Train travel in Germany is always an adventure, sometimes taking until evening and often becoming expensive. So, I don't need to tell you about the crazy prices on crazy tracks here.
In Singapore, it's different.
Here, I found a train system that is logical from the ground up and simply explains how to get where you want to go.
Of course, it's easier because there is no long-distance traffic. But I'm sure many things could be adapted.
Let's start with the prices.
There is a tourist card, but in our opinion, it's mainly useful if you want to spend a lot of time in the metro for a few days.
After observing the system on-site, we got an "EZ-Link card."
You load money onto the card, and when you enter the platform, they check that there is at least 3 S$ left on the card. Then you can go to the trains.
When you arrive at your destination, you go through another check.
The fare is deducted based on the shortest route.
That means you get on, realize you're going in the wrong direction, get off, board the train opposite, and go where you want to go. Or, on the Circle Line, you get on in the wrong direction, but since you have time, you don't travel 10 stations but 25...
It always costs the same as the shortest route.
However, this is still somewhat dependent on the time of day.
During rush hour, the prices increase a bit.
But never more than 3 S$ since you don't need more on the card.
But what if you haven't decided whether to buy an extra card or you're only in the city for a day...
Very simple, take a card that you probably have in your wallet. As far as I know, most EC (Maestro) cards, and all Visa and debit cards, work too.
There is a small additional fee, but we have also met other travelers who explored the city and found alternative solutions by simply using their Visa card, and after a few days, only a few euros accumulated.
Okay, now we know how to pay for the ride and how to get in, but now I want to go from Aljunied to Little India.
Apart from the fact that everything is displayed in four languages, one of which is English... It would even be possible to explain it to someone who can't read. As long as they can pay and differentiate colors... Back to the example.
Aljunied was the station near our hostel and is Station 9 on the Green Line.
Little India is located on Blue 12 and Purple 7. (For those with color vision deficiencies, you can leave a comment to let me know how well you can distinguish colors on the map. Is it difficult, or were the colors well chosen? You can also send me the comment directly if you prefer to remain anonymous. I'm very interested to know.)
I digress.
The Green Line intersects with the Blue Line at Green 12 / Blue 14,
and with the Purple Line at Green 16 / Purple 3.
Now you know that you have to switch to the ascending platform at Green 9. And if you were playing on your phone and only switch at the Purple Line, you will still be charged for the shorter route when you exit.
To know where you are and in which direction you are heading, it is displayed in every train, in every carriage, above each door, including which side the door will open next.
Doors are also an interesting topic.
On the platform, it is clearly marked where you should stand to wait beside the doors, and there are arrows indicating that everyone should first exit the train in a straight line before those who were waiting beside the doors can enter.
There are also priority boarding spots for the elderly, pregnant women, and the sick (if the illness is not immediately apparent, you can obtain a corresponding identification card for free). These individuals are allowed to board directly at the stairs, while others are asked to use other doors if someone is already waiting there.
It is possible because the trains always stop at defined positions. To the centimeter.
And if that works, they even have a fancy glass wall with nice sliding doors along the entire platform, so that no one (intentionally or unintentionally) can get in front of the train.
This also helps to protect the mental well-being of the train operators who have to witness it all...
Oh, by the way...
Yes, there is no one in the driver's cabin...
I can't say if the trains are autonomous or remotely controlled, but usually there isn't a single metro employee in the train. Instead of a driver's cabin, there are panoramic windows and emergency exits that can accommodate a wheelchair. 😁
By the way, they not only stop precisely to the centimeter but also to the exact minute.
And when you exit the train and go through the control, the question is which exit do I actually want to take?
For that, there are maps in all directions showing how the station is laid out and what is in the vicinity. Additionally, each exit is sorted alphabetically. So if you want to go to Chinatown to the hawker center, you would go to Exit C, or if you're heading to the hostel, you would go towards Exit A.
Or maybe you want to go to that one shop, then perhaps Exit H?
Okay, let's recap...
We enter the train station, can pay with the EZ-Link card, if we get lost it won't be charged extra, and the trains are fully automated and also punctual...
Who's going to pay for all of this?
Well, not the people on the train. The prices are laughable compared to the German railway. The trains and all the stations are more modern than Deutsche Bahn...
The burden falls on the car driver.
Those who believe they absolutely need a car in such a densely populated city have to pay on average twice as much as in our country, and that's just for the purchase. There is no right to parking spaces. Vehicle taxes, etc., are extremely high, and the money is used to expand the railway.
So that the "low-income" individuals can have a pleasant and affordable experience...
Can we please do the same in Germany?
The car is not freedom, freedom is not needing a car.
But are there no criticisms of the metro in Singapore?
Well, in my opinion, it's a bit too early that there are no more trains running at midnight. I think it's more related to the drug policy. The entire city is designed to shut down in the evening... While there are a few stores that are allowed to sell alcohol after 10:30 PM, if you have to jump on the train at 11:30 PM just to get back to your accommodation, it's also a way to keep tourists under control.
My personal opinion:
All in all, I am convinced by the system.
And with my professional expertise and experience from different countries like Sweden, England, or now Singapore, I can only say that it is time for Deutsche Bahn (DB) to be abolished or modernized. Arguments like it's not possible or too expensive do not hold because they only reflect statements like "I don't know how it works" or "I don't want to pay for something that benefits others"...
With that being said,
good evening, good day, and good night.
📷 You can find more great pictures in the photo album
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