Automated Updating Of Fare Stages To
Be Introduced On Nine Bus Routes in First
Phase
Fare stages will be updated automatically on five SBS Transit bus
services and four SMRT Buses services from Sunday, 1 August 2004.
The services are SBS Transit service routes 40, 228, 265, 268 and
506; SMRT Buses service routes 173, 180, 184 and 189.
With the introduction of this feature, bus drivers no longer need
to update the fare stages manually, and this will eradicate human
error in the updating of fare stages and hence, ensure accurate
fare deduction. The automated updating feature will be introduced
on all buses progressively.
How are bus fare stages updated
automatically?
The system which allows for the automated updating of fare stages
is the Vehicle Location System (VLS) - a satellite-based bus
tracking system developed by LTA, which makes use of a combination
of technologies, including Global Positioning System, to determine
the position of the bus.
VLS determines the fare stage by matching the busÂ’ actual location
on the road against a pre-programmed set of data in the system.
When a bus has travelled a certain distance, the system will
compare this information with the data and automatically determines
the fare stage.
Ensuring accurate updating of fare stage
Under VLS, fare stages are updated as the bus travels to the next
bus stop. Therefore, the ez-link Card readers will only be
activated when the bus is 100 metres away from the next bus stop,
after the fare stage has been updated.
When the bus closes its door and leaves the bus stop, the readers
at the exit will be de-activated. The readers at the entry will
remain active for another 30 seconds after the door closes, to give
commuters who have boarded the bus enough time to tap their ez-link
Cards.
When the readers are activated, commuters will able to see the fare
stage displayed on the LCD screen. Commuters should tap their
ez-link Cards only when the readers are activated.
Readers that are not activated will have the 
sign displayed
on the screen. Commuters should not tap their cards on the readers
when they see this sign.
Stickers at exit doors of buses and posters at bus interchanges
will remind commuters on the changes to how the card readers
operate.
Rigorous testing conducted
Since the VLS was installed on the buses in December 2003, LTA, SBS
Transit and SMRT Buses have been conducting extensive tests to
verify the updating of fare stages and fine-tune the system to
ensure accuracy. Tests were carried out on individual bus routes
and buses to ensure the system is robust and reliable before
implementation.
In the event of a system error, the bus drivers will manually
update the fare stages. Bus operations will not be affected and
commuters can tap their ez-link Cards as usual.
SBS Transit and SMRT Buses will monitor the performance of the
system and roll out the services progressively.
For queries, members of the public can call the following
hotlines:
SBS Transit Customer Service Hotline : 1800-287 2727
SMRT Information Centre : 1800-336 8900
LTA Customer Service Line : 1800-225 5582
