What do I need to know about this year’s public transport fare increase?
PTC applies a formula to determine the maximum amount that bus and train fares can be adjusted.
Beginning Dec 26, public transport users in Singapore will face a 7% hike in bus and train fares, with adults paying an additional 12 or 13 cents, depending on journey length. The increase, driven by record-high energy costs due to Middle East conflicts, was determined by the Public Transport Council (PTC) using a complex formula.
This formula considers year-on-year changes in core inflation, wages, energy prices, a fixed capacity adjustment factor, and productivity contribution. In the most recent fare review, a 5.3% adjustment was calculated, but the PTC chose to increase fares by 7% and defer the remaining 7.7% for future reviews. Commuters using cards will pay 12 to 13 cents more, while cash users will pay 20 cents more.
Seniors, students, and people with disabilities will see 5 to 10 cent increases. Low-wage workers under the Workfare Transport Concession scheme will not see any fare changes. Monthly passes for adults, seniors, and people with disabilities remain at $122 and $55, respectively. Lower-income households earning $2,100 per capita will receive $80 transport vouchers. Around 110,000 card users can save about $26 each month after the fare hike.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
