Tag Archives: fare hike

Since 2018, LTA has been testing the new distance-based satellite ERP system which will replace the existing gantry systems which charges a flat rate. The new system will track and charge motorists based on distance.

Speaking in Parliament today, PAP Transport Minister and official story-teller, Khaw Boon Wan said that the upcoming fare formula revision would need to factor in the increasing burden on the government (under the disguised term of "taxpayers") in injecting subsidies into the public transport system. Touching on the new bus contracting model for instance, Khaw said that: "We pay bus operators a fee to run the bus services. Although fare revenue goes to the Government, it is not enough to cover operating costs."

Public transport operator SBS Transit announced that they have applied to the PTC (Public Transport Council) for a transport fare revision aka fare hike. Since the inception of the PTC, every revision resulted in a fare increase and never once was there a submission for lower transport fares.

The Singapore Bus Service (SBS) Transit today (August 12) posted a record quarterly net profit of S$6.09 million, 22.8% higher than a year ago. The Q2 result stemmed from high bus fares, approved by the Singapore Government in April, and higher ridership as overcrowding in public transport worsen.

According to the Straits Times news report “Bus, train fares to be cut by up to 1.9 per cent from December: Lui Tuck Yew” (Aug 3) – “Transport fares will be reduced by up to 1.9 per cent from December, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Monday (Aug 3). He added that he would leave it to the Public Transport Council to work out the specific reductions, but expects “every commuter group” to pay lower fares.”

Many people are asking what is the root cause of SMRT's frequent train breakdowns and who is to blame. My answer: the Public Transport Council (PTC) that regulates fare hikes. The fare hikes are miserly compared with the rate of inflation.

Earlier this month, Singaporeans were taken aback when we were told by the Public Transport Council (PTC) that there will be a fare hike of 2.8 per cent in April 2015. It was no surprise that it was met with public outcry when the fare adjustment did not tally with the price of crude oil which has plummeted from $110 a barrel to $45 a barrel. The question that we may be asking is whether the increase is justifiable after taking into account various factors such as wage level, inflation rate and energy cost - the metrics used in the fare formula. We shall look at some of the reasons that Singaporeans has voiced out.

MRT & bus operator SMRT declared on Wednesday a 58.4% rise in net profit for the third quarter of this year. This was helped by higher rental income and a sharp reduction in losses from its bus operations. This S$22.5 million profit was up from the S$14.2 million it earned during the same quarter last year. Why does the PTC approve SMRT's proposed fare hikes when they are still making profits at the expense of Singaporeans?

I see a lot of anger about the public transport fare hikes, this despite 1.1 million of the neediest Singaporeans being unaffected. But let me say this: Do you really think that voting him out will make things better? And ok so you think voting in an Opposition will make it better? You think a Worker's Party Minister of Transport will make it better for you?

DO THESE PEOPLE EVEN TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT? These council members are the ELITES in the top 5% bracket. Do you think they take public transport to work and back home? Or do you think they drive their new spanking cars everywhere they go? Chances are, they drive and have not taken the public transport for years, many years ever since they became successful.