Tan Kin Lian's Blog: New fare structure for public transport

Friday, April 23, 2010

New fare structure for public transport

A new distanced based fare structure is being implemented in Singapore. The aim is to charge the fare based on distance and not on the number of connections. Under the new structure, those who have to make several connections will pay less (compared to the past) and those who had a direct bus will pay more. Those who have to pay more under the new structure complained that the change is unfair to them.

I believe that this change is necessary and will benefit the public in the long run. It will allow the public transport system to be runned in the most efficient manner and for fewer bus routes and (hopefully) more efficient feeder services.

My wish is for feeder services to be cheaper and have shorter waiting and travelling times. I do not mind taking a feeder bus to the train station or bus interchange and to take a long distance bus (with few stops) to reach my destination. I am used to making transfers between bus to train and from train to train. It is acceptable to the majority of commuters who are mobile. (The needs of the elderly and the handicapped may have to be served differently).

I hope that the public will be patient and try to get used to the changes and the new system. I am hopeful that it will be better.

Tan Kin Lian

12 comments:

Anonymous said...: This report says firms are fretting over having to pay severance payouts when they are longer able to employ someone after their retirement age of 62yrs. What is there to fret about? Most firms retrenched ppl when they are only in their 40s.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_518163.html; April 23, 2010 9:23 AM
Anonymous said...: They only allow one entry and one exit per MRT ride without penalty(?).
Is it fair? Should allow unlimited transfers (within time limit) if solely on distance based.
Solely on distance based is also very costly if u travell long distance!!!; April 23, 2010 9:34 AM
Anonymous said...: Better for who???

It makes a mockery of public service as long as the profit motive has become the basis of public transport provision.; April 23, 2010 11:05 AM
Anonymous said...: Mr Tan,
It will be very good if you could create a platform for the "old & poor" PMETs to network and connect.
They may team up to do somethings meaningful with their experiences & resources. Thank you.; April 23, 2010 11:11 AM
Tan Kin Lian said...: Reply to 11:05 AM

Better for the public, compared to the present system.; April 23, 2010 11:26 AM
Anonymous said...: Check this out:

http://hazelpoa.blogspot.com/2010/04/public-transport-fare-changes.html

Confirms my suspicion.; April 23, 2010 12:00 PM
how can it be better said...: Hi Mr Tan, only true if there is not transfer penalty, on one hand they say remove transfer penalty on the other they increase boarding charge as high up to 73 cents.

This article has excellent sum up
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/04/2-5-fare-reduction-for-all-except-for-when-it-rises/

In reality they are actually pushing up the fee for your current cheaper alternative.

http://gothere.sg/maps#q:67351%20to%2084051
http://gothere.sg/maps#q:bedok%20north%20street%202%20to%20suntec%20city

Examine and you will notice, come July, fastest route they charge high, longest route they also charge high.

Taxi uncles shall follow suit. You must pay the SAME fee for the shortest route from point A to B as the worst possible route from A and B as you enjoy efficient.

Better meh?; April 23, 2010 12:31 PM
Anonymous said...: The mrt disruption on the NEL two days ago shows yet again that whatever contingency plans which they claim to be in place is ineffective.

From the very first minute the contingency plans are activated to the very first bus that will arrive at the affected mrt stations will be at least 30 minutes. The number of buses are also unable handled the large numbers of commuters pouring out from the mrt stations.

This is not the first time that we see the contigency plans are not working and it will not be the last either.

My point is that we are too reliant on the mrt without any alternative public transportation that is running concurrently. Hence, once the mrt breaks down thosands and thousands of commuters will be affected.

Can you imagine how chaotic it will be if one of the busy station has to shutdown for a day or two?

Merlion; April 23, 2010 12:35 PM
Anonymous said...: So long as these public transport companies are profit driven (listed), the cost will never be cheap (need to pay dividens and pricey remuneration for management), the routes will not be efficient either (longer bus routes to pack more communters, and of course the comfort level is out of the question.

Still, I am sure the government will be able to conjure up some statistics to show that S'pore's transport system is world class.

Mr. Tan, you are too hopeful.

Freddie; April 23, 2010 6:54 PM
Anonymous said...: Merlion, it has become very clear that the infrastructure simply cannot cope with the load. And they still want to increase population to over 5 million? All they care is profits.; April 23, 2010 8:24 PM
Anonymous said...: really hope there will be some incentives for people taking public transport to allow people to have a fuss free ride to their destination, i feel that any incentives for public transport is really worthwhile as it can really have great effect on the big working masses and common people needing to travel
is it too much of a indulgence to work toward a system that allows people to have ample standing space and transfer of two or less, to work everyday...?; April 23, 2010 9:26 PM
John said...: Let me tell you a secret. Slog now when you are able to work by buying a bike to travel to work until you had saved enough. When the right time comes, go buy a car and forget about contributing to shareholder value in the SMRT and SBS Transit.

In fact, I was disgusted when I saw the maintenance of their buses and trains, and their mechanical condition. I puked when I went to interview with one of the bus company to sign up as a Mechanic Trainee years ago. I drop that idea after that encounter with the interviewer, a listen-to-top-brass and go-for-profit and personal-bonuses person.; July 07, 2010 6:13 PM