{"id":88876,"date":"2026-09-29T20:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=88876"},"modified":"2026-09-29T20:06:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:06:00","slug":"60000-households-to-benefit-from-public-transport-vouchers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=88876","title":{"rendered":"60,000 households to benefit from public transport vouchers"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 About four in 10 households will qualify for public transport vouchers aimed at cushioning the impact of fare hikes<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is an increase of about 60,000 households from the previous year.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, lower-income homes with a per capita income of $2,100 will be eligible for the vouchers, up from $1,800 previously, said the Ministry of Transport (MOT).<\/p>\n

The value of these vouchers will increase to $80 for every household, up from $60 in 2025.<\/p>\n

Households can use the vouchers to top up fare cards or buy monthly passes when the fare hike kicks in on Dec 26.<\/p>\n

From end-December, those who received a voucher during the public transport vouchers exercise in 2025 and continue to meet the income eligibility criterion will automatically receive their vouchers, MOT said.<\/p>\n

They will receive notification letters via post or SMS.<\/p>\n

In the second stage, starting in early 2027, households that meet the income eligibility criterion but previously did not receive a voucher can apply for the vouchers online or in person at community centres or clubs.<\/p>\n

More details will be announced later, MOT added.<\/p>\n

The changes come amid a 7% fare hike that will add up to 13 cents to bus and train fares for adult travellers from Dec 26, due to an increase in energy costs driven by the Middle East crisis.<\/p>\n

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Speaking to reporters at the annual fare review on Sept 29, the Public Transport Council (PTC) said it encourages frequent public transport users to use monthly passes to manage their transport expenses.<\/p>\n

Monthly travel passes for adults will remain $122, while senior citizens and people with disabilities will continue to pay $55 for a hybrid monthly concession pass valid for buses and trains.<\/p>\n

Prices of all monthly passes will stay the same as the previous year, so about 110,000 more travellers \u2013 or 4% of all passengers \u2013 can benefit from switching to a monthly hybrid pass after the fare hike, PTC said.<\/p>\n

The switch can save travellers an average of about $26 each month, it added.<\/p>\n

There are now 126,000 monthly pass users, which account for 5% of all public transport users.<\/p>\n

The cost of travel for Workfare Transport Concession Scheme cardholders will remain unchanged at $92 a month, benefiting about 190,000 such users, or 7% of all passengers, said PTC.<\/p>\n

PTC reduced the prices of monthly hybrid passes in the public transport fare review in 2025<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

For instance, adult passengers now pay $122 for a monthly pass, down from $128 before the review in 2025. Seniors and people with disabilities pay $55, instead of $58.<\/p>\n

PTC said monthly passes give passengers who travel frequently and consistently throughout the month the option to limit their monthly public transport expenditure.<\/p>\n

It added that it is exploring a new function to alert travellers on the SimplyGo app when their monthly expenditure on public transport exceeds the cost of a monthly pass \u2013 whether they are students, national servicemen, adults, senior citizens or people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

When asked about the possibility of rolling out an automatic fare cap, PTC chair Janet Ang said there are difficulties in ensuring the efficiency of a price cap.<\/p>\n

For example, if the cap is priced too high, it may not be fair to the different passenger groups.<\/p>\n

As for whether monthly passes can be used to cover express bus fares, Ang said PTC is studying it.<\/p>\n

PTC chief executive Leow Yew Chin said the inclusion of express bus fares in monthly passes will involve costs that have to be cross-subsidised by other users, including those who do not take express buses.<\/p>\n

In line with any fare increase, public transport operators (PTOs) are required to contribute part of their increased fare revenue to the Public Transport Fund.<\/p>\n

The Government draws from the fund to disburse public transport vouchers to help lower-income households cope with fare increases.<\/p>\n