While commuters can look forward to an exceedingly generous 1 percent reduction in public transport fares next year, they'll just have to grin and bear the 2.8 percent rise in fares that should kick in from April 5 onwards.
The Public Transport Council (PTC) announced yesterday that adult card fares for buses and trains will increase by 2 to 5 cents while student concessionary fares will increase by 1 cent. Cash fares (i.e. not using EZ-Link cards) will increase by as much as 10 cents.
However, not everyone will be hit by the public transport fare hike come April 5. Amidst the unpopular transport cost increases, the PTC has ensured that more than 1.1 million commuters will not be affected — they've decided to freeze senior citizen fares and the prices of existing travel concession passes.
That would mean lower-wage workers, senior citizens, young children, the disabled and commuters travelling using monthly concession passes will see no difference in their public transport expenditure.
The PTC's fare review exercise also mandates that two public transport operators will have to contribute a portion of the increased fare revenue to the Public Transport Fund. According to their financial positions, SBS Transit will be contributing $5.5 million and SMRT has dispense $8 million towards the fund, making it a total of $13.5 million to help lower-income households with their travel expenditures.
Photo: William Cho via Flickr
While commuters can look forward to an exceedingly generous 1 percent reduction in public transport fares next year, they'll just have to grin and bear the 2.8 percent rise in fares that should kick in from April 5 onwards.
The Public Transport Council (PTC) announced yesterday that adult card fares for buses and trains will increase by 2 to 5 cents while student concessionary fares will increase by 1 cent. Cash fares (i.e. not using EZ-Link cards) will increase by as much as 10 cents.
However, not everyone will be hit by the public transport fare hike come April 5. Amidst the unpopular transport cost increases, the PTC has ensured that more than 1.1 million commuters will not be affected — they've decided to freeze senior citizen fares and the prices of existing travel concession passes.
That would mean lower-wage workers, senior citizens, young children, the disabled and commuters travelling using monthly concession passes will see no difference in their public transport expenditure.
The PTC's fare review exercise also mandates that two public transport operators will have to contribute a portion of the increased fare revenue to the Public Transport Fund. According to their financial positions, SBS Transit will be contributing $5.5 million and SMRT has dispense $8 million towards the fund, making it a total of $13.5 million to help lower-income households with their travel expenditures.
Photo: William Cho via Flickr