PTC to Review Free Pre-Peak Travel and Off-Peak Pass

1.     To incentivise off-peak travel on public transport, discounted fares were first introduced under the Free Pre-Peak Travel and Off-Peak Pass trials in 2013 and 2015 respectively. These two trials will expire on 30 June 2017 and 4 July 2017 respectively. In addition to these two travel demand management trials to ease commuter loading on public transport during peak periods, several other measures to enhance public transport capacity, such as the addition of new MRT lines, trains and buses, have also been implemented.

2.     In this regard, given the:

       (i) Opening of the full Downtown Line later this year, which over its three phases since 2013 would have added another 42 km to our MRT network;

       (ii) Completion of the re-signalling of the North-South Line this year, and of the East-West Line next year, which will enable up to 20 per cent more trains to be run during the peak periods if necessary;

       (iii) 112 additional trains which have been added to the MRT network and 29 train-cars to the LRT network since 2011, as well as 22 more new trains which will be introduced by 2019; and

       (iv) Bus Service Enhancement Programme, under which close to 950 additional buses have been put onto the roads since 2012, and which will come to completion with its 1,000^th bus later this year;

it is timely to take stock and review the effectiveness and continued necessity of the Free Pre-Peak Travel and Off-Peak Pass trials. 

3.     The Ministry of Transport has therefore requested the Public Transport Council (PTC) to review these two trials, and PTC has agreed to do so. It will review the two trials in parallel with the Fare Review Exercise later this year, and announce the findings by the end of 2017.

4.     In view of this ongoing review, we will extend both the Free Pre-Peak Travel and Off-Peak Pass trials until the end of 2017.