SPEECH BY MR MAH BOW TAN MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE SMRT 10TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, ISLAND BALLROOM ON WEDNESDAY, 5 AUGUST 1997 AT 8.10PM

In a few day's time, we will be celebrating our National Day. It will be a time for Singaporeans to take stock, to reflect on the changes that have taken place and to ponder the future.

2 As we trace our history over the last 32 years of nation building, one thing that stands out as a source of pride for Singapore is our Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. In fact, if you look at the back-drop of many National Day dinners and decorations, you will see the MRT train featured prominently.

3 The MRT has brought Singaporeans closer together by providing a fast, reliable and efficient public transport network spanning the whole island. Distances seem shorter. Housing estates and commercial centres mushroom in the far corners of the island. New towns like Pasir Ris, Tampines Woodlands and Jurong are no longer considered "ulu".

4 While the expansion of the physical network has contributed to MRT's increasingly important role in our society and economy, due credit must also be given to the operator.

The Government can always build a first class system but without a first class team to manage and operate it, the MRT will not be what it is today.

5 The Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Pte Ltd (SMRT) was established 10 years ago in 1987. Since then, it has grown from a staff strength of some 1,000 to almost 2,700 today. It now operates a system with 83 km of tracks and 48 stations which caters to about 900,000 passengers trips daily, or some 13 percent of all motorised trips made in Singapore.

6 Over the last 10 years, SMRT has maintained a high standard of service. Today, our MRT system is rated as one of the best run train services in the world. It is safe, clean, reliable, comfortable and affordable. A combination of efficient management, harmonious management-union relations and dedicated employees has been its success formula.

7 Given its 10 years of excellent track records, SMRT certainly has a lot to celebrate tonight. But tonight is not only an occasion for SMRT to take stock of its achievements, it is also an opportunity to chart the direction for the next decade.

8 We cannot predict the future, but we can be certain that the next decade will be more challenging for SMRT. MRT ridership has increased and will continue to rise. Expectations of SMRT's passengers are also increasing with growing affluence.

At the same time, SMRT's operating equipment and trains are getting older, requiring more maintenance and servicing.

9 Does SMRT have the confidence and determination to take on these challenges? I am informed by your management that you are now working on a Customer Service Charter which will be published in November this year to mark the 10th Anniversary of SMRT. Under the charter, SMRT will pledge to provide a high level of service and actively seek feedback from its customers. This demonstrates that SMRT is a service-orientated company and is committed to serve the people well. I am sure that all Singaporeans welcome such a commitment.

10 The charter is a bold move for a company whose scope and operating environment are changing. When the Changi Extension Line is completed in year 2001, SMRT will be operating the direct transit link to the Changi Airport. This will provide Changi Airport with a superior and convenient land transport link, like those in other major international airports.

11 Being linked to one of the best airports in the world, the demands on SMRT will be high. SMRT's challenge will be to provide a first-class level of service that will match what the travellers' experience at Changi Airport all the way to the city. This is a heavy responsibility.

12 Some airport passengers may insist on bringing bulky baggage on board the system. Others may be tourists who are unfamiliar with the system or may not even speak our language proficiently. How is SMRT going to cater to the needs of this special group of passengers? These are some of the challenges for the staff of SMRT in the years ahead.

13 Given its experience and expertise, I am confident that SMRT will be able to take on the challenges and continue to provide excellent quality service. It is with this same confidence that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has decided to appoint SMRT as the operator of the Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit system (LRT).

14 The Bukit Panjang LRT will be first of LRT system in Singapore and is scheduled to be completed in 1999. For those of you who are not familiar with the LRT, let me highlight to you that an LRT is not simply a smaller version of the MRT.

15 Firstly, the LRT is a feeder service and will run much closer to the residential units. Secondly, the composition of the passengers will be different, perhaps with more school children and more passengers using the system for their market trips. Next, the LRT will not have big scale stations like the MRT, but smaller stops with less facilities and located closer averaging about 600m apart. Finally, the trains will be automated and driverless.

16 As you can see, the operating environment for the LRT will be very different from that of the MRT. SMRT may need to devise new operating rules and administrative systems to run the LRT effectively. This is a tremendous challenge and opportunity for SMRT to provide a more door-to-door service to its customers, as well as another avenue for SMRT to contribute to the process of building a world class land transport system in Singapore.

17 I am confident that SMRT will be able to duplicate its success with the MRT system on the Bukit Panjang LRT, and in doing so, set the service benchmark for all future LRT operators to emulate.

18 On this note, let me end by congratulating everyone here tonight for the remarkable achievements of SMRT in the last 10 years. I wish all of you at SMRT a happy 10th Anniversary, and every success in your future endeavours.