Public Transport Fare Review 2019

The Public Transport Fare Review 2019 sees an overall 7.0% increase in bus and train fares with effect from 28th December 2019. Adult Ez-Link card and cash fares for buses and trains are set to increase by 9 & 20 cents respectively.

As published by the Public Transport Council (PTC) in October 2019, based on the new Public Transport Fare Adjustment Formula applicable from 2018 to 2022, the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum to be considered for the 2019 Fare Review Exercise is 7.0%, and PTC has decided to grant the fare formula output of 7.0% in full.

In addition, Polytechnic and Other Diploma Students will enjoy student concession fares from 28 December 2019.


The Fare Review At A Glance:

From 28th December 2019:

  • Adults
    Card fares to increase by 9 cents per journey.
    Cash fares to increase by 20 cents per journey.
  • Children below 7:
    No change in fares; free travel for all.
  • Students:
    Card fares to increase by 4 cents per journey.
    Cash fares to increase by 20 cents per journey.
  • Senior Citizens
    Card fares to increase by 4 cents per journey.
    Cash fares to increase by 20 cents per journey.
  • Persons with Disabilities / Lower-Wage Workers
    Card fares to increase by 4 cents per journey.lank
  • All Monthly Concession Pass Holders
    Monthly Concession Pass fares to increase by $1.00 – $8.00 per month

A: Fare Adjustment Formula for 2018

A new Fare Adjustment Formula is applicable from 2018 to 2022 as announced by the Public Transport Council on 22 March 2018.

0.5cCPI + 0.4WI + 0.1EI – 0.1% + NCF
2019 maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum = 7.0%

The new Fare Adjustment Formula is based on five components:

  • Core Consumer Price Index (cCPI): the change in core Consumer Price Index over preceding year; 1.7% in 2018.
  • Wage Index (WI): the change in Average Monthly Earnings (Annual National Average) over the preceding year, adjusted to account for any change in the employer’s CPF contribution rate; 3.5% in 2018.
  • Energy Index (EI): the change in Energy Index which is a composite of cost changes in electricity and diesel; 32.3% in 2018.
  • 0.1% – Productivity Extraction factor set for 2018 to 2022.
  • Network Capacity Factor (NCF): the change in NCF over preceding year, which means capacity provision relative to passenger demand for the entire public transport system; 1.6% in 2018.

B: Fare Adjustments for Adults

Regular commuters paying adult fares via EZ-Link Card and Cash will see a 9 cent and 20 cent increase in bus and train card fares respectively from 28 December 2019. This would bring transport fares to their highest since the introduction of Distance-Based Fares, and slightly above 2015 levels (prior to the fall in oil prices leading to lower fares).

A consolidated list of new fares can be can be found on the PTC’s website.


C: Fare Adjustments for Concession Card holders:

Full-time students from Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions currently eligible for Student concession fares, Senior Citizens, Persons With Disabilities and Lower-Wage Workers will see a 4 cents increase in card fares, and 20 cents increase in cash fares for both bus and train fares from 28 December 2019.

A consolidated list of new fares can be found on the PTC’s website.


D: Monthly Concession Passes

Prices for all Monthly Concession Passes will increase by $1.00 to $8.00.

Prices of Monthly Concession Passes from 28 Dec 2019 (Click to Expand)
  • Bus Monthly Concession Passes
    Primary Student – $24.00 (was $22.00)
    Secondary Student – $29.00 (was $27.50)
    Polytechnic Student – $29.00 (was $27.50)
    University Student – $55.50 (was $52.00)
    Full-time National Serviceman – $55.50 (was $52.00)
  • Train Monthly Concession Passes
    Primary Student – $21.00 (was $20.00)
    Secondary Student – $26.50 (was $25.00)
    Polytechnic Student – $26.50 (was $25.00)
    University Student – $48.00 (was $45.00)
    Full-time National Serviceman – $48.00 (was $45.00)
  • Hybrid Concessions Passes & Adult Monthly Travel Pass
    Primary Student – $43.50 (was $41.00)
    Secondary Student – $54.00 (was $51.00)
    Polytechnic Student – $54.00 (was $51.00)
    University Student – $90.50 (was $85.00)
    Full-time National Serviceman – $90.50 (was $85.00)
    Adult (Monthly Travel Pass) – $128.00 (was $120.00)
    Senior Citizen – $64.00 (was $60.00)

E: Student Concession Fares for Polytechnic and Other Diploma students

Polytechnic and other diploma students previously did not enjoy discounted trip fares. From 28 December 2019, these students will be entitled to student concessionary fares, which are capped at $0.63 for each journey, instead of up to $2.17 for adult fares.

Currently (before 28 Dec 2019), only Primary, Secondary, Junior College (JC) and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students are entitled to student concessionary fares.



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