Though bus and train fares are set to rise from December 28, one in two Singaporeans will enjoy concessionary fares. 

The number of people enjoying the concession will be 35.4 per cent more than in 2013, when the Fare Review Mechanism Committee undertook a comprehensive review of the concession schemes and for the first time, this group will include polytechnic students, who will enjoy student concessions.

 The Ministry of Transport will also step in to help lower-income families cope with the fare increase.  

The fare hike, which will rise by seven per cent, equivalent to nine cents, is the maximum allowed in this year’s formula, and the biggest percentage jump since 1998 – driven largely by a spike in fuel and energy costs.

In its annual revision announcement on 8 October 2019, the Public Transport Council (PTC) Chairman Richard Magnus pointed out that “close to two million people, or more than one in two Singaporeans, enjoy concessionary fares on our public transport system”.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that in any fare adjustment, the Government tries to keep the increase as low as possible so that it affects as few people as it can.

The PTC’s move to cap the fare increase to not more than four cents for these concession groups protects the interest of about two million commuters, he added, noting that this means that, on average, fares are not higher than 2015 levels