It appears that bus and train fares are about to change again.
The Public Transport Council (PTC) has commenced the review of the public transport fare adjustment formula and mechanism, targeting the completion of the review by the first half of 2023.
The results of the review will also be applied in the same year, said PTC in a news release on Monday (Aug 15).
The review covers the effectiveness of the current fare adjustment formula and mechanism “in consideration of the changes in the public transport industry and commuting patterns”.
The review will also “propose how we can better maintain the balance to keep public transport fares affordable while ensuring the financial sustainability of the public transport system,” noted PTC.
According to PTC’s announcement, key stakeholders such as commuters, public transport operators, the labour movement and transport experts will be consulted during the review.
Members from the online community wondered if the review could focus on other aspects, such as the bus captain’s salary.
“In my opinion Bus captain’s salary should first be increased,” said Facebook user Bernard Chan Yong Wah.
“They deserve to earn over $3k on a regular 8 hours working day and not resorting to daily OT of additional 4 hours in order to earn over $3k. Bus Captain deserved to walk into any restaurant and dine together with any executives on the same level,” said the concerned individual, noting it was time to change the system. “Bus operators do not need million dollars CEO to plan the daily routes…”
“Make public the salaries of the CEO and the executive staff of SBS and SMRT. The bus captains are the ones needing pay review,” added Facebook user SoonKin Chew.
Meanwhile, others noted that the end result would most probably be a fare increase. “In their dictionary, review = increase,” said a netizen.
“Fare increasing just say so. Don’t try to give excuses such new formula,” said Facebook user Lee Philip. “People are not stupid. Just like GST, can’t wait to increase when people are already suffering. High inflation, things are expensive, GST increase and now talking about fare increase.” /TISG