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Of KTM Stations and Stampedes... Monday, August 25, 2008
On the front pages of The Star last Friday, our Prime Minister was reported to have unobtrusively and quietly boarded our local railway system, in order to better gauge the experience of travelling via public transport. After having gone from point A to B in the train, he discovered that, "I'm not happy with this because the people are not getting satisfaction from riding the trains. This we must fix.".
The Star/Bernama, 22nd August 2008
My first reaction to this article was;
"Finally! So long only realize! (to put it crudely)"
The problem of overcongested public transport systems have long plagued the people. As a frequent commuter, I've seen the worst that these stations can bring out in people. Our (most of the time, anyway) friendly citizens turn into something else altogether, the moment they see the train approach the station platform. I've almost fallen off a monorail platform during rush hour (which would have been the end of me), when the platform was so packed that a person falling down at the back cause a domino effect to ripple all the way to the front and send the people in the anterior flying off. I've seen old women and children being pushed down in the midst of people stampeding into the train - before the passengers had even alighted. I've seen people glaring at me whenever I try to hold on to some stationary part of the train (to prevent myself flying into the arms of the nearby makcik whenever the train suddenly brakes).
And thats just the tip of the iceberg. (Eelaine, if you're reading this, I think you might agree with me =)
Certainly, taking the public transport is no ride in the park. Still, we're forced to do it, since, despite the hassle, it IS still the cheaper and more convenient way to travel to certain spots. I agree that taking a car is a WHOLE lot more comfortable, nonetheless, when one takes into account the jam, and eternal search for a parking space in KL, one might still consider the public transport as a means of travelling.
Things seem to be a bit better now, though. I just came home on the 7.30p.m. train, and oddly enough, it wasn't another day in the sardine can. Sure, there were no empty seats, but miraculously, I actually had some breathing space. The station announcements are now prerecorded (in the voice of a pleasant-sounding lady), as opposed to the guttural utterings of the train driver, which no one can comprehend. And, yes, the train came on time.
Looks like things are looking up for the 'ol trundling train.
Posted at 10:14 pm by IsaacCheah
 | | | Soon Seng
August 28, 2008 08:50 PM PDT
Weng Lum: You mean, the voice announcing the destination? Wow, i would never have guessed. I wonder why them, of all people. haha...
Eelaine: Thats why! LRT pretty tame already, and they actually queue up! wah, monorail.. tsk tsk tsk.. health hazard.
Li Ping: haha.. well, strangely enough, the service DOES seem to be improving, slightly. | |
| | | liping
August 27, 2008 11:13 PM PDT
haiya he tengah buat lakonan for the election oni ma | |
| | | Eelaine Boo
August 27, 2008 08:44 AM PDT
YEAH! Gosh. He JUST only realized it now. And yeah I so agree with you. Tsk. He should try the monorail instead of the LRT. | |
| | | Weng Lum
August 26, 2008 10:19 PM PDT
I believe that is the voice of Yasmin Yussof..if im not mistaken..
Or was it Yasmin Ahmad... well the voice over is def by one local celeb | |
| | | Soon Seng
August 26, 2008 11:53 AM PDT
Li Ping: haha, yes, that IS our Prime Minister. actually, they DID know who he was, and also talked to him about their issues regarding the train system. not really undercover, actually. | |
| | | liping
August 26, 2008 03:15 AM PDT
uh.. nobody recognized him meh? btw our PM is badawi rite?? i know this sounds inane but i'm damn confused la. and stupid yes yes i know... | |
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