From my 2013 Singapore sojourn.
Whenever I think of Singapore, I can't help but gush about the city's train system.
Metro Rails may be a mundane subject to many, but, for a kid who's grown up and lived in a country which is still working to sort out its public transportation system, an engineering and urban planning feat such as the Singapore MRT is something I can't help but marvel at.
Singapore is not a large country, relatively speaking. The fact that the island has MRT stations at what seems to be every corner makes it all the more simple and convenient to navigate.
The Mass Rapid Transit of Singapore opened in 1987. Next to Manila's LRT system, SG's train network is the oldest in Southeast Asia. According to Wikipedia.Org, 2.6 million people ride the Singapore MRT on a daily basis. Manila's trains are also packed on a daily basis- despite being far more unreliable than their Singaporean equivalents.
Before I get too "stat crazy", do allow me to get "experiential" about this subject.
I love the fact that the Singapore trains are usually on time, and that stations are usually packed with signs which help guide commuters as to where to go, to get to what part of town. I also like the fact that there are ushers around (at least in some of the stations I managed to visit) to assist commuters who look (or are) lost.
It is also a plus that Singapore MRT trains and MRT stations are usually immaculately clean and organized. Commuting in a country as warm as Singapore is no joke, so, being able to do so within an environment that is more or less comfortable and easy on the sense is a big motivation for many to just keep going, and not do an about-face and head on home. Believe me, chaotic train stations in Manila turn off many a commuter. They find it more prudent to turn around and take the bus to go to work, or, pack up and go home altogether.
This isn't an advertisement for the Singapore Tourism Board. This isn't a paid advertisement, period. This is merely a statement of truth, and me appreciating the fact that a little organization, and social vigilance, goes a long way.
I know the Philippines is an archipelago, and by virtue of it being so, it then becomes difficult to organize a transportation system which covers the entire country in one go.
This doesn't mean we can't start small, and dream big, though. Not by a mile.
MC
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