issue.

Just charge for congestion.

[@EmceeChoo]

You remind me heavily of Not Just Bikes, and I like the quality and pacing of your content. My only argument against a cycling culture in Singapore boils down to weather. We cannot ignore that in EU nations with heavy bike culture, the weather is significantly more favourable to cycle around in, even in winter. Imagine a monsoon season / the hot sun bearing down on you while you're in office wear because you woke up late for work. We could work on what the government promoted at one point, but instead of driving to a nearby MRT station to get to work, we could cycle there.

[@markachternaam5207]

But cycling to MRT station would already be a huge improvement, if that means people leave their car at home.

[@noobermin]

It doesn't fix everything but showers at work helps...then again that only helps people who work in an office.

[@markachternaam5207]

@@noobermin True. However office workers are probably a large portion of car commuters. So getting those out of the car and onto a bike would be good.

[@daniaaal]

I think the way to move forward is to build sheltered pathways for both cyclists and pedestrians. It also makes walking easier during the day when it’s hot or when it’s raining. If they can build short sheltered pathways between bus stops and nearby blocks or malls, it possible to build more sheltered paths too. Sure it’s expensive, but not as expensive as building and maintaining roads.

[@Zenit_Bourg]

The most gadgetbahn thing is the smart glass. Why, zinc panels by the tracks would do the same at much cheaper cost lmao. Also i notice your production quality has ramped up. Keep up the good work boah!

[@kevadu]

You would *permanently* block the views for people living in those buildings if you did that, which sounds pretty awful for them...

[@kagenlim5271]

@@kevadu And decrease their propety value too

[@amatfettuccine2134]

Excellent video! Can you also explore on the feasibility of high-occupancy vehicle lane or carpool lane in Singapore, especially in Expressways. It irks me whenever I see 4-wheelers with only the driver in it (taxis excluded), and not maximising its full capacity to transport passengers, especially during peak hours. I personally believe that they are not only the major contributor to traffic congestion, but also carbon footprint.

[@Jason-pp9go]

Choa chu kang road very narrow and jam unable to widen maybe due to the LRT beside😢 many other roads widening and reconstruct completed😊

[@poteyatocheapp6978]

7:41 honestly punggol has too little roads for cars to enter/exit the town so all the traffic funnels in from mostly TPE however the punggol LRT route doesnt come in from other areas or towns, so it cant help to relieve traffic at the town's entry points (like the TPE junction shown in the video). it's mainly the NEL and CRL's role to provide those kind of routes

[@goldkwi]

For a long time there were only 2 entrances until the KPE exit via lorong halus started. They built a temporary slip road near waterwoods and I wished they kept it on top of Lorong Halus. That's actually the reason why traffic congestion remains bad. Too few exits. And it also doesn't help that lorong halus and the KPE is underutilised by buses. If sbs or go ahead started plying the KPE you could reach Suntec very quickly

[@goldkwi]

The CRL ain''t help much because they are only gonna bring you to Pasir Ris...

[@poteyatocheapp6978]

@@goldkwi true, though if the CRL gets extended further in the future to Yishun it can make a great difference for those coming into punggol from the north. This is just a speculation however If LTA can insert an Exit 8 on the TPE out to Sengkang East Drive/Punggol East that would be great, but Rivervale Arc and GIIS campus are in the way so ig we'll have to face the traffic congestion until a solution is found (maybe tear down block 178C/D in Sengkang? Lol) EDIT #2: turns out this is already in the URA master plan!

[@benchiaase]

@@poteyatocheapp6978 they certainly could do with improving that stretch of Seletar that reaches Yishun Dam. Right now it's just a single lane each way so it's not conducive for heavy traffic. Evening time peak hour especially is always a nightmare.

[@K9nn9th]

Agreed... Main issue is too few entry/exits in Punggol and the infrastructure has not kept up with the pop. growth here... Before 2010s there were only 3 entry/exits point: Punggol West and Punggol flyover which linked to the TPE and Sengkang and Punggol East flyover which only linked to Sengkang... A 4th one was added when they dammed up Sungei Punggol into Punggol Reservoir in the early 2010s that linked up to Seletar and onwards to Yishun via Seletar North Link and Yishun Dam... The traffic back then was fine since pop was ard 60k... But by 2015 it hit 110k and 175k by 2020... and that's when the 5th one opened up, linking up directly to KPE and Pasir Ris... A 6th one is U/C though it'll only complete in 2023, extending Punggol Central over Punggol Reservoir to Seletar and the expanded TPE interchange at Seletar Link (completing Q4 2022). It might help take some traffic off Punggol Way since it provides an alternative for those travelling from CTE, SLE to take the seletar link exit to get onto Punggol Central instead of the Punggol West exit Also, the semi-expressway (think its called Punggol North Avenue) that runs parallel to Punggol Central from Punggol Dam (4th entry) looks almost completed and will eventually link up to Pasir Ris (unknown time frame)

[@WillFisher92]

Superb analysis as always

[@abrr2000]

The Docklands Light Railway in london fills the exact same niche as this railway and was cheaper to build than a conventional railway, because it used pre existing track from various closed lines, is relatively comfortable, has ample carying capacity, due to how frequent the trains are which are fully automated. It is so successful it has been expanded multiple times. Not all gadgetban's are failures.

[@singlehorn2520]

Keep these videos coming, hope to see your channel getting more traction.

[@alexhaowenwong6122]

The Sengkang LRT has far fewer tight curves and steep slopes than the BPLRT. It also doesn't use linear induction motor gadgetbahns. The problems with the BPLRT are more a symptom of poor implementation of the BPLRT rather than an indictment of APMs used as light rail.

[@Nerosink2000]

agree on the comfort level for sengkang/punggol level but still how do you explain the fact that punggol/sengkang has the worst car traffic congestion which LRT are meant to solve ?

[@gohsoonheng9598]

Punggol is congested mainly due to estate geography and road access, almost every cars exiting at TPE, yeah many bus included. Remove LRT replaced with bus, problem still the same till road network improved.

[@philbriggs5807]

Nice video. Nice Melbourne light rail references :)

[@johnwig285]

Oh and do a comparison of the journey time during peak hours and trust me you'll be an instant LRT lover 😂

[@tinyblackmage]

Just came across this Underrated channel! Please keep this up, look forward to your next vid 💪🏻

[@Chu_Strums]

hello, what do u think of express services for MRT? I know it's not really viable as our tunnels have already been constructed. but sometimes I really wish we had express MRT services when I need to get from one end of the country to the other (esp for work).

[@lzh4950]

On hindsight they make more sense for some newer MRT lines as people mostly board & alight @ the minority of interchange stations e.g. Bishan, Buona Vista while many stations in-between have much fewer ppl getting on/off e.g. Farrer Rd, Pasir Panjang

[@MonkeyFigureReviews]

Great video and analysis! Chanced upon this and enjoyed my watch :-)

[@Sephira08]

i rode the LRT many years back. I found it enjoyable and fun! Like riding a toy train :) its not uncomfortable also. I think its good as it can access the very inner parts of certain neighbourhoods.

[@aguinaildolima5712]

efficieency: am i a joke to you? Bus: am i a joke to you?

[@Zimmy5242]

@@aguinaildolima5712 Nah in bukit panjang, the bus routes in the inner neighborhoods are quite limited and the lrt helps solve that problem

[@gabriel00555]

6:17 Are both lrt and bus frequency same, if lrt frequency more, then it could average out total transit time between both

[@pie_rre_teo]

Love your videos as always, and I appreciate the manual captions!

[@tehsiewdai]

thanks!

[@sg21231]

World class content and a terrific analysis. Subscribed

[@shikikatana1737]

For the LRT at Bukit Panjang, they changed it so that it only operates 1 loop during non-peak hours. Meaning if I want to get from Petir station to Bt Panjang station, instead of just 1 stop it will take the longer route and pass by Senja before reaching Bt Panjang Station. Total waste of time to take the LRT during non peak hours.

[@tehsiewdai]

i actually wanted to mention this in the video - but it's something temporary so bidirectional service will resume once upgrading works are complete!

[@SGrailadventure2004]

That’s the problem that the line is facing currently even with daily closures at night. They should have continued the bi-directional services if the SPLRT can do it.

[@kurt9315]

KZbin recommended this video because I watch a lot of city planning / transportation channels. I'm glad to see an Asian channel talking about Asian transportation system although Singapore's system us different from Malaysia. Can't wait to watch more. Subscribed.

[@TCOphox]

I never ever take the Gadget Bahn, I find it simpler to walk or take a bus. The 'LRT' system is a huge mistake, but at least Singapore has a robust MRT and Bus system. I still find it odd that Singapore does not have any trams like you mentioned.

[@qjtvaddict]

They don’t need em

[@leftenanazhar9637]

just look how many road accidents happened in singapore due to reckless drivers, cylist etc

[@marnchilum1422]

Trams only work with very good urban planning involved, otherwise buses are better

[@yeshwathram6197]

The LRT system isn't a mistake. It was a good idea just not executed properly. Seng Kang LRT is the best. If the other stops functioned like Seng Kang it wouldn't be much of an issue.

[@walkersretirement]

You find it odd? How about you come here and look at our roads and see where in the hell can we fit a tram track in our roads? It will create an even bigger traffic jam during peak hour because traffic needs to wait for the tram to pass. You, as a foreigner cannot think for our own public transport system.

[@Kaleidoscope2412]

This video is straight fire. Keep up the great analysis.

[@speedbirdconcorde001]

The trams of HK are an example that Sg may want to follow. Though the double decker may not even be considered, but the concept is quite unique and useful. Adult fares are a flat HK$3 (S$0.55) regardless of the distance travelled

[@train_xc]

I don’t like the teams of HK though. It is claustrophobic

[@wolf0000001]

Finally got someone speaking wise Good job, pal!

[@MrBoliao98]

The Bukit Panjang Line was built for a time when we had KTM trains blocking CCK Road all the dammm time. We had to do this, especially when that KTM line kept closing and blocking. Bukit Panjang had to be built, but now maybe we should end it. As for Punggol and Sengkang, it was a stupid idea blocking and darkening the sky.

[@gemasboy]

Just curious: can you explain the part about blocking and darkening the sky? 😅

[@MrBoliao98]

@@gemasboy you go walk on the road and see for yourself

[@gemasboy]

@@MrBoliao98 thanks

[@gren1977]

Must...play... Cities.. Skylines... Awesome vid! First time watching a deep dive into public transport and it's very insightful!

[@u0304368]

The bplrt is useful for people in certain parts of bukit panjang where buses are less frequent. And it is a good link to cck mrt station as both are elevated. But it is not a very good link to dtl as it takes quite a bit of distance to transfer from bp lrt to underground dtl station.

[@gemasboy]

Reminds me of the situation in Tampines MRT : they might as well label the DTL and EW sections as TWO separate stations... 😓

[@hglim738]

Yes, the link is rather poor for commuters. It was reported that LTA rejected the MPs' request to improve on the link and proximity between the MRT and LRT stations before the MRT station was constructed, citing engineering reasons.

[@ARSZLB]

very thorough exploration of the topic, nicely done!

[@Rose_Butterfly98]

When I stayed at Bukit Panjang in 2018, it was really packed every day. It may not be comfortable but the MRTs are about the same. It was way faster than switching to a bus for me. Ride's way more fun than an mrt too. Just wish it could go faster though. After awhile I realized I'm faster on my bicycle anyways because of all the wait time.

[@Ltwentytwo]

9:27 should we control for bike riders? the tropical weather year round in singapore is hardly conducive to bike commuting.

[@adavirus69]

nice in my town there is hardly any bus lines which goes in town on the road because the roads are very narrow, so we are basically forced to use the light rail to get to metro station in rush hour it is pretty much crammed they also have better design, such as being less bendy and have a separate on ground train tracks, they are only elevated when they need to, and in some sections it can go very fast

[@tehsiewdai]

cool! which town do you live in?

[@adavirus69]

@@tehsiewdai tuen mun, hong kong

[@SuccessforLifester]

@@adavirus69 Is that in HK island? I remember more than a decade ago I purposely took tram rides in HK just to experience it. It was very nice. Cheap too

[@azure_b808]

@@SuccessforLifester nope, it is in the nt (new territories)

[@SuccessforLifester]

@@azure_b808 I cannot remember anymore. I think only one region got tram cars. Might be NT that I went

[@ethanang3527]

That’s a long hill. Yes, that is why it is called Bukit Panjang, means long, lengthy hill in Malay.

[@whitwam2]

Taipei loves using LRT systems! The Wenhu line was plagued with controversy but is quite popular today. The new Circular line is somewhat similar but on rail instead. Would love to hear thoughts from those systems!

[@guybeauregard]

I'd love to see that analysis too! My take is that many of the problems identified in this Singapore example pertain to Taipei's elevated systems as well, including: lousy time-consuming access points (on the Brown Line); extremely slow moving curving routes (on the Yellow Line); and limited capacity on both. They are not the shining stars of the system.

[@jiroup7390]

On an unrelated note, what inverters do the new czr amy malaysian lrts use? Somewhat sounds like an IGBT VVVF system, but also not really. Hmm.

[@alexhaowenwong6122]

The bus may be comparable in terms of in vehicle travel time, but you also have to remember LRT comes far more frequently than buses.

[@tlplayz_ytc8501]

Tq for the info. But kelana Jaya line let has 2. Coach and 4 coach trains. It's not 100% 4 cars. Another LRT can be found in Malaysia. is the Ampang/Sri petalling line which has. 6 coaches and more quieter and comfortable. compared to kj line

[@AridChannelOfficialSG]

Sengkangian herez imo the SPLRT is cramped in peak hours, and expect people to reverse-social distancing. To add to BPLRT's misery, 976 was introduced which is the BPLRT on the road, which should say something about the state of the BPLRT if they need that. Fun fact, Singapore used to go on an LRT craze, with portions of the Circle line and Jurong Region line being LRT, with more mature towns having it. Out of all the LRT lines, the BPLRT is the only intertown LRT to be built. I guess the LRT system works only if you plan it with a town from the very beginning and the town is a grid.

[@uchiajason]

Watching this from london! Haven’t been to singapore in a while!

[@MebiManga]

The video would need more analysis on the Sengkang/Punggol LRTs as well before slamming the whole transit system as a whole. I'd agree it isn't exactly the best alternative to a carlite town, and they have their own set of problems as well, but the Sengkang/Punggol LRTs have improve on/fixed some, if not all problems you mentioned with the Bukit Panjang LRT track, (part of it is, like you mentioned, because the system was designed as part of city planning).

[@goldkwi]

He did mention that the Punggol and Sengkang LRT is better than the BkP LRT. And that I agree because I use the PG LRT everyday. I think the PG LRT is very reliable, fast and timely. The only grevience I have is that living next to an LRT station does not value add to the property price. Only Punggol MRT homes have worth. 5 room flats at Waterway Terraces next to Waterway pt and near the MRT can cost as much as $400k more than 5 room flats around the LRT.

[@tehsiewdai]

cool! i didn't study the property prices in that region - interesting point you've made!

[@JoyJoy_Life]

I use LRT almost every day. I agree LRT / TRANSPORT need improvement, but don't agree with him . Video 7:40 about Punggol congested spot, and blame it on LRT..... they are NOT directly related. Why didn't he mention the arrival frequency of LRT compare to bus and in fact I enjoy using it more than bus. Suggest tram on ground level ? do we have so much space available? Underground tram, that sound like good alternative, but cannot be done for housing estate here, unless it is pre-plan new town.

[@Founderschannel123]

@@goldkwi yeah i know plus my neighbourhood got a new mrt thats been built so meaning my house just got increased in value.

[@followengland_ballsonig2938]

@@JoyJoy_Life on ground trams are possible, singapore just dedicates space more to cars which causes induced demand causing traffic, therefore trams are better

[@ruiliang6819]

The Guangzhou APM is also really a local service running parallel to Line 3, making access to the Haixinsha island and internal parts of Zhujiang New Town easier

[@jianxiongRaven]

thanks for covering this. i alwaysfind it weird that if the goverment is trying to make the country car lite , they end up trying to ease traffic which would only make more people use car because of the lesser traffic which would end up back to sq 1. and ya its people mover not ligh rail at all

[@jes3927]

I did not expect this video to be so in-depth. Fantastic work I found the LRT confusing, slow/late, waste of time waiting, boarding, getting lost, walking from the station etc (thereby Ineffective), and also costly for what it was worth, I only tried twice. I then bought a bicycle. 😂

[@benchiaase]

Very fascinating stuff. But I think there is a reason why ground level rail (like trams) are not utilised in Singapore. Some have mentioned aesthetics (no hanging wires), but also, roads in Singapore change constantly. They are dug up, they are realigned etc etc. A rail element will make these changes a hell of a lot more complicated to execute.

[@markachternaam5207]

Other countries also have the same road maintenance to consider. Also trams without overhead wires exist now, due to fast charging batteries.

[@ST-yb1rf]

love this video very informative and well made. i wish i had more engaging videos like these back in school days

[@rykellim]

As a bike sharing operator, I really like the part where the narrator suggested a bike track right alongside the tram! Good video!

[@mavericklimsk]

Well put together video. Very valid points. 👍

[@qikaigao3991]

One issue about trams that makes Singapore never accept it: Power grids. You see, they must have overhead power grids to work. Singapore does not even have overhead power poles, overhead telephone cables,.. overhead anything. Singapore will not allow an overhead power grid to be built. They are ugly.

[@shxkrrr7489]

The NEL does have overhead power though, but it's in a tunnel (of course).

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Damn you are spot on here. I stayed in Bukit Panjang from 2001 to 2015. Even before the LRT was built everyone in BP knew it to be a failure except for the authorities. Anyone took accountability to this WORST failure in Singapore 's infrastructure?? NOPE, not one...

[@Benjamin-wy4dj]

Well it wasn't a failure if it was anticipated I guess. The lrt was an afterthought solution for BP Town. There was a need to provide transportation to the bukit panjang Town as it was not connected to the main networks of the mrt. A bus service model would never work for BP if you live there, the roads along teck whye are always packed. The lrt though an afterthought solution, did at the end of the day defitnely helped the residents of bplrt by providing another form of transport to the wider network. The subsequent introduction of the DTL was helpful where it provides another means to travel along the main network hence travellers can choose between cck and BP mrts. LRT systems aren't great and usually are used if there is little to no space. They don't reap profits for the operator but is still run for the public. More better form of lrts would be that of Malaysia where Jurong will see a system comparable to that. Basically a mini mrt that has a wider area of coverage and capacity.

[@johnwig285]

Just because you're an apple lover doesn't mean banana is not good. This video didn't take into account crucial factors such as transfer time & waiting time which significantly outweigh the access penalty etc. You're just using this video as a confirmation bias. It's a good video for raising the issues but definitely didn't cover the actual unique selling point. If it is a failure, it would be almost empty 🤷🏽‍♂️ All you need is basic common sense to calculate the access penalty, waiting time, ride time, transfer time & ull know why LRT is still preferred.

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Hi, when the BP LRT went live. 920 and 922 were taken away. If my memory serves me right I struggled, back then, to find a way to get from Bangkit to BPP. They left us with no choice but to take the LRT. So I'm not sure what you mean by preferred, when there is an absence of alternatives??? Last I checked in Dec 2022, the LRT was still running single direction. Out of curiosity? Perhaps you could kindly point me to the survey or the explanation that shows it's the preferred form of transport by the BP residents? Thanks.

[@johnwig285]

@@fuhrerpolizei86 LRT is both directions bro... Where got one direction, today u take from teck whye, u can go to CCK or u can go to BP 🤦🏽‍♂️ Read my point above. This video didn't even take into account the waiting time + transfer time to MRT which SIGNIFICANTLY outweigh the access penalty. Also, what abt the speed during peak hours? Using common sense, peak hours will significantly impact buses more than LRTs due to mini road jams.

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Hi, to be specific. When I said single direction, I meant service A and service B within the Bukit Panjang loop. Are both services back to full operations already??? :) Also, care to explain what is access penalty? I don't really understand what is access penalty, some cheem term thought up by LTA staffers or their consultant? Otherwise I may understand access penalty as lack of escalators within LRT stations for old uncles and aunties to use... LOLOLOLOL... Mini traffic jams on the road, that's a valid point.. but I thought that was what dedicated bus lanes for peak hours are for. Last I checked this morning peak hour they were still there within bukit Panjang and choa chu kang road...

[@jernhung]

Well done! Very well researched. Thanks for this!

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Loved the video! It goes to show, the Dutch have figured out not only the more efficient ways of dealing with transportation, but also how to make it more livable and equitable. The LRT there in Singapore is more like an expensive, uncomfortable self driving bus in the sky 😂 I would definitely agree that true light rail and a reuse of the public space as you have shown would be a much better solution. I appreciate your assessment of access as well, I have a son in a wheelchair and when in San Francisco, there was a downtown BART station that was really confusing to figure out how to use the elevator to get down to the train.

[@harukrentz435]

lol i guess im not the only one who see that lrt as bus on the rail tracks

[@AdvosArt]

This is such an amazingly edited and produced video Honestly can't imagine living in bukit panjang lol, been staying too close to central all my life

[@ahkl77]

Rip out BP LRT and reorganise them with feeder bus routes. Build a MRT branch line from DTL Bt Panjang westwards to NSL CCK, with new Teck Whye station between; and north-eastwards with new stations Pang Sua (serving Fajar/ Jelapang) and Segar. Repurpose the demolished LRT alignment with a PCN instead, doubles up too as a LRT heritage trail.

[@alexhaowenwong6122]

Admittedly I'm American, but having been on the SG MRT, be careful what you wish for. A branch line from DTL Bukit Panjang to serve the rest of BP would have higher speeds but unless it runs as a shuttle, it would have far lower frequencies than the BPLRT.

[@qjtvaddict]

No way turn it into a monorail

[@markachternaam5207]

I think this would make a ton of sense, especially if the feeder buses are electric busses (since Singapore has those now). It would make so much more sense for the DT line to terminate on one of the current NS stations. I can only assume there is an actual good reason they decided not to do this.

[@feastidiouspro4790]

As a Punggol native I can confirm that the TPE entrance/exit road is perpetually jammed, added around 10-15 min to my commute time every morning. However, I don't think the lrt system can be blamed for that problem tho as the road itself is one of only 3 ways of getting onto the highway from Punggol town.

[@gargargargar]

Funny you mentioned how Singapore brands APM as LRT; in Taiwan, we call an entire line of APM the MRT! Crazy stuff

[@lzh4950]

Unlike what the author says I thought LRT aren't that similar to trams, in that they're more likely to be high instead of low-floor e.g. HK's Light Rail, Manchester's MetroLink

[@chnyukiko96]

You said the Lrt takes more time , not really. It takes 20mins by bus to sengkang mrt Station from Punggol but from Lrt to Punggol mrt Station then from Punggol Mrt Station to Sengkang takes 5mins+ 3 minutes LRT that just need 8mins shorter times than the bus. And also, Punggol and SengKang Lrt are quite smooth and fast.