Free morning off-peak train rides in northeast Singapore from Dec 27

Lastly, the Travel Smart Journeys programme will be expanded to include five new city direct services – buses that ply express routes between housing estates and the city during peak hours on weekdays – in the northeastern region, from mid-December this year.

These new buses will connect residents in Hougang, Sengkang and Punggol towns to areas such as the Central Business District and Orchard.

More details will be announced in November, LTA said.

Existing services Service 43e and city direct services 654, 660, 660M, 666, 671, 672, 673, 675, 676, 677 and 678 continue to be eligible for rewards under the Travel Smart Journeys programme.

Noting that the average loading for city direct services is around 45 per cent of capacity for the morning peak period, LTA said existing services were adequate to accommodate more commuters who adjust their travel times.

Since the launch of the enhanced Travel Smart Journeys programme on Jan 2, LTA said it has received about 37,000 applications — of which about 11,000 participants met the eligibility criteria as of end-September.

As at the end of last month, about 8,000 commuters have either shifted their travel timings on NEL or switched to taking a city direct service at least once since the enhanced programme was launched.

Of these, around 23 per cent shifted their travel on the NEL to before 7.15am, while 30 per cent shifted to the post-peak timing of between 8.45am to 9.45am. Another 28 per cent adopted a combination of pre- and post-peak travel.

In addition, 6 per cent switched to an eligible bus service, while 13 per cent used both alternatives – adjusting their NEL travel to off-peak periods, and switching to eligible bus services.