Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Statistics on Same-Card Transfers and Review of 45-Minute Allowance Period to Support Commuters

Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     in 2024, what percentage of same-card transfers occurred within the current 45-minute allowance period under the public transport fare system; and

b.     whether there are plans to review and increase this allowance period to better support commuters’ needs.

Reply by Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat:

1.     Public transport fares are charged based on distance on a per journey basis. This allows commuters to pick the optimal combination of services to complete their journey, without penalising transfers. To compute fares accurately and fairly, we use a set of criteria to determine if a trip is part of an ongoing journey, or the start of a new one. These criteria include total journey time, the time interval between transfers, and the total number of transfers.

2.     The Land Transport Authority has designed our transport network to facilitate easy transfers between trains and buses. Our data show that the vast majority of transfers are completed within 30 minutes. If there are some exceptional circumstances that prevent a commuter from completing a bona fide transfer within the 45-minute transfer window, they can apply to SimplyGo for a fare refund, and their appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.