Public transport fares to rise by 12 to 13 cents per ride for adult card users from Dec 26
The record increase in cash terms for public transport fares was driven mainly by a substantial increase in energy prices between July 2025 and June 2026 due to the Middle East conflict, said the Public Transport Council.
Fares for public transport in Singapore will increase by 12 to 13 cents per ride for adult card users starting December 26, according to the Public Transport Council. This represents a record increase in cash terms, marking a 7 percent rise from last year's 5 percent increase. The rise is primarily due to a substantial surge in energy prices between July 2025 and June 2026, driven by the Middle East conflict.
Adult commuters traveling up to 3.2 kilometers will see a 12 cent increase, while those traveling further will face a 13 cent increase. Lower-wage workers under the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme (WTCS) will not see any change in their card fares, as the government will absorb the increase. Cash fares for adults and students, seniors, and people with disabilities will increase by 20 cents and 10 cents per journey, respectively.
Less than 1 percent of public transport journeys are paid for in cash. Monthly passes will remain unchanged in price, but the council encourages frequent commuters to consider purchasing them to manage transport expenses. The average savings for pass users has increased from S$11 to S$26 per month compared to paying card fares. Commuters can use the transit expense summary feature in the SimplyGo app to track their expenses and determine if a monthly pass is a better value.
The fare adjustment formula, which will be applied from 2023 to 2027, generated a 5.3 percent fare adjustment quantum in 2026. The council decided to grant a 7 percent fare adjustment, with the remaining 7.7 percentage points deferred for future review exercises. The additional revenue from the fare increase will translate to approximately S$176.9 million more annually for SBS Transit Rail and SMRT Trains, while bus services and the Thomson-East Coast Line will see an additional S$97.1 million.
The government will provide a further subsidy of around S$200 million to cover the deferred fare adjustment for 2027, in addition to the more than S$2 billion in annual operating subsidies and capital expenditures.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
