Travel Smart Journeys (TSJ) is a Land Transport Authority (LTA) initiative to distribute peak hour demand by incentivising alternative modes of travel. Since its introduction in February 2020, this scheme has been used to promote peak-hour travel by bus instead of train, with points awarded being exchangeable for public transport credits.
The scheme was relaunched in its second iteration on 20 March 2023, and now incentivises travel of peak-hour routes parallel to the North East Line.
The current scheme will end on 25 Nov 2024. A refreshed TSJ scheme will be relaunched in early January 2025.
Background
In January 2012, the Incentives for Singapore’s Commuters (INSINC) scheme was introduced to reward commuters who travel on the rail network during designated “de-congesting hours” on weekday mornings. This scheme was renamed Travel Smart Rewards (TSR) in 2014.
Under this scheme, commuters could earn points when travelling during the “de-congesting hours” of 6.15am–7.15am & 8.45am–9.45am. The number of points awarded would depend on commuters’ status tier (based on the number of de-congesting trips taken per week) and distance travelled on the rail network during these hours. These points could be directly redeemed as cash top-ups on their registered transit card at a fixed ratio, or used to obtain variable travel values via online games on the Travel Smart Rewards site such as Snakes & Ladders.
In April 2017, the scheme was “enhanced” (or more accurately, devalued) in the form of reduced per-trip incentives, fixed per-trip points earnings (rather than distance-based), shorter points validity period, and ill-defined pre-peak times, which were recommended by the TSR platform based on a user’s overall travel patterns. Friend referral points and tiered statuses were also eliminated. However, commuters could still redeem travel credits at fixed conversion rates or through online games at the revamped TSR site.
The Travel Smart Rewards scheme was discontinued in June 2019, with the new incentive scheme – Travel Smart Journeys originally announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to be introduced “later this year”.
Travel Smart Journeys
See also: Previous TSJ Scheme (Feb 2020 – Jul 2022)
On Saturday, 8 February 2020, Travel Smart Journeys (TSJ) was formally launched. In its first iteration, the scheme rewarded northeast commuters with points for taking Express 43e during the weekday morning peak hours. These points were then exchangeable for public transport credits. The scheme was suspended on 9 July 2022 to review it, with LTA citing shifting travel patterns due to hybrid work arrangements.
On 20 March 2023, TSJ was reinstated for its second iteration and expanded to include more bus services. On top of Express 43e, the scheme adds City Direct services 654, 660, 666, 671 and 672. The second iteration will end on 25 Nov 2024, with the last day for points earning on Friday, 22 November 2024.
Travel Smart Journeys – Upcoming Scheme from early Jan 2025
In an update to members in November 2024, the existing TSJ scheme from 23 Mar 2023 be suspended from 25 Nov 2024 to early Jan 2025 due to system upgrade.
The upcoming iteration will have the following new features:
- More Eligible Bus Services
- Extension of TSJ – rewards will also be awarded for commuters who shift their morning travel time to off-peak periods when boarding certain North-East Line and Sengkang-Punggol LRT stations
- New Rewards Structure – Improved rewards system
Travel Smart Journeys – North-East Line Scheme (20 Mar 2023 – 22 Nov 2024)
To Qualify:
To be eligible for this scheme, commuters have to:
- Register for TSJ via the SimplyGo Portal or mobile app, and
- Tapped in at least 4 weekdays (excluding public holidays) between 7.00 am to 9.00 am at one of the following stations in the past 30 calendar days before the day of registration:
Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok, Hougang MRT station, or
Any LRT station along the Punggol and Sengkang LRT lines
To Earn Points:
Commuters will earn points for every qualified trip taken on the designated bus services.
For a trip to be qualified, commuters have to:
- Board at designated bus stops and tap in between 7.00 am to 9.00 am
- Alight and tap out at designated bus stops
Designated Bus Services & Points Awarded
| Service | Points Awarded |
| Express 43e | 150 points (equivalent to SGD 1.50) |
| City Direct 654 | 150 points (equivalent to SGD 1.50) |
| City Direct 660 | 150 points (equivalent to SGD 1.50) |
| City Direct 666 | 150 points (equivalent to SGD 1.50) |
| City Direct 671 | 150 points (equivalent to SGD 1.50) |
| City Direct 672 | 150 points (equivalent to SGD 1.50) |
| City Direct 673 | 100 points (equivalent to SGD 1.00) |
Designated Boarding & Alighting Stops
| Express 43e | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
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|
| City Direct 654 |
|
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 660 |
|
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 666 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 671 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 672 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 673 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
Signing Up for Travel Smart Journeys
Commuters have to sign up for a SimplyGo account before registering for “Travel Smart Journeys” at the TSJ Settings page (web portal) or TSJ Settings tab (mobile application). They will also need to nominate their most frequently used travel card, which will be used to determine their eligibility for the scheme and for the awarding of points.
Conversion of Points
Commuters can convert points to electronic transport vouchers at the “Travel Smart Journeys” Rewards page (web portal) or the Rewards tab (mobile application).
The minimum point value for cash out is 500 points, which redeems for a $5 e-Transport Voucher.
Scheme Suspension
The TSJ scheme will be suspended from 25 Nov 2024 to early Jan 2025 due to system upgrade.
The last day of points earning for travel will be on Friday, 22 November 2024, in which points awarded for trips made will be credited by 1 Dec 2024. Points redemption will still be available during the system upgrade.
References
Page 2: Previous TSJ Scheme (Feb 2020 – Jul 2022)
Rather than doing all this why not install protective screen at the cabin to safeguard the BCs?
Looks like 43e has no demand…
Be careful of perverse incentives!
Someone who already commutes on the 43e would actually then be incentivised to switch to the MRT for 4 days, make their card eligible, before switching back to earn the rebates.
The eligibility should be extended both to commuters currently using the NEL, *as well as existing customers of 43e*. Or better, everyone…
I see this as a good move to encourage people to switch from MRT to bus. However, the Travel Smart Journeys initiative only covers Express Bus Service 43e, which only benefits the people living in Punggol and Sengkang. Hopefully, the Travel Smart Journeys initiative can be expanded to cover all the Express Bus Services, so that every residential town would benefit.
Also, it would be helpful to expand the Travel Smart Journeys initiative to include the evening peak period in the direction towards the residential towns, instead of just the morning peak period towards the employment areas.
what a joke 🤣
$5 min for cashout and $1.50 cashback for a min $1.80 ride