MRT/LRT News

[Charging Bull]

Going to submit follwoing translated names to LTA as well.

1. Botanic Garden Station 植物园
2. King station 国王
3. Holland Village station 荷兰村
4. One North Station 纬一
5. Kent Ridge station 肯特岗
6. Pasir Panjang station 巴西斑让
7. Alexandra station 亚历山大
8.Keppel Station 启宝

[rark]

2. King station 国王 sounds strange though....

[redstone]

King.... can be translated as 'jin' or something...

Translate the pronounciation, not the meaning.

[Charging Bull]

The original street name for king road is "京士" but doesn't look unique or outstanding

[disappear]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

Will Mandai ever be served by MRT?

Maybe they can make LRT go to zoo in future.....

[redstone]

Keppel?
I suggested Labrador....

[RafflesCity]

What's in a name? Plenty, if it's Bayfront

14 Jul 05

By Ho Ai Li

WHEN someone at the Land Transport Authority pencilled in a Chinese translation for the proposed Bayfront MRT station, he could not have imagined the storm to follow.

The name Bei Fu Lan, doesn't mean much in Chinese. It just sounds like 'Bayfront' mispronounced in English.

The first to object was a senior journalist at the main Chinese-language newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao. Deputy local news editor Chua Chim Kang wrote almost a month ago that such carelessness betrayed a certain attitude towards the Chinese language.

'If we keep quiet over Bayfront, we are actually allowing the erosion of the language,' he wrote.

Those who read and speak Chinese deserved better, he felt.

His article set off the newspaper's readers, who penned heartfelt, emotion-charged letters that appeared for weeks afterwards.

They wanted that meaningless name changed, protested against the fact that the language did not get the respect it deserved, and some even wanted the Chinese versions of other street names reviewed.

The LTA took up veteran translator Lee Seng Giap's suggestion to call the Bayfront station Hai Wan Fang in Chinese, for the time being. That, at least, means something. Hai Wan means bay, and Fang means small boats.

In all, about 25 letters were published, out of more than 30 received.

Some observers may have been perplexed. After all, Bei Fu Lan wasn't even the final name for a train station which won't be up until 2012.

But within the community, the outpouring of feeling was seen as an expression of a very real frustration.

'There's a common feeling that the monolingual English-educated do not see what the big fuss is about,' says Professor Eddie Kuo, interim dean of the Nanyang Technological University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

'The feeling is, 'If you know English, why bother about the translations?' '

For Zaobao readers, proper translations of street names are important because many older Chinese here do not know English.

But if those who wrote in also seemed overly unhappy over a name that meant nothing, it reflected how much it rankles when inappropriate translations can make Singapore a laughing stock.

Letter writers were quick to resurrect the ghosts of translation errors past. There was that storm in the community in 2002, over the Singapore Tourism Board slip-up in a brochure which turned the Hungry Ghost Festival into the Hungarian Ghost Festival.

Experts say good translations capture both the sound and meaning of the original. So Coca Cola is Ke Kou Ke Le, which means delicious and joyous.

While translating Bayfront phonetically as Bei Fu Lan might not be worse than calling Pasir Ris Ba Xi Li, many felt it was both inelegant and inaccurate.

As if it was not bad enough that Bei Fu Lan meant nothing, fu lan sounded like the Chinese word for decompose.

Prof Kuo pointed out that proper naming is important in Chinese culture.

As the station will be located in the Marina area where the integrated resort will be, Zaobao readers felt its Chinese name should be attractive not only to Singaporeans but to tourists too.

Someone who does not know English will not understand what Bayfront means, says Mr Lee, a former head of translation at the then Ministry of Culture.

He suggested the name Hai Wan Fang to reflect the maritime flavour of the place.

He was also the one who coined the name Sheng Tau Sha for Sentosa. While sounding alike, it also invokes poetry and evokes images of an idyllic paradise.

The development of translation has been neglected here for a long time, said Mr Lee, one of only two internationally certified conference interpreters here.

To Dr Chua Chee Lay, who teaches Chinese at the National Institute of Education, the debate exposed a raw nerve in the Chinese community. It showed how sensitive they are to any perception of the Chinese language being accorded inferior status to English.

In an editorial, Zaobao said that at the end of the day, the issue was not about a good or bad translation, but attitudes towards the Chinese language. When government agencies cannot ensure accurate and appropriate translations, it betrays a lack of respect for the language.

Slipshod translations are common and this was something many felt powerless to do anything about.

But the storm over the Bayfront station did result in action being taken, when the LTA listened and changed the name. It also promised to consult the various communities and the public before recommending the final MRT station names to the Street and Building Names Board.

The lively debate underlined the growth of civil society and a rising assertiveness of not only the Chinese community, but society as a whole, said Prof Kuo.

The letters to Zaobao also highlighted the passion many Singapore Chinese have for the language.

Mr Daniel Ang, president of the Singapore Interpreters and Translators Union, said: 'When you love a language, you'd want to defend the beauty of it.'

Zaobao's acting commentary page editor, Mr Chew Juai Fong, said that those scrutinising translations these days are not just the Chinese-educated but also a new generation of effectively bilingual Singaporeans.

Some letters on the Bayfront debate arrived in both English and Chinese, because the writers wanted to make sure they were understood.

He says that the need for quality translation has increased greatly with the increased volume and complexity of communications between the Government and the people, and between Singaporeans and foreigners.

Whether in health care, housing, trade or tourism, complicated rules and regulations have to be properly translated.

Prof Kuo said the Bayfront issue helped to raise awareness about the need for good-quality translations by official agencies.

[heirloom]

i can't imagine it takes much effort to make a meaningful translation of bayfront into chinese.

[RafflesCity]

LOL...bayfront is a word anyway, they should give the proper Chinese term for it...

[Charging Bull]

Saw this article in the morning paper, is another "translation" joke:

Quote: "VANDALS daubed the white perimeter walls of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) building with abuse early yesterday morning.Spray-painted in red were the words 'liar' and 'Hang Turi', referring to NKF chief executive as 大骗仙（福建话，大骗子）were also painted in Chinese on the wall."

But this word in chinese: 大骗仙（福建话，大骗子 or big con man） was translated into english word 'Durai cheats heaven' by the reporter!!!

[babystan03]

July 30, 2005
What are SBS' plans for Buangkok Station?

THE Buangkok MRT station has remained closed since the North-East Line (NEL) began operating in June 2003.

I would like to urge SBS Transit to let the public or at least the affected residents know what its plans are with regard to opening the station, what's the increase in home ownership in that area and how it conducts its research to determine the right time to open the station.

I reside on the Hougang side near Buangkok Station. Everyone knows that the area around Buangkok is more 'alive' now. So if the increase in the number of residents is not sufficient for SBS Transit to open the station, when does it plan to do so?

I walk to the Hougang Station to take a train to work. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes to walk to the station which, despite being only the third from the end of the line, is packed with commuters.

Like me, there are many others who walk to either Sengkang or Hougang station. We do not bother waiting for the feeder service because it is not frequent and I would have to wait 10 to 15 minutes. It is simply a waste of time and money.

NEL was built to make the transport system in Hougang and Sengkang more convenient for residents. Ironically, not only do I spend more time travelling but I also pay more for a supposedly more convenient and world-class system.

SBS Transit took away many buses plying the Hougang-to-town route, forcing thousands of people to use NEL.

A few fare hikes since it opened also mean more money has been made.

So, how much more profit does SBS Transit need before it would open the station?

SBS Transit made a commercial decision to operate NEL and if it overestimated the ridership and ended up making a loss, its mistake and losses should be borne by itself and its shareholders, certainly not by raising fares or keeping a station closed.

SBS Transit's intentions are questionable. What can be concluded is that it is more concerned with generating profits than in providing a better service for the public.

If it can't do the job of running NEL, then give it to someone else who can. Stop making residents pay more for something that is less worthy.

Malathi Maratheyah (Ms)

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

[babystan03]

Business Times - 30 Jul 2005

Security boost will come cheap: SMRT

By RACHEL LIN

TIGHTER security measures in the wake of renewed fears of terrorist attacks will result in only marginal cost increases for SMRT Corporation, according to chief financial officer Patrick Lau.

These new measures include installing more closed-circuit TVs (CCTVs) and recruiting transit police who will patrol the MRT system.

'The costs of the transit police will be absorbed by the authorities,' said Mr Lau. 'There will be no additional costs for us, except maybe for training.'

He was speaking at a teleconference announcing SMRT's results for its first quarter ended June 30.

More problematic, however, will be an increase in oil prices. This hike already has already taken its toll: one of the biggest contributors to SMRT's rise in operating expenses was the jump in diesel costs.

The company expects a $9 million increase in diesel costs for buses over last year. Nevertheless, SMRT's net profit rose 13.9 per cent to $23.9 million year-on-year.

This figure takes into account a $2 million tax write-back which inflated the net profit figure for the first quarter of last year. If this write-back were to be excluded, SMRT's net profit for this quarter would have risen by 25.6 per cent.

Revenue rose 6.4 per cent to $176.1 million, thanks to earnings improvements in all businesses, except buses, which saw a 1.7 per cent fall year-on-year due to the rationalisation of inefficient bus routes.

Earnings per share rose from 1.4 to 1.6 cents.

Ridership is expected to remain stable, though SMRT is planning a promotion later this year to boost custom.

With a current hired-out rate of 90 per cent, the company will also continue to aggressively recruit more taxi hirers.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

[hyacinthus]

I see armed guards like those at the airport stationed at City Hall and Tanjong Pagar MRT stations...

[redstone]

[babystan03]

Aug 14, 2005
Armed MRT cops from tomorrow
New police unit forms part of measures to step up security at public places

ARMED police officers from the newly set up Police MRT unit will patrol Singapore's MRT stations and trains from tomorrow, said Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.

'With that and complemented by the existing security guards of the MRT operators, security in the transport system will be enhanced,' said Mr Wong, who was speaking at a National Day observance ceremony for the land transport industry in Toa Payoh.

In his speech on Friday, Mr Wong urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant and play a part in ensuring Singapore's safety. 'We have seen a number of letters in the media in the aftermath of the London blasts, making constructive suggestions on what can be done to better protect the public transport system and its commuters.'

He added that discussion on national security issues will raise the level of public consciousness which is vital in the security protection of Singapore.

First announced in April, the Police MRT unit was set up as part of a brace of measures to step up security at public places.

Immediately after the London bomb blasts, Singapore's Police HQ Command Post stepped up patrols at all MRT stations. MRT operators also increased the number of checks done on commuters.

Last month, Mr Wong launched a briefing programme for taxi operators and drivers to watch out for suspicious behaviour.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

[babystan03]

15 August 2005

Armed police special unit begins MRT patrols
By Johnson Choo, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : A dedicated team of police officers, set up to handle security incidents on the MRT system, have begun their patrols.

But will they shoot to kill if they come across suspected suicide bombers?

"Yes, they may have to", explained Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng when he replied to a question in Parliament on Monday.

Bags and items being checked onboard trains will soon become a common sight for the 1.2 million commuters using the MRT daily.

While patrols by police officers at MRT stations are not new, these officers from the Police MRT Unit have been specially selected and trained to deal with security incidents.

Unlike troopers from the Special Operations Command (SOC) with their red berets, these officers don blue berets.

They are also equipped with less firepower - the Taurus service-revolver and T-baton.

But in the face of potential threat, will these officers shoot to kill?

Member of Parliament Irene Ng, who raised this question, cited the shooting of an innocent man in London who had been mistaken for being a suicide bomber.

Mr Wong said: "We have to evolve our rules of doctrine according to the circumstances. In our context today, we have not come across a suicide bomber case and we hope we will not come across one.

"But I would not rule this out because suicide bombing is one of the preferred techniques of the terrorists to frighten and intimidate normal citizens.

"In the case of other countries where they have experienced this, they have adopted a shoot-to-kill policy because they cannot live with the chance that this person may turn out to be an innocent person as you have seen in the case of London.

"If an officer is confronted with a situation where there is immediate danger to life, he is authorised to use the necessary force to remove the danger and this may extend to the use of firearms.

"The police officer has to use his judgement. He has to assess at the time when he is confronted with a person, who may appear to be a suicide bomber and who in his opinion, he has to neutralise the threat, he may have to take such an action."

The highly-visible officers will patrol in pairs in and around the MRT stations, and depending on the circumstances, other specialist units may also be activated to deal with the situation.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Bernard Ng, OC of Police MRT Unit, said: "The Police MRT Unit is set up to complement the existing security measures implemented by the MRT operators, which include the surveillance cameras and security guards."

Their deployment at bus interchanges is also under consideration.

Police said for the officers to be effective, there would not be any regular scheduled patrolling.

Instead, they will adopt a flexible schedule where their presence would be both random and unpredictable.

The public is advised not to be alarmed by the enhanced patrols. - CNA/de

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

[ignoramus]

HK's MTRC was the mentor for our MRT system? I didn't know that...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JM vouches for safety of monorail technology
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

PT Jakarta Monorail gave its assurance on Sunday that the technology it would use for the monorail project was safe and that the role of local companies in producing rolling stocks was limited to supplying and assembling components.

Chief project officer of the monorail project Bovanantoo said that the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) of Hong Kong, which has a solid reputation for safety, would guarantee the safety of the project.

"The MTRC will play a pivotal role as system integrator for the entire monorail system, which uses different components supplied by state car train maker PT INKA and engineering company Bukaka Group," he told The Jakarta Post.

Safety concerns surfaced after the consortium settled for Siemens AG of Germany over Japan's Hitachi technology as originally planned due to financial constraints.

Bovanantoo highlighted the reputation of MTRC as the mentor of Singapore Mass Rapid Transportation (SMRT) in the development of transportation infrastructure in the city-state.

The MTRC has reportedly won another bid to build a monorail project n Dubai together with Malaysian firm KL Monorail.

He acknowledged that the role of local companies would be limited to "assembling work," while most parts would be imported from abroad.

"That's a common practice. There is nothing to worry about. Even if we used Hitachi's licensed technology of Japan, we would use wheels imported from France and Italian dynamo instead of Japanese parts," he explained.

According to Bovanantoo, MTRC had already asked all local companies, including Bukaka, INKA and LEN Industry, to give a presentation over their respective role in the monorail project.

"And it (MTRC) has declared them competent," he claimed.

He added that international insurance firm AON Insurance of Hong Kong would provide insurance cover for the project.

"The cost for the insurance is quite expensive. It accounts for 10 percent of the total cost of the rolling stocks," he added.

The monorail project is estimated to cost US$496 million.

In its official statement, PT JM said that the operation of the straddle type monorail had been proven for at least 40 years.

"The use of this technology has been recommended by MTRC of Hong Kong as well British technical consultant Mott MacDonald," it said in statement.

Similarly, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso expressed his conviction that the monorail project would not put passengers' safety at risk.

"The project will be closely supervised by experts from Siemens," he said over the weekend.

PT JM has picked a consortium of local companies to supply trains for the monorail project amid financial difficulties since the Indonesia Consortium of Monorail Industry (ICMI), has proposed cheaper technology. The technology is priced at $496 million, much cheaper than sophisticated magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology of South Korean firm Rotem valued at $826 million.

The monorail project began in June last year and is expected to be finished in 2007.

The monorail will serve the prime business area, including Sudirman Business District and Kuningan Business District through a 14.3-kilometer line, while another 13.5-kilometer line from Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta to Taman Anggrek Mall in West Jakarta will follow.

[heirloom]

why is it so cheap? its a very light rail is it?