ComfortDelGro overhauls taxi fare structure
Posted: 10 December 2007 1854 hrs
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/316573/1/.html
SINGAPORE: ComfortDelGro, the largest operator of taxis in
Singapore, has overhauled its fare structure which it says will
better meet the demand for and supply of taxi services at different
times of the day.
The changes will kick in next Monday.
Flagging down a Comfort or CityCab will cost $0.30 more at
$2.80.
The metered fare has also been adjusted. It will cost $0.20 per 385
metres of travel for the first 10 kilometres. This will go up to
$0.20 per 330 metres for journeys beyond 10 kilometres.
It will cost $0.20 for every 45 seconds of waiting time.
Instead of the $2 surcharge for peak hour travel, there will now be
a premium levied. It will be 35 per cent of the metered fare.
And the CBD surcharge will go up from the existing $1 to $3.
Many drivers are reluctant to enter the city area during the
evening ERP hours on an empty cab as they are not willing to pay
the charges.
To provide drivers with the added incentive to do so, ComfortDelGro
will give all drivers who are unable to get a passenger within 15
minutes of entering the ERP zone an ERP rebate. This is possible
through the use of ComfortDelGro's Escalade and location tracking
system.
For travel from midnight till just before 6am, instead of the
gradual buildup in surcharge, it will be simplified to a flat 50
per cent on the metered fare.
However, the booking fee during peak hours will be reduced by $0.50
to $3.50.
The booking fee remains at $2.50 for non-peak hours.
As an example, ComfortDelGro says a 9 kilometre trip off-peak will
cost $8.40 while a trip of the same distance during peak hours will
cost $14.35.
This is comparable to what the same trip would cost in Hong Kong
and still only half of what it would cost in Sydney.
In a news release, ComfortDelGro says the fare changes are the
result of an in-depth review of the industry by the Group, which
took into account suggestions and feedback from the public.
The changes also took into account feedback from taxi associations,
taking into consideration the higher operating costs of
taxis.
Also, it addressed commuters' concern on the difficulty in getting
a cab in the city in the evening while encouraging call bookings to
better match the demand and supply of taxis.
The Taxi Operators' Associations or TOA, in its response, called
the fare revision fair and timely.
This is in view of the rapidly rising operating cost, especially
the price of diesel and the increase in the Goods and Services
Tax.
It believes that overall taxi metre fare should reflect the
operating cost of the taxi business, and the primary consideration
is the income stability of the taxi drivers when fare adjustments
are made.
TOA urges the other taxi companies to adjust their taxi fares as
soon as possible. - 938LIVE.
