Singapore Budget 2014: Public transport satisfaction lowest since 2007

The percentage of commuters satisfied with Singapore's public transport system has fallen to its lowest in six years, an annual survey conducted by UniSIM shows. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
The percentage of commuters satisfied with Singapore's public transport system has fallen to its lowest in six years, an annual survey conducted by UniSIM shows. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The percentage of commuters satisfied with Singapore's public transport system has fallen to its lowest in six years, an annual survey conducted by UniSIM shows.

According to the poll of more than 4,200 commuters conducted last October, 88.5 per cent were satisfied. This was down from 88.8 per cent in 2012, and the lowest level since 2007.

As before, travellers were generally happier with the MRT than with buses, although the latter had narrowed the gap by chalking marked improvement over the last two years.

Commissioned by the Land Transport Authority, the poll showed 88.9 per cent of commuters were contented with the MRT system - marginally higher than the 88.3 per cent attained by buses.

Satisfaction in the MRT has been slipping consecutively since 2010, with last year's level being the lowest since the first such survey started in 2006. The LTA said satisfaction was pulled down by "waiting time, reliability, travel time and customer service".

Satisfaction in buses was at a three-year high, which the LTA attributed to more than 300 buses rolled out so far under the $1.1 billion Bus Service Enhancement Programme.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.