Public transport fare hike: Adults to pay 10 to 11 cents more per journey from Dec 23

[Benarsenal]

On 9/18/2023 at 10:42 PM, Jman888 said:

you have to look at the whole journey, one short bus trip follow by another train/bus trip, the fare for the 2nd one will be discounted. Like my usual trip to office, bus trip was 99cts but train to town only 23cts, total $1.22. Also if I take bus to clementi central to buy breakfast and take bus home within 1 hour(?) the total fare is still 99cts.

However, the fare in the evening is more for the same journey compare to the morning trip.

It only works for bus-train or bus-bus. It doesn't work for train-train.

So like let's say I take train to Jurong East, then pop out to Jem/Westgate for a while to grab quick breakfast, then continue on my way, it's still full fare for each train portion if I not mistaken.

[BanCoe]

On 9/18/2023 at 5:33 PM, Blueray said:

Public transport fare hike: Adults to pay 10 to 11 cents more per journey from Dec 23

The Public Transport Council, which regulates bus and train fares, has granted an overall increase of 7 per cent as part of the 2023 fare review exercise. 

SINGAPORE: The latest bus and train fare increases will more than double from last year's hike, which means adult commuters will pay 10 to 11 cents more per journey, the Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Monday (Sep 18).

The PTC, which is the Singapore regulator for public transport fares, announced an overall fare increase of 7 per cent following the annual fare review exercise. The fare hikes will take effect on Dec 23.

The trend of sharper increases could potentially continue with the PTC again deferring a bulk of the fare adjustment quantum to future fare review exercises. 

This year's fare review exercise is the first under the new formula announced in April, which the PTC had said was aimed at keeping fares affordable and less volatile. As part of the review - conducted every five years - the fare formula was adjusted to include two fixed components to reduce swings in fare changes.

Adult card fares will increase by 10 cents for up to 4.2km and 11 cents for distances above that, while adult cash fares - used for bus rides - will increase by 20 cents. Adult monthly travel passes will remain at S$128.

The 11-cent increase is the highest, according to the PTC, which pointed out that 2019 also saw a 7 per cent increase in fares, but from a lower base.  

A lower increase will be implemented for concession card fares for students, seniors, low-wage workers and people with disabilities. Fares in this category will go up by 4 to 5 cents per journey, depending on the distance travelled. Concessionary cash fares for bus rides will increase by 10 cents. 

In all, commuters with concessions account for about two million, or half of Singaporeans. 

Heavy public transport users who belong to concessionary groups, such as students, seniors, and full-time National Servicemen, will see prices of hybrid monthly concession passes reduced by 10 per cent. 

The price of monthly concession passes for people with disabilities will be reduced from S$64 to S$58, similar to that of seniors. 

Lower-wage workers will be able to use a new workfare transport hybrid monthly concession pass priced at S$96.

BULK OF FARE ADJUSTMENT DEFERRED TO FUTURE EXERCISES

The fare increase for the fare review exercise 2022 was 2.9 per cent, with adult card fares increasing by 4 to 5 cents per journey. 

This year's increase of 7 per cent is only a portion of the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum of 22.6 per cent, comprising of last year's deferred increase of 10.6 per cent and this year's 12 per cent. 

PTC chair Janet Ang said that the council had decided not to grant the full allowable fare adjustment of 22.6 per cent to keep public transport fares affordable in the higher cost environment, fueled by core inflation, strong wage growth, and a hike in energy prices.

The increase of 7 per cent means that the remaining 15.6 per cent will be deferred to future fare review exercises. 

"If we had done the full maximum allowable fare increase of 22.6 per cent, it will translate to about 30 cents per journey for all commuters," PTC chief executive Tan Kim Hong told reporters at a press conference on Monday. 

Asked if the rolled-over numbers indicated more fare hikes in the next few years, Mr Tan said: "Yes."

He added: "What is important is over the next few years - how does the council then decide what is the number that we should put up where by it still balances both the commuters and the taxpayers?" 

The council was also asked what the maximum allowable increase would have been if the old fare formula from 2018 to 2022 had been applied. 

Mr Tan replied that the old formula should not be used due to the current operating environment, which has changed. 

"The formula itself has been updated this year to reflect the latest operating environment. 

"You should not look back into the past formula, because the past formula itself was designed based on the operating environment, which has changed drastically."

For example, Mr Tan said ridership has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, which would have affected the capacity component - known as the network capacity factor - of the old formula. The network capacity factor tracks operating costs due to network capacity changes relative to ridership.

It has been replaced by a capacity adjustment factor in the new formula, and has been fixed at 1.1 per cent for the next five years to reduce variability resulting from capacity and ridership changes.

Reiterating Mr Tan's point, Ms Ang said: "If you really go and calculate based on the old formula, the number will be out of the chart. Therefore, it validates again that the new fare formula law is intended to reduce the volatility of fare increases for commuters."

To cover the deferred fare adjustment quantum, the PTC requested that the government provide an additional subsidy of about S$300 million for this year's fare review exercise - higher than the S$200 million provided after last year's fare review exercise. The government has agreed to this subsidy, said PTC.

In tandem with the higher fare increase, the PTC will also require operators SBS Transit and SMRT Trains to make a larger contribution towards the Public Transport Fund. For this year, SBS Transit and SMRT Trains should contribute 15 per cent and 30 per cent of their expected increase in revenue respectively to the fund. This will come up to a total of S$15.85 million.

The PTC has recommended that the government draw on the fund to provide further assistance to the lower-income resident households in the form of public transport vouchers. 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mrt-bus-fare-increase-10-11-cents-public-transport-council-3779086

They want you to do Xmas shopping early ….. way B4 23rd ….. don’t last minute 🤣🤣

[Blueray]

to enjoy transfer rebates :

- cannot reboard the same bus number, even if its in the opposite direction

- cannot tap out and tap in at the same MRT station

transfer time 45 mins and total of 5 transfers within 2 hours of start of journey. 

can be useful if you need to buy something / have a cuppa etc along the journey. 

 

[13177]

On 9/18/2023 at 9:49 PM, Starry said:

I just took one bus stop to the MRT station few days back like kena pay 90++ cents???🙄

Should have just drove my car out....

 

 

One bus stop only bus fare 90 cents ++ and this is even before the coming fare hike le. 

[13177]

On 9/18/2023 at 10:12 PM, Starry said:

Think I stay at home or just loiter downstairs betta.....

Take one (or maybe two)  bus stop to nearest MRT station  cost me 90++ cents...that's ex lor. Some more that's only one-way...

 

Walk to MRT, don't take bus. Exercise. 😅

[13177]

On 9/18/2023 at 10:34 PM, inlinesix said:

Most ppl will pay more than that.

That’s provided you stay very close to office 

How many people would stay close to office le, not many la. Most people need to take 45 mins or more to travel to work which is consider not far liao.

[13177]

On 9/18/2023 at 11:30 PM, Benarsenal said:

It only works for bus-train or bus-bus. It doesn't work for train-train.

So like let's say I take train to Jurong East, then pop out to Jem/Westgate for a while to grab quick breakfast, then continue on my way, it's still full fare for each train portion if I not mistaken.

How about if i change few MRT lines to get to my destination without exiting.

[13177]

On 9/18/2023 at 10:42 PM, Jman888 said:

you have to look at the whole journey, one short bus trip follow by another train/bus trip, the fare for the 2nd one will be discounted. Like my usual trip to office, bus trip was 99cts but train to town only 23cts, total $1.22. Also if I take bus to clementi central to buy breakfast and take bus home within 1 hour(?) the total fare is still 99cts.

However, the fare in the evening is more for the same journey compare to the morning trip.

Why evening fare is more despite it is the same travelling route le?

[Watwheels]

On 9/19/2023 at 8:18 AM, 13177 said:

Why evening fare is more despite it is the same travelling route le?

More like morning there's a pre peak fare that's cheaper. Before 8am I think.

But the thing is who will leave home earlier? Every mothers' sons/daughters will get as much sleep as possible and leave on time or leave late like most sgporeans do.

Overall if you look at the bigger picture problem it is still the population that's overloading the PTS or public transpork system. 6.9 mirrion mah. Havent reach that number already squeeze like siao, plus vehicle population zero growth. My advise is save up some money and buy a bicycle instead. Very soon cycling path will also be very crowded too. 6.9 mirrion is not a small number. Bicycle COE might be needed in the future.

[Jamesc]

On 9/18/2023 at 7:51 PM, mersaylee said:

Ridership low lah...so many peeps still work from home now and then...even office carpark also so many empty lots on Mondays and Fridays...😁

Less customers should drop price to increase business.

Too many riders then should increase price to make buses less crowded like COE right?

How come it's less riders increase price.

More riders increase price?

[Victor68]

On 9/18/2023 at 8:13 PM, Kb27 said:

will taxi fare hike be next ?

Sorry, everything going to increase regardless of transportation related or not. In simple term, inflation. Only your pay not elite pay will stay lah. 

[Jamesc]

Lousy Xmas present

[BanCoe]

On 9/19/2023 at 8:39 AM, Jamesc said:

Lousy Xmas present

No lah this guv caring lah ....... try to ensure you buy your MIL x'mas gifts b4 23rd lah  

[mersaylee]

On 9/19/2023 at 8:37 AM, Jamesc said:

Less customers should drop price to increase business.

Too many riders then should increase price to make buses less crowded like COE right?

How come it's less riders increase price.

More riders increase price?

PhD scorers tink differently one...remember that clown on down fasterer than rise on fuel prices...😁

[13177]

On 9/19/2023 at 8:37 AM, Watwheels said:

More like morning there's a pre peak fare that's cheaper. Before 8am I think.

But the thing is who will leave home earlier? Every mothers' sons/daughters will get as much sleep as possible and leave on time or leave late like most sgporeans do.

Overall if you look at the bigger picture problem it is still the population that's overloading the PTS or public transpork system. 6.9 mirrion mah. Havent reach that number already squeeze like siao, plus vehicle population zero growth. My advise is save up some money and buy a bicycle instead. Very soon cycling path will also be very crowded too. 6.9 mirrion is not a small number. Bicycle COE might be needed in the future.

Thought they are building more MRT lines to cope with the 6.9 mil population?! 😅

You would be surprising some people might leave home earlier to take advantage of the cheaper fare and to avoid the sardine packed public transport. Although most people still wait until last min then leave house for work.

[Watwheels]

On 9/19/2023 at 9:01 AM, 13177 said:

Thought they are building more MRT lines to cope with the 6.9 mil population?! 😅

You would be surprising some people might leave home earlier to take advantage of the cheaper fare and to avoid the sardine packed public transport. Although most people still wait until last min then leave house for work.

To sgporeans time is money. If the hassle of leaving home early save only a bit of money, nobody will do it. That's why you see peak hour still so packed. The fixed fare for adult card also dont see any short or long term savings. How many scholars or minister take public transpork? No have lor. Some of them drive Tesla to work. LoL

Previously LTY and HuiGe at least tried taking the PTN, the current one got take or not? Oh right, he's busy "working" with cpib. The tweak and improvements only came when the past MIC or minister in charge took the PTN to see what were the issues ppl faced. Now I think quite challenging when the current MIC is suspended. Maybe he also saw the deep seated issues and didnt bother to put on a show.

[13177]

On 9/19/2023 at 9:23 AM, Watwheels said:

To sgporeans time is money. If the hassle of leaving home early save only a bit of money, nobody will do it. That's why you see peak hour still so packed. The fixed fare for adult card also dont see any short or long term savings. How many scholars or minister take public transpork? No have lor. Some of them drive Tesla to work. LoL

Previously LTY and HuiGe at least tried taking the PTN, the current one got take or not? Oh right, he's busy "working" with cpib. The tweak and improvements only came when the past MIC or minister in charge took the PTN to see what were the issues ppl faced. Now I think quite challenging when the current MIC is suspended. Maybe he also saw the deep seated issues and didnt bother to put on a show.

Even LTY and HuiGe tried taking the PTN also wayang la. They do not understand the feelings and hassle of taking public transport on everyday basis. Same as if a person is not working and only go out occasionally, they also don't understand the trouble of taking public transport during peak hours and the long timing spent in travelling in and out everyday.

[Arogab]

Take this, only 9 baht per trip, long or short. Give 10 baht and take back 1 baht