Travel Smart Journeys (TSJ) is a Land Transport Authority (LTA) initiative used to distribute peak hour demand by incentivising alternative modes of travel. Commuters can earn points while doing so, which are exchangeable for public transport credits.
Since its introduction in February 2020, this scheme has been used to encourage morning-peak commuters to switch from the North East Line (NEL) to alternative bus routes. The third iteration of the scheme commenced on 2 January 2025, with a new reward structure, and new incentives for early and late morning peak travel.
Travel Smart Journeys (From 2 Jan 2025)
The current TSJ scheme incentivises North-East commuters to shift their travel time on the North East Line to pre- or post-peak periods; or switch to eligible bus services during peak periods.
Registration
Registration commences on 2 Jan 2025. Commuters (including concession cardholders and EZ-Link/NETS Prepaid/NETS FlashPay cardholders) can sign up for the TSJ by registering for the initiative via the SimplyGo app, under the Services tab.
Participants who have earned points in the past 6 months under the previous TSJ which was suspended in Nov 2024, will be automatically enrolled for the enhanced TSJ from 2 Jan 2025.
Eligible commuters (subject to the enrolment criteria below) will be notified of their eligibility within 72 hours after their registration. Once eligible, commuters will be able to view the TSJ dashboard in the SimplyGo app.
Enrolment Criteria
Commuters must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the TSJ from January 2025:
- Tap in between 7.15am and 8.45am at the following MRT / LRT stations on at least six weekdays (excluding public holidays) over the past 30 calendar days:
– Punggol Coast, Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang MRT Station
– Any LRT Station along the Punggol & Sengkang LRT line
- Tap out at any MRT or LRT station, excluding stations on the Punggol and Sengkang LRT lines
Reward Mechanics
Eligible commuters will be awarded points based on their mode of travel, time of travel & fare paid on Weekdays (except Public Holidays).
| Mode | Time of Tap In | Points Awarded |
| MRT / LRT | Before 7.15am | 80% of journey fare payable |
| 8.45am – 8.59am | 40% of journey fare payable | |
| 9.00am – 9.30am | 80% of journey fare payable | |
| 9.31am – 9.45am | 40% of journey fare payable | |
| Bus Services | During morning peak hours (Board at designated bus stops & alight at designated bus stops) |
80% of journey fare payable |
| Express 43e | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 654 |
|
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 660 |
|
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 660M |
|
| 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 |
|
|
| City Direct 675 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 676 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 677 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
| City Direct 678 | |
| Boarding Bus Stops | Alighting Bus Stops |
|
|
Points Conversion
Eligible commuters can redeem their points in 500-point blocks (equivalent to $5.00) for cash value into their travel cards.
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. A new replacement incentive scheme – Travel Smart Journeys – was announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to be introduced “later this year”.
Travel Smart Journeys
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 ended on 25 Nov 2024, with the last day for points earning on Friday, 22 November 2024.
The latest iteration of TSJ commences on 2 January 2025.
References:
- Travel Smart Journeys Gets a Boost: New Rewards and Expanded Options for Commuters – Land Transport Authority
Page 2: TSJ Scheme (Mar 2023 – Nov 2024)
Page 3: 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