Aside from buses and trains, electric trams could be an additional mode of public transport here.

French company Alstom Transport, one of the world's biggest makers of trams and high-speed trains, and also the supplier of the driver-less North-East Line (NEL) trains, believes that trams can become another option for a quick, cheap mode of transportation within the city.

Its president, Mr Philippe Mellier, said trams _ which were in Singapore until the late 1920s and are making a comeback in cities like Paris - are one solution for mass transit in congested city areas.

"Trams answer a very strong need. It is now well understood that cars are not the solution for inner city travel. Buses are noisy, require a lot of maintenance and consume a lot of oil," he said.

Mr Mellier said a light-duty tram system can transport about 100,000 to 180,000 passengers a day, and is not costly as there are no tunnels to dig.

The Land Transport Authority, in its latest annual report, said trams are one of the transport options that may be employed in the new downtown in the future.

This is one option the Government will study in its review of Singapore's public transport - its first in a decade - as it looks at how to get more people to travel by public transport.

Mr Mellier was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Alstom's Metro Workshop yesterday. The two-day event, which ends today, was attended by journalists from around the world.

They were given an insight into Alstom's projects in Singapore, such as the NEL and the ongoing Circle Line project, which is due to open by 2010. They were also briefed on emerging trends in metro systems around the world.

Mr Mellier also touched on his company's interest in providing a high-speed train link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which he called his 'wildest dream for Singapore'.

He said: "You have millions of people who are willing to commute between the two cities and the distance is quite short. There are some political hurdles to be worked through, but I think there is a very bright future for rail transport in Singapore."