ASIA RAIL 2008

TRANSPORTING people and goods in a sustainable manner in fast-growing Asia is a necessity, not an option. And rail has to be a core component, Land Transport Authority (LTA) chief executive Yam Ah Mee said in his opening address at Asia Rail 2008.

More than 40 speakers at the event - described as the region's largest and longest-running rail conference - will explore rail development and provide insights into financing, technology, maintenance, design and operational issues facing rail operators.

The scope of this year's conference is considerable, as it also includes cutting carbon emissions and boosting safety and security, Mr Yam said. "We have the opportunity to address in depth the economic, social, environmental concerns that are central to the concept of sustainability."

Speaking on "Investing in a sustainable rail transport system to meet the demands of a growing economy", he shared with the audience the master plan announced this year to expand Singapore's land transport system so it will be sustainable for generations.

The plan will shape the island's land transport development for the next 10-15 years and meet the needs of a larger and more diverse population.

"By 2020 alone, travel demand is expected to increase from 8.9 million journeys today to about 14.3 million journeys," Mr Yam said. "Given our significant land constraints, we must meet this projected demand with public transport, as it is the most space-efficient means of carrying large numbers of people with the least stress on the environment and the most promise for ensuring a quality living environment."

Another challenge is the higher expectations of commuters because of growing affluence. "Ultimately, we want and need our public transport system to be affordable, accessible and more comfortable, with improved information services and easier movement - a tall order, but doable," he said.

The rail network - with its high capacity, reliability and speed - will remain the backbone of Singapore's public transport system.

"Of the $54 billion commitment to land transport expansion that Singapore announced this year, rail expansion accounts for approximately $40 billion," said Mr Yam.

Future lines will be more expensive to build, operate and maintain, as they will be mostly underground.

"To keep up the pace of rail expansion, we will refine the financing framework to allow for a network approach to be adopted in evaluating new lines," he said. This will enable future lines to be implemented a few years earlier as long as the entire rail network remains viable.

At the same time, LTA is taking into account the current construction environment so tenderers have flexibility in addressing fluctuating material costs. Civil contracts, beginning with the Downtown Line, incorporate material cost fluctuation provisions based on a monthly review of relevant material indices, Mr Yam explained.

On the commuter side, LTA will ensure accessibility for all, including elderly commuters, families with young children and disabled people.

Train rides will also be more comfortable, with the land transport system focusing on a "whole-journey experience", which includes higher frequency of trains for extra capacity.

"Creating a sustainable land transport system for a growing economy is rife with challenges, but we are committed to making it happen," said Mr Yam. "As we did when we created our master plan, we will actively engage the public through many channels to build a system that enhances our overall quality of life while accommodating our growth."

This article was first published in The Business Times on Nov 19, 2008.