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Public Transport Council

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Public Transport Council
Agency overview
Formed14 August 1987; 37 years ago (1987-08-14)
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters510 Thomson Road, SLF Building #12-03, Singapore 298135
Agency executives
  • Janet Ang, Chairman
  • Tan Kim Hong, Chief Executive[1]
Parent agencyMinistry of Transport
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Agency IDT08GB0044D

The Public Transport Council (PTC) is an independent regulatory statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore established on 14 August 1987 by the Public Transport Council Act of 1987.

PTC regulates the public bus and rapid transit network in areas such as fares and service standards. Moreover, PTC is permitted to grant and alter bus service licences and provides advice to the Ministry of Transportation on matters such as licensee requirements and the imposition of sanctions against licensees who violate such requirements.

Schemes

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Free Pre-Peak Travel

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In 2013, the PTC introduced the Free Pre-Peak Travel ( FPPT) scheme to encourage commuters to make their morning travels earlier.[2] The FPPT gave free trips to commuters who exited 18 city area stations before 7.45am on weekdays.[2]

In 2017, after four years of the scheme, about seven percent of morning peak hours travels was shifted out of the morning peak hours.[2] On 30 October 2017, after the 2017 Fare Review Exercise, PTC announced the scheme to be terminated on 29 December 2017.[2]

Off-Peak Pass

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In 2015, the PTC started a trial on the Off-Peak Pass (OPP) scheme which allows passengers unlimited travel during the weekday off peak periods on both the bus and train networks.[2] On 30 October 2017, after the 2017 Fare Review Exercise, PTC announced the trial to be terminated on 29 December 2017.[2]

Criticisms

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As the public transport fare regulator, the council was criticised on various occasions when it approved fare hike proposals from public transport operators.[3] Some of its policies are deemed as pro-operators rather than pro-commuters.[4] As such, the Workers' Party called for the dissolution of the council in favour of a not-for-profit corporation in the leadup to the 2006 general elections.[5]

Fare adjustments

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From 29 December 2017, commuters who started their journey on the rail network, before 7.45am on weekdays, get a discount of 50 cents or the amount of fare of the rail portion, whichever is lower.[2]

In April 2023, the PTC announced a change in the fare formula in its review which is done every five years.[6] During Parliament in November, Workers' Party's Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Chua and People's Action Party MP, Don Wee, suggested either removing deferred fare increase or freezing fare hike but was rebutted by acting Minister of Transport, Chee Hong Tat, that the proposals were “not sound” and “populist”.[7]

The table chart major changes in fare :[8]

Date Change in fare Notes Reactions
1 October 2006 Increase1.7% Approved applications from transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT for an overall increase in bus and train fares of 1.7%.[9]

PTC justified the increase in fares based on the positive economic outlook in 2006 and a comparison of average public transport fares across cities of Hong Kong, London and New York City which have higher fares.

Critics were however skeptical of PTC's justifications, pointing to flaws in the survey conducted by SMU where three quarters of respondents polled said fares were affordable.[10][11]
1 April 2009 Decrease4.6% 4.6% reduction in bus and train fares. The reduction comprises a fare rebate (to 30 June 2010) and a transfer rebate.[12]
3 July 2010 Decrease2.5% On 20 April 2010, the PTC granted an overall 2.5% reduction in bus and train fares which took effect on 3 July 2010 together with the introduction of distance fares.[13]
6 April 2014 Increase3.2% The typical fares were increased by 4–6 cents and student fares were increased by 2 cents. New concession schemes were implemented.
27 December 2015 Decrease1.9%
30 December 2016 Decrease4.2%
29 December 2018 Increase4.3% Fares were raised by 4.3% which took effect on 29 December 2018.[14][15]
28 December 2019 Increase7.0% Fare increase is the highest percentage jump since 1998, caused by increasing energy costs.[16]
26 December 2021 Increase2.2% The increase is driven by soaring energy costs and a drop in ridership due to COVID-19 pandemic.[17][18]
26 December 2022 Increase2.6% The fare increase is attributed to soaring energy prices from 2020 to 2021 and increase in manpower costs and inflation.[19][20] The PTC deferred a 10.6% increase to the next year.[21]
23 December 2023 Increase7.0% The fare increase is due to the revised formula announced in April 2023.[21] The maximum fare adjustment allowed is 22.6%, inclusive of 2022's deferred 10.6% and current year's 12%.[21] The remaining 15.6% allowed increase will be deferred to 2024.[21]The 11 cents increase is the highest increase.[7]

Transport operators asked for a full 22.6% fare increase.[21] PTC chief executive Tan Kim Hong said that the old formula should not be used anymore.[21]

28 December 2024 Increase6.0% The fare increase was based on core inflation and wage growth in 2023.[22] The maximum fare adjustment allowed is 18.9%, inclusive of 2023's deferred 15.6% and current year's 3.3%.[22] The remaining 12.9% allowed increase will be deferred to 2025.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lam, Lydia (19 June 2017). "Tan Kim Hong to be new chief executive of Public Transport Council from July 1". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Early morning rail fares to be lowered, free pre-peak travel to cease: Public Transport Council". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Price increases symptomise the failure of our political system". 1 July 2004. Archived from the original on 1 July 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Manifesto 2006". Archived from the original on 3 June 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2006.
  6. ^ Chew, Hui Min (25 April 2023). "Public Transport Council tweaks fare formula amid inflation, changing commuter patterns". CNA. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  7. ^ a b Kok, Yufeng (13 November 2024). "Calls by MPs to expunge or freeze future fare hikes 'not sound': Chee Hong Tat". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  8. ^ "PTC | Chronology of Fare Adjustment". www.ptc.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  9. ^ "1 to 3 Cents Increase in Bus and Train Fares from October" (PDF). Public Transport Council. 12 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2006.
  10. ^ "Is the PTC's survey representative enough?". The Straits Times. 11 November 2006. p. 14.
  11. ^ "2006 Survey Shows Improved Satisfaction with Buses" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
  12. ^ "4.6% Reduction In Bus & Train Fares From 1 APRIL 2009" (PDF). SBS Transit. 21 February 2009.
  13. ^ "2.5% FARE REDUCTION IN BUS & TRAIN FARES AND INTRODUCTION OF DISTANCE FARES ON 3 JULY 2010" (PDF). Public Transport Council, Ministry of Transport. 20 April 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Public transport operators may increase fares by up to 4.3%". CNA.
  15. ^ "Bus and train fares set to rise by not more than 10 cents per journey in latest fare review exercise". The Straits Times. 3 September 2018.
  16. ^ Tan, Christopher (8 October 2019). "Bus, train fares to rise by 7% from Dec 28; hike capped at 4 cents per trip for 1 in 2 Singaporeans". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Bus, train fares to increase by up to 4 cents from Dec 26: Public Transport Council". CNA.
  18. ^ "Public transport fares to rise by 3 to 4 cents for adults from Dec 26 | the Straits Times". 3 November 2021.
  19. ^ Yong, Jun Yuan (12 October 2022). "Public transport fares to rise by 2.9%; hike capped at 5 cents per journey".
  20. ^ "Bus, train fares to increase by 4 to 5 cents from Dec 26 amid rise in energy prices, manpower costs". TODAY. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Koh, Wan Ting (18 September 2023). "Public transport fare hike: Adults to pay 10 to 11 cents more per journey from Dec 23". CNA. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Ong, Guang-Xi Justin (9 September 2024). "Public transport fare hike: Adults to pay 10 cents more per journey from Dec 28". CNA. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
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