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Biggger discount for SMRT Users out of peak hrs


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SINGAPORE - The SMRT will triple its travel discount scheme to 30 cents from Oct 8 in an effort to entice commuters to travel earlier and ease congestion on the trains during morning peak hours.

 

The discount will also be extended by another 15 minutes to 7.45am.

 

The SMRT now offers a 10-cent discount to adults and senior citizens entering from stations along the North-South and East-West lines outside the city area and exiting at nine selected stations within the city area before 7.30am from Monday to Saturday.

 

The nine stations are Bugis, City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Orchard, Outram Park, Raffles Place, Somerset and Tanjong Pagar.

 

The SMRT will also conduct joint trials with the Land Transport Authority on demand management measures to incentivise commuters to shift their travel times away from peak periods.

 

More details on this initiative will be announced when ready.

 

The SMRT has set aside S$5 million for the two demand management schemes. When asked why SBS Transit is not introducing similar demand management measures, Public Transport Council chairman Gerard Ee said that SBS Transit - which predominantly runs buses - is "having a tough time".

 

Last year, the company's Return on Total Assets (ROTA), an indicator of profitability, fell 1.5 per cent to stand at 7.8 per cent.

 

The SMRT, meanwhile, had a higher ROTA of 11.2 per cent last year, even though it also saw a 0.8 per cent decrease from a year before.

 

With the authorities planning to ramp up bus services and tighten the quality of service standards, Mr Ee said: "I would worry taking S$5 million from the buses. I can only see the costs going up."

 

Commuters that Today spoke to appeared mixed in their responses to SMRT's discount scheme.

 

Accounts executive Jeremy Wu, who travels from his Tampines home to the city for work, said: "The discount is not a lot. I would rather take my time to get ready for work."

 

But clerk Chin Pei Pei welcomed the extension in the timing as she starts work at 8am: "(It) could go some way to offsetting my transport costs."

 

Mr Ee acknowledged that the 15-minute extension "may not sound a lot", but is confident "a lot of people will take advantage" of the discount scheme.

 

By saving 30 cents a day, commuters could give themselves a nice breakfast treat once a week, Mr Ee quipped. LEONG WEE KEAT

 

---I just felt that the public transport service should be catering to the needs of people travelling During Peak hours? Usually people who travel on trains during the peak hours do so for necessity, like reporting to work...

 

If cannot travel using public transport during peak hours, considering the fact that you will also be heavily charged for driving during peak hours, I guess the only other option is to walk or cycle to work!

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