BUS and train fares will go down 2.5 per cent overall from July
3, but how much commuters save will depend on how they travel.
The Public Transport Council (PTC) said yesterday that, from
that date, public transport fares will be pegged fully to distance
travelled - whether the commuter covers the distance in one trip or
makes transfers.
Those who make transfers between buses or between buses and
trains will pay less: The 63 per cent of commuters who break up
their journey into two or more legs will save an average of 48
cents a week or $25 a year.
Another group, the 34 per cent of public transport users who opt
for longer, single-leg journeys, will pay an average of 31 cents
more a week, or $16 a year.
The remaining 3 per cent will spend neither more nor less than
now.
For bus and train operators SBS Transit and SMRT, the final move
to distance- based fares will shrink their joint takings by about
$32 million this year.