Public transport fixes needed: PTC

So far, there have been 35 new or extended bus services rolled out, and improvements made to 71 existing services.

PTC said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been adding more double-decker buses to the fleet, which means more than 40 per cent of buses on the road have a larger passenger load.

Recruiting and keeping bus drivers are key challenges for transport operators, the survey found. The problem is tied to the ability to keep services reliable during traffic delays or unexpected staff absences, PTC added.

Commuters are also affected by how others do not give way or move in on the bus and train, even when there is space. That is why some passengers are unable to board the first service that arrives and need to wait for the next bus or train, PTC said.

PTC added that it will engage LTA, commuters and operators on ways to further improve boarding efficiency, including using the rear door for boarding on buses or deploying marshals or digital screens at busier train platforms to guide passengers to less crowded train carriages.

It added that passenger load indicators, similar to the one on the Downtown Line, could be deployed to all MRT lines to better assist passengers in picking a less crowded carriage to board.

Commuters also raised concerns about inconsiderate behaviour from other passengers on public transport, including playing music or videos loudly, and being unwilling to give up seats to those who need them.

PTC said it will continue to strengthen efforts to foster a more gracious commuting culture.

Staying cool and comfortable on trains was another issue for commuters, who felt they experienced uneven temperatures and weak airflow, particularly during peak travel periods and on certain train lines.

Cooling in some trains was “barely perceptible”, resulting in some carriages feeling warm and poorly ventilated, said commuters who were polled.

PTC said the temperature of MRT train carriages was set at around 25 deg C, and train carriages are equipped with temperature sensors to continuously monitor and maintain the temperature.

However, the temperature can feel different for commuters depending on the time of the day, whether they are on a train line that is above ground or underground, the passenger load of the train, and personal preferences.

PTC said: “The warmer climate in recent years may also have contributed to greater sensitivity to onboard temperatures for commuters during their journeys, even where cooling systems are operating as intended, especially during hotter periods of the year.”

PTC added that it will engage LTA and public transport operators to look into ways to improve travel comfort. One solution could be to improve air-conditioning on older train fleets, and review maintenance regimes.

For instance, the new North-South Line and East-West Line trains feature higher cooling capacities and enhanced airflows, and are expected to replace the older trains on these lines entirely in 2026.

On the whole, the survey found that 87 per cent of commuters were satisfied with the public transport system.

The public transport customer satisfaction survey was conducted from Aug 18 to Sept 5, 2025. The survey polled 5,505 passengers aged 15 and above, through online surveys and face-to-face interviews at bus interchanges and MRT stations.

After gathering feedback from the authorities, public transport operators and commuters, PTC said other areas for improvement, including better journey planning tools, have been singled out.

It said: “LTA’s efforts to improve the accuracy and resilience of the ETA system are welcome. Beyond that, we should examine what information commuters desire to enhance journey planning.”

For instance, Google Maps and Citymapper are popular around the world because the tools offer a host of information beyond what the local equivalents offer.

That includes train arrivals, detailed transfer information, alternative routes with less walking or barrier-free accessibility, travel time or fare comparisons and real-time crowd information, PTC said.

Beyond the three main areas for improvement identified, the survey highlighted other commuter concerns such as smoothness of bus rides, comfort level at bus stops, interchanges and train stations, and ease of transferring to other trains on other platforms.