ACS(I) MRT train charter (2014)

ACS(I) students in one of the chartered MRT trains. Photo from The Straits Times.

On 26 August 2014, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACS(I)) chartered 5 Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains to transport all their staff and students to the Singapore Sports Hub. The MRT trains were chartered so that the whole school could attend the Schools National ‘C’ Division rugby final match, where the ACS(I) rugby team were facing off against the Saint Andrew’s Secondary rugby team. The incident garnered public attention in which some netizens were against the use of public transport for private usage while others praised SMRT, stating that it was a creative solution and a mutually beneficial arrangement for the school and the company.

Details of the incident

On 25 August 2014, the news of the train charter was officially announced to the student body during a briefing for the rugby final. A few days before the briefing, some ACS(I) students had circulated an internal memo on Twitter, which contained the following message: "To smoothly transport close to 3,000 students and staff to the Sports Hub, the school has specially chartered five MRT trains”. The message continued to state that “Our prefects, together with the Year Directors and teachers on duty, will be leading us in a short walk to One North (sic) station, from which we will board the ACExpresS direct to the Stadium station”.

On the day of the 'C' division final, about 3,000 ACS(I) supporters were transported from one-north to Stadium MRT station via 5 chartered MRT trains. ACS(I) students took to Twitter to document their experience using the hashtag 'ACexpresS' in their tweets. ACS(I) principal Winston Hodge explained that trains were the safest and most practical way to transport the students and staff, stating that they would require “at least 80 buses” otherwise.

The transportation arrangement had been sponsored by ACS(I)'s parent support group. However both ACS(I) and SMRT declined to reveal the amounted cost of the arrangement.

Responses

ACS(I) students at the platform of Stadium MRT station. Photo from The Straits Times.

In light of the public attention that the incident had attracted, SMRT and LTA each released statements to the media expressing their takes on the situation.

ACS(I) students waiting for a chartered MRT train at one-north station. Photo from Today Online.

SMRT

SMRT vice-president of corporate information and communications Patrick Nathan stated that SMRT has chartered trains to other schools in the past before. He expressed that the chartered trains operated strictly during non-peak hours. According to SMRT, only one-way services were provided to ACS(I) as the return trip would occur during peak hours. Patrick Nathan also explained that the pick-up and drop-off stations must be on the same MRT line for chartered trains. In the case of the ACS(I) train charter, both stations were on the Circle Line. The above measures had been put in place to minimise public disruption.

SMRT’s managing director Lee Ling Wee also spoke out in support of SMRT's decision to go through with the train charter. In a statement on Facebook, he voiced that the entire "effort was genuine and worthwhile". Lee Ling Wee explained that it was possible to organise such charters during non-peak hours due to the "excess capacity" available. According to his estimates, only about "20 - 30%" of train capacity on the Circle Line is utilised during non-peak hours. He also added that SMRT would be more vigilant about seeking approval from relevant authorities for such arrangements in the future.

LTA

On 26 August 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman stated that SMRT had not sought the approval of LTA prior to the arrangement with ACS(I), as per the Circle Line License. The spokesman added that LTA will come to a decision on the "appropriate action" to take against SMRT. SMRT had also been advised that its main priority and responsibility is to "the commuting public at large".

On 27 August 2014, the LTA spokesman expressed that SMRT has explained to LTA the reason behind their decision to charter the trains without seeking prior approval from the LTA. SMRT has also acknowledged that they should have requested for LTA’s approval before allowing ACS(I) to charter the trains.

LTA issued a statement addressing the situation on 29 August 2014. LTA expressed that they would not be taking any further action against SMRT since they had taken appropriate measures to guarantee that the larger public was not affected. However, SMRT was reminded to acknowledge their license obligations to "taxpayers and public transport commuters who fund the train system" in Singapore.