SBS Transit, SMRT ask to raise bus and train fares - Singapore's Online Community

**irenetan** · 02-08-2007, 06:51 PM

SINGAPORE: Both SBS Transit and SMRT have applied to the Public Transport Council to raise bus and train fares.

The exact fare increment will be determined later, using a standard formula, in this annual fare revision exercise.

Energy costs have been a big drain on the two big public transport operators.

Both companies have quoted rises of between 20 and 26 percent in this area alone.

SBS Transit said manpower costs – its single largest cost component – have also increased by about S$12 million during the year, while SMRT said it would lose about S$11 million due to increases in GST and employer's CPF contributions.

In making their applications to the Public Transport Council, both companies said they would not touch concession fares.

SMRT added that it would be asking for small increases in EZ-Link fares for buses, adult train EZ-link fares and longer single-trip train journeys.

This year's increment formula, which is linked to the performance of Singapore's economy, is capped at 1.8 percent, slightly higher than last year's 1.7 percent.

The formula was devised to ensure that there are small and regular increases, instead of big jumps every few years.

Both transport operators said they are mindful of how fare increases affect the lower income, so they would be considering funding schemes to offset the impact on any hike.

Separately, the government has announced that S$10 million has been set aside over three years to help the needy cope with fare increases.

The fare changes, if accepted by the Public Transport Council, will be announced next month and will kick in by October.

- CNA/so

shingshing · 02-08-2007, 09:27 PM

Ok, I kinda expect this from SMRT but still...WTF?!
The rich are unaffected. The poor got help from governtment. But middle class wans how???? Gradually fall back to join the poor isit?!?

**DINEy** · 02-08-2007, 09:31 PM

INCREASE INCREASE....

**chemisty** · 02-08-2007, 11:32 PM

WHY sia

**zel** · 03-08-2007, 12:24 AM

hope they wont increase the rate anymore...
going to be broke soon if they raise the fare again...
then more people will prefer to stay at home...

**yvonnetan782** · 04-08-2007, 02:47 AM

i tink this is terrible la. cost of living goes up again.

**myron** · 04-08-2007, 03:22 AM

i just barely take a train from bishan to tanjong pagar everyday.. my ezlink value drop like mad.. everyday spent at least $3.88 on transport.. now wan to increase 20%? den i will be paying like $4.66?? omg la.. wad's in the government brain? isn't singapore rich enuf.. ppl giving tax regularly.. GST just increased and now wad.. public transport fares increase too? if SBS n SMRT gets to raise their fares.. i believe ComfortDelgro will increase the cab fare soon enuf.. wad $2.60 for normal cabs.. $3 for mercedes? i m starting to hate singapore govenment.. i m still ok with it.. but wad about those poorer families?

this is the thing about singapore.. all cost rising.. tax fares prices.. all rising.. but why aint salary rising? u can have a good bowl of wanton mee for 20cents back then when pay of a finance manager is $2000/month.. now a bowl of wanton mee cost u about let's take it as $3.. it's 15x u see.. but why isn't a finance manger earning $30,000/month now? my uncle worked as a finance manager earning 2k back then.. but now? 4k? wth is wrong with singapore government?

**ah_lei** · 04-08-2007, 03:37 AM

this is fark up lor... I TOT JUST INCREASE NIA? this 2 companies think by monopolising the whole god damn singapore's transport system, they can suka suka increase the price.. i everyday from house take bus to amk mrt then take train to cck mrt then change bus to jalan bahar one day i will spend more then 5 FRIGGIN BUCKS ON TRANSPORT LOR. government encourage us to go public, yet they approve of the price hiking.. izzzit that bittin his own tongue????? =(