SMRT’s New Captain In Chief—Neo Kian Hong Takes the Wheel
First Day, First Impressions
On Tuesday, August 1st, former defence chief Neo Kian Hong swapped his military uniform for an
- EMT badge: Chief Executive of SMRT
- Heart‑beat: Deliver safe, reliable, and comfy trains
Neo opened the day with a pep‑talk, sending a quick e‑mail to the whole crew: “We’ve heard from you all—some love it, some want more, some warn us not to bite the dust. All of you want a train that’s safe, reliable, and comfortable. Let’s keep hustling to meet those goals.”
Pre‑Formal Meet‑ups
Even before the official handover from Desmond Kuek, Neo had been popping into offices, coffee shops, and conference rooms, chatting with workers. In a note to the staff, he promised to meet even more of them in the coming months, hoping to learn and work side‑by‑side—because “when we’re all in the same boat, the ride is smoother.” He cheered: “I’m thrilled to be part of this team. Let’s make a public service that Singaporeans take pride in.”
Thanking the Old Guard
Neo also took a moment to salute the outgoing boss, Desmond Kuek. “Thanks for your dedication and service,” he wrote. Kuek led SMRT through a wild ride—track mishaps, a tunnel flood, and a lot of hiccups. Still, he and SMRT Trains chief Lee Ling Wee rebuilt the North‑South and East‑West lines’ reliability.
Numbers that Speak (and Fabulish) Truth
By end‑March, the North‑South Line tracked >604,000 train‑km before a 5‑minute-plus delay; the East‑West Line logged 272,000 such km. That’s a whopping ten‑fold boost compared to 2011. Major breakdowns over 30 minutes dropped to just one in Q1–year‑to‑date. Even the Circle Line zoomed up: 1.8 million train‑km between delays—again, a 10‑fold gain.
The Big White‑Bold Promises
Just before Kuek stepped aside, he set a lofty goal: no more than one delay per month by 2020, chasing the elimination of all major delays. Now Neo’s on the squad, ready to keep that promise—and maybe even exceed it.
Bottom Line
Neo Kian Hong has slid into the SMRT helm with a big grin and a bold vision: keep trains safe, reliable, and comfortable. The staff’s confidence is high, the numbers show promise, and the mission is clear—let’s make sure every trip is smooth as silk. And remember: everything feels better when you’re on a train you can trust. Stay tuned, Singapore!
