Picture from flickr.com/photos/farinellir
SMRT will be removing 30% of the seats on some of the trains for more standing space.
This idea goes well with commuters who have problems getting into the trains during the peak hours.
But not "so well" with those who normally gets their seats.
Maybe it's better to remove the seats of the middle cabins, leaving the cabins at both ends fully fitted.
Normally, crowding happens around the middle cabins, so the cabins at both ends with fully
fitted seats provide the "carrot" to move towards either ends.
What’s your view?
I am no expert to suggest but I thought they should add more cabins like in HKG & NYC. Have you taken a ride in our KL's LRT where the seat are stainless steel long benches? If you're alone you will slide & sway if you don't cling to the side rails. It may look silly but then we can have more seating passengers since we don't have designated single shaped seats. Anyway, I wish our population here could rely on these trains to commute like in Singapore. Unfortunately the routes here limited.
I think the length of the trains are limited by the size of existing stations. It should cost a bomb to increase the size of the stations.
Long benches in the train sounds like a good idea to increase capacity. But slide & sway from the seats look dangerous to me, especially to the elderly and expecting moms. The safety of commuters at higher speed of MRT trains compared to LRT is a concern.
I believe Singapore Authorities and SMRT will come up with an ideal solution.
Thanks for contributing your idea.
Have a blessed Sunday. Enjoy.