Bus, MRT fares increase by 7 per cent: Adults to pay up to 11 cents more from 23 Dec
Adult cash fares – still accepted for bus rides in Singapore – will increase by 20 cents.
SINGAPORE – Adult card fares on public transport (bus and MRT) will increase by 10 to 11 cents per journey from 23 December, while adult cash fares – still accepted for bus rides – will increase by 20 cents.
Commuters using concession cards will experience a lower increase of 4 to 5 cents per journey while concessionary cash fares for bus rides will increase by 10 cents.
Announcing an overall seven per cent increase in public transport fares, the Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Monday (18 September) that the increase is about a third of the 22.6 per cent maximum quantum.
"For this 2023 Fare Review Exercise (FRE), the fare formula output derived from the new fare adjustment formula is 12.0 per cent, driven by the continued increase in energy prices, core inflation and strong wage growth in 2022. After adding the deferred fare quantum of 10.6 per cent from the 2022 FRE, the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum for the 2023 FRE is 22.6 per cent," the PTC said in its statement. The increase is less than the 10.6 per cent deferred from the 2022 FRE.
"To cover this deferred fare adjustment quantum, PTC has requested the government to provide an additional subsidy of about $300 million for this year's FRE, which the government has agreed to," the PTC said.
Additional help for concessionary groups
To provide greater support for heavy users of public transport who belong to concessionary groups (students, seniors, full-time National Servicemen), the prices of hybrid – bus and train – monthly concession passes will be reduced by up to 10 per cent, said the PTC.
The government, it added, "will similarly reduce the price of the monthly concession pass for persons with disabilities (PwDs) from $64 to $58, similar to that for seniors". "In addition, the government will introduce a new hybrid monthly concession pass for Workfare Transport Concession Scheme (WTCS) card holders to help lower-wage workers. This will be priced at $96 (or $32 off the price of the Adult Monthly Travel Pass), with the government bearing the cost of the discount."
The changes to the monthly concession passes will benefit about 60,000 existing and expected new monthly pass holders. Existing hybrid monthly pass holders will see savings of up to $9.50 per month.
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