Latest news with #HarbourFront
CNA
22-05-2025
- CNA
Circle Line train services to end at 11pm on some days between Jun 15 to Jul 30 to prepare for stage 6 opening
SINGAPORE: Train services on the Circle Line (CCL) will end earlier on some days between Jun 15 and Jul 30 to prepare for the opening of the complete CCL loop in the first half of next year. To facilitate the works, services will end at 11pm from Sundays to Wednesdays, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and rail operator SMRT said on Thursday (May 22). "Services on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will remain unchanged," read the joint news release. LTA and SMRT said a series of works will be carried out on the existing CCL to renew its Integrated Supervisory Control System (ISCS) to ensure system compatibility with the new stretch of the line that will connect HarbourFront station to Marina Bay station. CCL stage 6 will close the circle between Marina Bay and Harbourfront stations via three new stations - Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road. When completed, there will be a total of 33 stations along the entire Circle Line. THE ISCS LTA and SMRT said that the ISCS monitors and manages the systems on the CCL, including power supply, communications and station facilities. It also supports communications between stations, control centres and trains. "The current system has been in use since the CCL began operations in 2009, and needs to be renewed to ensure it is compatible with the new CCL6 system," they said. Earlier closures of train services "are required to provide longer blocks of engineering hours necessary for testing and commissioning of the new servers and equipment to be carried out safely and rigorously," LTA and SMRT said. They advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance and to rely on alternative routes via other MRT lines and bus services to reach their destinations. Commuters can also refer to LTA's mobile app and LTA's and SMRT's social media platforms for more details. Posters will be put up at all CCL MRT stations and at stations that interchange with the CCL to inform commuters of the service adjustments, while station staff will also be deployed at affected stations to assist during the service adjustment period. LTA and SMRT noted that further service adjustments "will be needed to complete systems integration testing across the entire CCL, and ensure that the CCL6 stretch is well integrated with the existing CCL. "At present, we plan tentatively to carry out these adjustments from September to December 2025," they said. "These temporary service adjustments are necessary as we prepare for the opening of CCL6, so that there is sufficient time to conduct thorough and rigorous testing to ensure the safety of our commuters. "These works will bring us closer to the completion of the CCL6 extension, which will enhance connectivity, shorten travel times, and bring greater convenience to our commuters," said LTA and SMRT.
Independent Singapore
13-05-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
'Worse than a third world country' — SLA escalates hygiene complaints to Seah Im Food Centre managing agent
SINGAPORE: Authorities are taking action after diners raised serious concerns about the poor state of hygiene at Seah Im Food Centre, where flocks of pigeons have been seen feasting on leftover food and mingling freely among patrons. The Seah Im Food Centre, located near the HarbourFront transport hub, has long served commuters and tourists, offering an affordable range of local hawker fare. However, with complaints piling up and photos circulating online, questions about hygiene standards and the effectiveness of current maintenance efforts are mounting. One diner, John, told citizen journalism portal Stomp that he is left disgusted every time he visits Seah Im Food Centre, calling the environment worse than conditions he has witnessed in developing countries. 'I have never seen places like these even when I am in Third World countries such as Vietnam or Cambodia,' John said. 'I'd rather pay the same price to buy a value set meal at McDonald's or Burger King at VivoCity than pay the same price eating at unhygienic food centres.' Sharing photos of birds pecking at leftovers on unattended tables and hovering around the tray return station, John said that while netting has been installed to keep birds out, John said the solution has been ineffective. 'The food centre has been covered with netting to prevent pigeons from entering. Unfortunately, this control measure failed as openings are still required for people to access and pigeons can enter from these openings,' he said Suggesting that the tray return area should be enclosed to prevent birds from accessing food remnants, he also expressed concern about the cleaning practices at the centre. He alleged, 'Speaking of food trays which pigeons feed from, I have noticed that the cleaners just wipe the trays with a rag and stack them for reuse.' John said he reported the matter to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), which referred him to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). In response, the SLA said it has escalated the matter to Knight Frank, the managing agent overseeing the food centre. In an email response to John, SLA said: 'We have escalated this matter to our managing agent, Knight Frank, to monitor the bird congregation issue and ensure timely clearing of trolley bays, food trays, and utensils by our cleaning contractors to deter gathering of the birds. We are actively working to address these concerns.' Still, for regular patrons like John, the experience remains deeply unsatisfactory. 'Food prices in Singapore keep going up, but the quality of living is getting worse,' he said.
CNA
07-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Oniatta Effendi on the art of batik and bouncing back
CNA938 Rewind Oniatta Effendi is a cultural entrepreneur well-known for celebrating the art of batik through her fashion label 'Baju by Oniatta', which she launched in 2016. Her passion for batik has taken her around the world, including to some of the top fashion capitals. But success did not come easy. Oniatta reflects on the most valuable lessons she's gained on her journey as an entrepreneur, mother of five, and caregiver to her elderly parents. CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Oniatta Effendi on the art of batik and bouncing back Oniatta Effendi is a cultural entrepreneur well-known for celebrating the art of batik through her fashion label 'Baju by Oniatta', which she launched in 2016. Her passion for batik has taken her around the world, including to some of the top fashion capitals. But success did not come easy. Oniatta reflects on the most valuable lessons she's gained on her journey as an entrepreneur, mother of five, and caregiver to her elderly parents. 33 mins CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: If you're using a pram or stroller… stay off escalators? Last Sunday afternoon, the wheels of a woman's stroller got stuck between the steps of an escalator at HarbourFront Centre, which then became dislodged. No one, including the woman and her baby, was hurt. While there isn't a law disallowing the use of strollers on escalators in Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) strongly discourages the practice. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Teo Orh Hai, Group Director for Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Group, BCA. 28 mins CNA938 Rewind - From avocados to tequila, among the top traded products between Mexico and Singapore A free trade agreement between Singapore and the Pacific Alliance has taken effect - with Peru and Chile being entered into force first, while Colombia and Mexico undergo ratification processes. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin find out more from Ambassador Agustín García-López Loaeza, Ambassador of Mexico to Singapore. 15 mins CNA938 Rewind - Conclave Day 1: Did you know that 108 out of the 133 cardinals are new? Catholic cardinals from around the world meet today (7 May) in the Sistine Chapel to start voting for a new spiritual leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin learn more from Michel Chambon, Research Fellow, NUS. He also coordinates the Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholics (ISAC). 14 mins
