LTA will take no further action against SMRT

SMRT will face no further action over providing five chartered trains to Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) to take students to a rugby match at the National Stadium.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday that it had noted the measures taken by the public transport operator to ensure that there was no impact on normal train services or commuter safety when it provided the service to the school on Tuesday.

An LTA spokesman said: "While LTA will not be taking further action against SMRT, we have reminded SMRT to respect and fulfil its licence obligations, and that its primary focus must continue to be on providing timely and good service to public commuters.

"We will continue to consider each application by operators to provide such services on a case-by-case basis."

The train operator had been criticised by some netizens after it allowed the school to charter five trains to take 3,000 students to the C Division rugby final against St Andrew's Secondary School at the new Sports Hub.

The LTA had said on Tuesday that it would take "appropriate action" against SMRT for not seeking its approval before providing the private service.

Yesterday, the LTA spokesman emphasised the need for rail licensees to seek prior approval from the regulator before operating any chartered train services.

The LTA explained that it was part of an organising committee for National Education shows and had been aware of past train charters.

So SMRT was not required to specifically apply to LTA for permission on those occasions.

"LTA has a responsibility to safeguard the interests of the commuting public, to ensure that train services are provided as scheduled, and any additional chartered trips do not adversely affect the quality of train services for commuters and the maintenance of the trains and rail network," the spokesman said.

This article was first published on August 30, 2014.
Get The New Paper for more stories.