Bus Fare Increase sigh

mummy · 11-09-2007, 03:31 PM

Bus fares to go up by 1 to 2 cents from Oct 1
By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

SBS Transit, part of the ComfortDelGro group said their costs have gone up significantly.

BUS fares will go up by one to two cents from Oct 1, the Public Transport Council announced on Tuesday.
But there will be no increase in train fares.

The Council said in August that transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT Corp had applied for fare increases - an annual revision exercise governed by a set formula.

This year, the formula caps fare rises at 1.8 per cent - or around three cents per ride.

The last fare increase was in October last year, when costs went up by one to three cents per ride.

Back then, the operators blamed high costs - in particular the high price of fuel and manpower - for the need to raise their fares. They are citing the same reasons this time.

SBS Transit, part of the ComfortDelGro group, for instance, said their costs have gone up significantly.

"Energy costs, for example, rose by 20 per cent or $20.3 million last year - having already increased by 41.2 per cent in 2005," SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said.

"Manpower costs, the company's largest cost component, also increased by about $12.1 million during the year."

SBS also pointed out that it had invested heavily in buses as well as commuter services.

It spent $135 million on new buses in the past two years. And it has rolled out an online bus arrival system, which helps commuters to plan their journeys better.

Lower SMRT earnings
SMRT pointed out that the increase in the goods and services tax as well as the 1.5 percentage point rise in employers' CPF contributions will pull down its earnings by about $11 million a year.

It said the fare increase, if kept to this year's cap of 1.8 per cent, would only partially offset the company's total cost increases.

SBS is proposing to keep children and school student fares as well as concession pass charges unchanged.

SMRT has also said it will not raise fares for children and students, and all bus cash fares.

SMRT is also waiving any increase to the first fare band of its MRT single-trip ticket, which costs 90 cents. It added that it would extend its senior citizen concession hours to match SBS'.

Schemes to help the poor
Both operators said they would come up with schemes to help the poor cope with any fare rise.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) is not entirely convinced that a fare hike is in order.

Case executive director Seah Seng Choon has pointed out that transport companies are enjoying "good returns." For instance, SMRT achieved a 39 per cent rise in net earnings to $37.94 million in the first quarter.

"'With such significant increase in net earnings, commuters would certainly expect it to show clear justifications for any need to hike fares at this point in time,' he said.

BunnyKiss · 11-09-2007, 03:34 PM

The current fare is already too much for me..topping 100 per month, just travelling from work to home mostly..

stonston · 11-09-2007, 03:38 PM

r they suppose to even have such high profits since they r monopolising e transport system?
i dun even see these profits being put to good use like changing their fleet of buses to newer better buses or at least maintenance of e buses!!
they got lousy buses tt breakdown so often, inefficient bus routes, n still wanna increase prices?

**jopeck** · 11-09-2007, 03:38 PM

again... this never stops... sigh.

LoVeS · 11-09-2007, 03:40 PM

if their cost increase then dun BUILD SO MUCH things lor wah kao~ KEEP increasing n NO DECREASING at all

**bluechin** · 12-09-2007, 01:31 AM

sigh sigh sigh

**aby** · 12-09-2007, 01:44 AM

Aiyoyo.. <shake head>.. Everything increase price but pay still same.. How huh?

LoVeS · 12-09-2007, 07:49 AM

wat to do, govt tink we are RICH or SUPERHUMAN mah

**bluechin** · 12-09-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoVeS

wat to do, govt tink we are RICH or SUPERHUMAN mah

vion · 12-09-2007, 01:24 PM

Well, I do foresee tt there'll b an increase in 2 other thgs oso...

Passengersl cheating on bus fares
Agitated passengers venting their angers on bus drivers

**jopeck** · 12-09-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vion

Well, I do foresee tt there'll b an increase in 2 other thgs oso...

Passengersl cheating on bus fares
Agitated passengers venting their angers on bus drivers

:we2biglaug h:

**Carol** · 14-09-2007, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vion

Well, I do foresee tt there'll b an increase in 2 other thgs oso...

Passengersl cheating on bus fares
Agitated passengers venting their angers on bus drivers

Lol ! I hope I'll be there to see agitated passengers venting their anger on bus drivers

11-09-2007, 03:31 PM	#1
mummy Worthy Lady Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south Rating: Not Rated Gender: Posts: 60 My Mood: Gallery: 3 Rep Power: 2 Reputation: 10	Bus Fare Increase sigh Bus fares to go up by 1 to 2 cents from Oct 1 By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent SBS Transit, part of the ComfortDelGro group said their costs have gone up significantly. BUS fares will go up by one to two cents from Oct 1, the Public Transport Council announced on Tuesday. But there will be no increase in train fares. The Council said in August that transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT Corp had applied for fare increases - an annual revision exercise governed by a set formula. This year, the formula caps fare rises at 1.8 per cent - or around three cents per ride. The last fare increase was in October last year, when costs went up by one to three cents per ride. Back then, the operators blamed high costs - in particular the high price of fuel and manpower - for the need to raise their fares. They are citing the same reasons this time. SBS Transit, part of the ComfortDelGro group, for instance, said their costs have gone up significantly. "Energy costs, for example, rose by 20 per cent or $20.3 million last year - having already increased by 41.2 per cent in 2005," SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said. "Manpower costs, the company's largest cost component, also increased by about $12.1 million during the year." SBS also pointed out that it had invested heavily in buses as well as commuter services. It spent $135 million on new buses in the past two years. And it has rolled out an online bus arrival system, which helps commuters to plan their journeys better. Lower SMRT earnings SMRT pointed out that the increase in the goods and services tax as well as the 1.5 percentage point rise in employers' CPF contributions will pull down its earnings by about $11 million a year. It said the fare increase, if kept to this year's cap of 1.8 per cent, would only partially offset the company's total cost increases. SBS is proposing to keep children and school student fares as well as concession pass charges unchanged. SMRT has also said it will not raise fares for children and students, and all bus cash fares. SMRT is also waiving any increase to the first fare band of its MRT single-trip ticket, which costs 90 cents. It added that it would extend its senior citizen concession hours to match SBS'. Schemes to help the poor Both operators said they would come up with schemes to help the poor cope with any fare rise. The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) is not entirely convinced that a fare hike is in order. Case executive director Seah Seng Choon has pointed out that transport companies are enjoying "good returns." For instance, SMRT achieved a 39 per cent rise in net earnings to $37.94 million in the first quarter. "'With such significant increase in net earnings, commuters would certainly expect it to show clear justifications for any need to hike fares at this point in time,' he said.

11-09-2007, 03:34 PM	#2
BunnyKiss Worthy Lady Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Eunos Rating: Not Rated Gender: Posts: 231 My Mood: Gallery: 0 Rep Power: 2 Reputation: 10	Re: Bus Fare Increase sigh The current fare is already too much for me..topping 100 per month, just travelling from work to home mostly..

Bus Fare Increase *sigh*

Bus Fare Increase sigh