Latest news with #ETS
The Star
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Larkin Sentral revamp boosting travel, business confidence, say commuters
COMMUTERS are happy with Johor government's efforts to improve public transport, saying that recent upgrades have contributed to smoother, hassle-free travel. College student Nur Syafiqa Sulaiman, 23, who travels from Johor Baru to her family home in Pasir Gudang every weekend, said she had noticed significant improvement in punctuality, especially at Larkin Sentral – the main transport terminal. Nur Syafiqa says nowadays, buses arrive on time at Larkin Sentral. 'Public transportation in Johor has improved a lot lately. The buses I take always arrive on time at Larkin Sentral,' said the information technology diploma student. Upon reaching the terminal, Nur Syafiqa opts for a taxi instead of e-hailing services. She is also looking forward to the Electric Train Service (ETS) in Johor Baru. 'The ETS will strengthen public transportation in Johor Baru and make it easier and faster for people, especially students like myself,' she said. For cross-border travellers like consultant Mohd Ariff Leow Abdullah, 61, improvements in immigration processes have made a difference. 'I cross the Causeway at least once a month for meetings in Singapore. 'Nowadays, there is a lot of improvement in immigration clearance on both sides.' Mohd Ariff: Improvements in immigration processes have made a tangible difference. Mohd Ariff prefers taking Singapore-bound taxis from Larkin Sentral as they allowed him flexibility and comfort. 'I prefer taking the cross-border taxi because I don't need to rush to catch a bus. 'I can travel at my own pace, and that really matters for business trips.' He is especially optimistic about the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, expected to be operational by end-2026 or early 2027 – connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru with Woodlands North in Singapore. 'With RTS coming soon, travelling will become even more seamless. 'It will be a game changer for regular commuters,' he added. Natasha: State initiative to upgrade the facility is long overdue. Long-time business operator Natasha Juan, 45, who runs a hair salon at Larkin Sentral, said the upgrading project was long overdue. 'I have been here almost 30 years. Larkin Sentral is not just a transport hub – it is also an economic centre. 'There is a wet market, shops and services. People don't just catch buses here, they come to shop and run errands,' she pointed out. Juan hopes the RM2.5mil upgrading project will attract more visitors and help boost businesses. 'Once upgrading works are completed, especially for the toilets, I believe more people will feel comfortable coming here. 'It will help businesses like mine,' she added. Meanwhile, Dr R. Daya Para Rao, 63, a Klang Valley resident who visited Johor Baru for a meeting, had his first experience using Larkin Sentral when boarding a bus home. 'I was pleasantly surprised. It was very systematic, and the staff were helpful. 'As a senior citizen, I appreciate that things are well-organised and not confusing.' He said transportation projects like RTS and ETS would further complement Johor's growth as a modern and investor-friendly city. 'The Johor government is clearly serious about upgrading public transport. 'That is very important for everyone,' he said. Dr Daya Para Rao said that as Johor's economy expanded, seamless transport was crucial for supporting mobility and daily life. He said, 'Johor Baru is growing rapidly in terms of economic development, and this will attract more people to live and work here. 'With good public transport, Johor's vision of becoming a developed state can be a reality.' — By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Idea To Turn Public's Iconic Molesworth Station Into Pines Crazy
The suggestion that Molesworth Station could be turned into a giant pine monoculture is crazy says Alan Simmons of the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party. 'It's even more crazy coming from the Department of Conservation who have failed to control wilding pines on public lands it is entrusted by parliamentary law to manage,' said Alan Simmons. 'The option from DoC to hand it over to forestry interests to plant as one huge pine forest is appalling to many and sends a shudder through all those who love and appreciate our NZ back country environment.' Molesworth is such an iconic environment owned by the New Zealand public and valued for its vast wilderness landscape and currently run as a huge beef high country station. Well known outdoorsman Alan Simmons said DoC is completely out of touch with reality and to the contrary there is a strong case not to plant any more pine trees because of their detrimental effect on the environment. 'Pines are invasive, suck up huge quantities of water and deplete stream and river flows to the point of drying them up, poison the soil by turning it acidic, if and when harvested the slash waste is a huge problem for land owners downstream while clear felling results in heavy siltation of rivers and coastal waters such as the Marlborough Sounds.' He said economic benefits were marginal as most logs are exported raw overseas and imported back as processed timber. Pine forests provide no real work for New Zealanders apart from harvesting and resulted in depopulation of rural communities and closure of community infrastructure such as schools. Environmentally monocultures of pines resulted in considerable loss of biodiversity. Alan Simmons said perhaps DOC saw the concept of a giant pine forest in backcountry Marlborough as climate change mitigation. However the amount of grassland and native vegetation on Molesworth Station already contributes to any climate change goals. Besides the criteria of the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is flawed such as not considering vegetation under five metres height. "The thought of planting 446,705 acres or 700 square miles into pine forest turns my stomach" said Alan Simmons.'Molesworth needs to remain a vast wildness for future generations to enjoy. Our past experience with forests once owned by New Zealanders is that they end up overseas owned and we end up locked out. An example is Kaiangaroa Forest in the Central North Island or the many former State forests of the Hawkes Bay now overseas owned. " He predicted any attempt to turn Molesworth Station into a mega-pine forest will set off a public outcry equal to the Save Manapouri campaign of the 1970's.
Online Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Online Citizen
SMRT links July Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions to faults in newly installed Power Scada system
SINGAPORE: A nearly two-hour disruption to Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) services on 19 July 2025 has been traced to a fault in the newly installed Power Scada system. Transport operator SMRT confirmed in a statement on 20 July 2025 that its initial investigations found the power fault 'shares a similar failure mode' with an earlier three-hour disruption on 3 July 2025. All 13 stations on the BPLRT were affected during both service interruptions. According to Lam Sheau Kai, president of Singapore's SMRT Trains, the repeated faults were linked to the Power Scada system installed under the Land Transport Authority (LTA) Power Renewal Project. This system, still under its Defects Liability Period, is designed to monitor and control power distribution across the LRT line to improve safety and reliability. On 19 July, the power fault occurred at around 2.45pm, causing four trains to stall between stations. Traction power was restored at approximately 4.00pm, with services gradually resuming from 4.15pm onwards. To reinstate traction power safely, the Emergency Trip System (ETS) was temporarily bypassed. However, the fault in the Power Scada system had affected the ETS, which triggered a network-wide traction power trip. The LTA project team is now carrying out a detailed investigation, including a full design review by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) contractor. Lam said this aims to strengthen network stability and prevent similar faults from occurring. A key priority is ensuring a stable traction power supply as the system continues commissioning. The BPLRT Power Renewal Project is scheduled for completion by end-2026. SMRT stated it will continue to monitor the system closely as renewal works progress. Lam also thanked commuters for their patience and understanding during both incidents. He emphasised that SMRT remains committed to keeping BPLRT services safe and reliable while the renewal project advances. Past faults and upgrades On 1 July, a signalling fault at Orchard station on the Thomson-East Coast Line caused service delays between Napier and Great World stations for two hours. The Bukit Panjang LRT, which spans 8km, has a history of operational issues. The most recent major disruption occurred on 22 October 2024, when service stalled during the evening peak between Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang. Trains did not resume until the next morning. Initial investigations at the time pointed to a fault in one of the train's wheel assemblies. In response, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT announced reduced operating hours from Thursdays to Sundays, starting 14 November 2024 through to 31 October 2025, to accommodate renewal works. These efforts include upgrading the BPLRT's signalling system and testing both new and retrofitted light-rail vehicles. Since 2022, LTA has been progressively implementing a new communications-based train control system to enhance train speed regulation. The full system renewal is now slated for completion by end-2026, delayed by two years due to manpower shortages and supply chain issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, the LRT network, which includes the Sengkang-Punggol lines, recorded an average daily ridership of 210,000, reflecting a 4 per cent year-on-year increase.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
Starchild: All Aboard! Why trains are a hit with Malaysian kids
Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10 Train is one of the modes of public transport in Malaysia. The service plays an important role in helping people get to school, work and even go on holidays. A train is a series of connected vehicles that run on tracks and can carry people or goods across short or long distances. Unlike cars or buses that travel on roads, trains don't get stuck in traffic. They move smoothly and can be faster, safer and even more comfortable for long trips. Hubert Chua Way Bo, 9 One of the most exciting train routes in Malaysia is the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL). When it is completed next year, the ECRL will connect the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang with the west coast states like Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. This means people living in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia can reach the west coast in less time, making it easier to visit family, travel for work or explore different parts of the country. Malaysia also has other important train services like KTM Komuter for daily travel around cities, ETS (Electric Train Service) for inter-state journeys, and the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and LRT (Light Transit Transit) systems that help people move around in the Klang Valley. Do you know that the Shinkansen, also known as the Japanese bullet train, is famous for its high speed? The fastest Shinkansen can reach a top speed of 320km/h and it has been in service since 1964. Trains are good for the planet too – they produce less pollution compared to cars and planes. Recently Starchild asked readers to send in letters on the topic, My Dream Train. Here's what they had to say. Asher Wang Qi Chuen, seven, says: 'My train is designed as a hybrid cargo train that runs on both gas and electricity. It's very colourful, has a star logo and can go very fast with wheels of different sizes. My cargo train transports cargo to various destinations quickly. It's the top three fastest and coolest trains in the world.' Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 7 'My dream train is a compact and cosy train made for family travel. It has a small lounge, a telephone room, a toilet and a bedroom with quadruple decker bunk beds for the family to sleep. It is powered by electricity and doesn't emit harmful smoke,' says older sibling, Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10. 'My dream train is big, fast and very colourful with 20 carriages. One carriage is a library. Another is a playground with slides and trampolines. There is also a food carriage which has lots of food including different types of main course, ice cream, soup and fresh fruit for everyone to enjoy while they travel.' Lyu Liang Fu, 10 'My dream train can continue on its tracks non-stop using solar power. It can take people to all places without polluting the environment. I hope one day this dream train becomes a reality and I would be able to eat as many burgers as possible on my way home,' writes Lyu Liang Fu, 10. ITEM: Taste is one of our five senses. We taste food using our tastebuds, which are on our tongue. There are five main tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury (umami). What is your favourite food? Is it something your mother or father cooks? Or maybe something you eat at a restaurant? You can also write a story about a funny, yucky or super tasty food. Maybe you tried something new for the first time! Draw your favourite food or a food that made you feel happy, surprised or even a little scared. Email your contributions to lifestyle@ by July 25. Please put 'STARCHILD: My Taste Buds' in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Farm-to-forest limits set to protect rural land, Federated Farmers voice support
Schroder said the Rotorua-Taupō region, among others, had a mix of high-performing sheep and beef farms and marginal land, making it attractive for forestry investment. 'While forestry has a useful place in our primary sector, the rapid conversion of entire farms has raised concerns amongst the community about rural depopulation, loss of food production and the erosion of local community infrastructure,' he said. 'The proposed legislation goes some way to getting the balance right.' The Government planting proposal is chiefly based on land-use capability (LUC), ranging from one (highest) to eight. Legislation would restrict conversions to exotic ETS forests on high to medium-versatility farmland (LUC classes 1-6) and introduce a limit of 15,000ha per year for exotic conversions on medium-versatility farmland (class 6). The annual limit will be allocated by a ballot process, while allowing for up to 25% of a farm's LUC 1-6 land to still be planted in exotic forestry for the ETS. Land protection Schroder said capping ETS eligibility on LUC 6 land and excluding LUC 1-5 from conversion helped protect the most productive land. 'Allowing up to 25% of a farm to be planted in exotic forestry means landowners still have the flexibility and choice to diversify and manage erosion-prone areas. 'However, the 15,000ha annual cap may still allow significant change, and the ballot system could create uncertainty for landowners.' Schroder said if the ETS made a clearer distinction between long-term carbon storage and forestry plantations for harvest, it might be easier to balance environmental goals with the needs of rural areas. Federated Farmers acknowledged the value in maintaining flexibility for landowners, he said. 'This legislation doesn't oppose forestry; it supports more strategic long-term thinking about how we use our land. 'The challenge is protecting the future of rural communities while still allowing room for diversification when it makes sense. 'This legislation is a more balanced approach and is a positive step forward for rural communities.' Long-time forestry consultant Jeff Tombleson said the proposed legislation had been signalled before the last election and 'imposes little surprise' on the industry. Since the 1990s, he said farm forestry had not occurred on any scale. 'It almost ceased. Land prices became prohibitive.' Based in Rotorua, he said the current harvest of the 1990s plantings was 75% complete. The land involved has largely been replanted, along with a second planting 'spike' of up to 300,000ha of new forests on sheep and beef country from 2018-2025. With relatively high returns for carbon, Tombleson predicted this 'spike' would have continued if restrictions were not introduced. He said the largest areas of new forests in New Zealand were in Auckland/Northland, Southland and the Central Plateau (Rotorua/Taupō). The Government bill proposes a start date of October 31. 'We will process applications to register in the ETS under the current rules until the restrictions come into effect,' McClay said at Fieldays.
