I posted my experience in taking MRT rides in one of my post early this year. Well, I think it gets more pack after that. Left house at the same timing, and even the LRT is pack now. Previously there’s still some room to breathe.
After all these while, I am still trying hard to get used to the “sardine” experience. I get VERY uncomfortable & stress with some stranger standing close to me in a packed train, or even breathing down my neck at times. I felt yucky and suffocating. I am wondering if I will get depression? Other commuters seems to be coping well with that.
I know it will be more packed along the way, I thought I finally found my comfort zone by standing at the connecting area between 2 cabins. Well, it doesn’t last long. Soon, that area was packed as well. Just happened today, I was leaning against the wall of the train, 1 slightly big size man was standing in front with his back facing me. His bum accidentally brushed against my sling bag a few times. I was playing game on my mobile phone and my phone can actually touch his back if he moves too much. I’ve already tried keep my mobile phone as close to me as possible. I made a simple sketch below (he he he…pardon my drawing :p)
Train ride after work is the worst, especially on the days when I left office on the dot. I boarded the train yesterday evening at 6.45pm in Chinatown MRT station and it was PACKED like mad! Started to wonder if there’s so much construction sites along North East line stations as there were already quite a number of workers when I boarded the train… More passengers boarded at Clarke Quay station and luckily some alighted at Dhoby Ghaut and more alighted at Little India station. I think I shall leave office slightly later (boarding the train after 7pm). It’s too pack for me to handle.
Sometime in April 2013, there’s a press release from LTA launching a fare saving campaign. It is a 1-year trial program from 24 Jun 2013, not only providing free travel on rail into the city area, it is also one of the measure to spread the crowd during peak hours. Travel early, Travel Free on the MRT and here’s what you will get:
– Free travel before 7.45am
– Up to 50 cents discount from 7.45am to 8am
The 16 designated stations are Bugis, Chinatown, City Hall, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Orchard, Outram Park, Raffles Place, Somerset, Tanjong Pagar, Bayfront, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Marina Bay and Promenade. If I were to exit from Chinatown before 8am, I have to wake up at 6am and leave home at 710am? Leave work at around 7pm, oh man, I’m like working on an 12hrs shift.
Weird, Chinatown was listed in LTA’s Press Release but not in SMRT’s website
Another off-peak rail travel incentive is accumulating of points for rewards under INSINC scheme (launched in January 2012). So far, I’ve won some cash rewards (S$1 or S$5) and they can be credited to my EZLink card. T was very lucky last month, she won S$50!!!
How to earn points?
Commuters who start their journey during the shoulder-peak hours of 6.30am-7.30am and 8.30am-9.30am on weekdays will accumulate more points for rewards. You earn points by taking train trips using the CEPAS card registered in Insinc. You will automatically earn 1 point for every 1 kilometre you travel on the train all day during a weekday, Monday through Friday. Weekend and bus travel does not count. If your trip on the train begins during a designated decongesting hour on a weekday you will receive 3 points per kilometre instead of 1 if you are Bronze, 4 points if you are Silver, 5 points if you are Gold and 6 points if you are Platinum! Decongesting hours are between 6:30 – 7:30am and 8:30 – 9:30am. – source
Will they work? Or have they work for you so far? Hopefully, it will be better travelling on rail in future. But for me to leave home at 710 can be a torture :p Well, I have to choose between less hours of sleep or to become part of the can of Sardine!
– ♥ –
