S1E15: Why Singaporeans should expect a lot from the transport system

The Straits Times Podcasts

From the evolution of MRT lines to buses, wider cycling paths and committing to being “car-lite”, our veteran transport reporter tells all.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.

In the second part of the conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe hosts long-time senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times - Christopher Tan - to talk about how he got into journalism, and what has been driving him all these years.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 On how Chris Tan once found out how much it cost to build the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway

5:30 Chris recalls when he first raised the idea of the bus contracting model way before it was started, to help raise service levels

7:00 Debates on building a new MRT line: Why the Rail Financing Framework is good for the overall network

9:00 “Build ‘em and they will come”; positive knock-on effects

14:00 Why it is fair for Singaporeans to expect more from the public transport system

17:37 Christopher Tan retiring from full-time work end-July 2024; his plans

Listen to Pt 1 of Lee Nian Tjoe's conversation with Chris Tan here: https://omny.fm/shows/coe-watch/fixing-the-coe-system-and-why-newsmakers-do-not-te

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read Christopher Tan's articles: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/christopher-tan

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([e-mail]), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Follow COE Watch Podcast here:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [e-mail]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapters

1. Why Singaporeans should expect a lot from the transport system (00:00:00)

2. On finding out cost of KPE (00:02:00)

3. On raising bus contracting model (00:05:30)

4. Rail Financing Framework: Good overall? (00:07:00)

5. Growth around new rail lines (00:09:00)

6. SG's public transport: Fair to expect more? (00:14:00)

7. Happy retirement Chris Tan! (00:17:37)