SINGAPORE (Nov 9): The Land Transport Authority will be investing $12.5 million over the next three years to roll out initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the public transport industry.

This comes at a time when Singapore is witnessing the biggest expansion of its rail network ever, with greater public scrutiny over the reliability of rail services.

Some of these initiatives, launched on Monday morning,  target the rail sector. They include the development of more industry-relevant programmes, sponsorship of study awards and training grants, a skills-based progression framework, as well as an industry-wide branding of the sector.

The funds will be put into the Public Transport Manpower Development Fund, and will be overseen by the Public Transport Sectoral Tripartite Committee (PTSTC).

Emphasising that train disruptions are not to be tolerated, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan wrote in a blog post on Monday: "We are doing our best to make our rail system even more reliable. I just hope to get Singaporeans' better understanding and moral support."