Fares and ticketing on the Mass Rapid Transit
Encyclopedia
Because the rail operators are government-assisted profit-based corporations, fare
s on Singapore
's Mass Rapid Transit
(MRT) system are currently aimed at least in breaking-even
to at least compensate for their costs of running the system. The rail operators collect fares by selling
electronic
tickets capable of storing data, the price
of which are calculated based on the distance between the start and destination stations. These prices increase in fixed stages for standard non-concession
ary travel. From the information that was earlier written in these tickets, it is possible to increase the fare according to increment
s based on approximate
distance
s between stations.
Stations on the MRT system are divided into two areas, paid and unpaid areas which allow the rail operators to collect needed fares by restricting entry only through the fare gate
s, also as access control gates. These gates, connected to a computer network
, are capable to the electronic tickets, and can store information such as the amount of time taken per trip, and the start and destination stations per trip. This will thus allow the rail operators to collect fares based on this information.
The General Ticketing Machines (GTMs) at each station allow commuters to purchase value additions for their tickets or purchase tickets for single trips. Tickets for single trips, coloured in green, are valid only on the day of purchase, and have a time allowance of 30 minutes above the estimated travelling time between the destination and starting stations. Tickets that could be used repeatedly until its expiry date required a minimum amount of money in order to purchase both a new ticket or additional value.
It is possible for passengers to extend a trip mid-journey, and pay the difference as they exit their destination station. Using distance-based prices stands in contrast to utilising fare zones in some other subway systems such as the London Underground
.
Although operated by private companies, the system's fare structure is regulated by the Public Transport Council
, with the operators submitting requests for fare revision for approval. Fares are kept affordable by approximately pegging them to distance-related bus fares, thus encouraging commuters to utilise the network and move away from past heavy reliance on the bus system. Recent fare increases in the past few years have raised the ire of the public. There were also similar expressions of disapproval over the slightly higher fares charged on SBS Transit
's lines, a disparity which SBS Transit justified by citing higher operational and maintenance costs, and lower ridership.
and East West Line
North East Line
and Circle Line
North East Line and Circle Line
North East Line and Circle Line
s replaced their magnetic ticket predecessors completely on 1 December 2002, making Singapore one of the first cities to implement contactless smart card payment on all the main modes of public transportation, along the likes of Hong Kong.
to Clementi
ranged from S$
0.50 to S$1.10 in S$0.10 increments for all adult tickets, regardless of whether they were single-trip or stored tickets. Several concessionary fares were available. Senior citizens and permanent residents above the age of 60 could travel on a flat fare S$0.50 during off-peak hours, namely from 10am to 4pm, and from 7pm onwards on weekdays, from 2.30pm onwards on Saturdays, and for the entire day on Sundays and public holidays. At all other times, standard adult fares were payable. Children below the height of 1.2 metres, and full time students studying in primary, secondary, Pre-university and VITB institutions can pay a flat fare of S$0.30 at any time of the day.
Magnetic strip plastic tickets were used, and came in various forms. The single trip ticket, coloured in green, has a validity on the day of purchase, as well as a time allowance of 30 minutes above the travelling time. Stored value tickets came in three values: The S$10 blue ticket for adults, the S$10 magenta tickets for senior citizens, and the S$5 red tickets for children. In addition, monthly concession tickets can also be purchased, and comes in four values: The beige coloured S$13 ticket for primary students, the peach coloured S$17 ticket for secondary, pre-university and VITB students, the pink coloured S$30 ticket for tertiary students, and the purple coloured S$36 ticket for full time national servicemen. These concession tickets have a validity of one month from the date of purchase, allows up to four trips per day, and are non transferable.
The EZ-Link
Card enables residents & foreign visitors alike to travel freely on the MRT, LRT & Bus system without the need for multiple cards, saving them both time & effort as they no longer need to figure out which card to use for which system. Commuters travelling on the MRT & LRT system are also not hindered when transferring lines (which could be run by different operators), by the need to exit the faregates and re-enter through another in order to change lines. In general, once one has tapped the EZ-Link
Card on the card readers and enters the MRT & LRT system, he or she never has to tap it again until he or she has arrived at the desired destination station.
Just released in 2007, the Singapore Tourist Pass, a variant of the EZ-Link
Card, offers tourists an entire day's of unlimited travel at S$8.
This is not always true on other metro systems in the world, where a commuter may have to exit the faregates in order to transfer to another line or system. For example, in New York City, if a commuter on the New York City Subway
system wishes to transfer to the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) metro system, he or she has to exit the faregates at a designated station on the New York City Subway and re-enter the faregates at the designated PATH station in order to make the transfer, and vice-versa, as there are no connections between the paid areas of both systems where the commuter can make the transfer.
These are the standard sized gates you would normally see at every station. Each gate features Sony and CEPAS contactless smart card readers and 2 central retractable flaps. They are also ergonomically designed & made of stainless steel. Furthermore, they also feature a 6.5 inch LCD/TFT monitor which is used to display information about the ticket used by the passenger passing through the gate, as well as LED displays which show the operating status of the gate (whether it is for entry or exit).
, and now have been rolled out to Bishan
and Newton
, the fourth generation "Titan" gates will eventually replace the first and second generation gates that have been in use for over 20 years. These new gates will be 10% more energy efficient with low energy LED displays, LCD displays and servo-motors. The faregates are much smaller and wider compared to the two types of old gates. They will also be able to differentiate between human and inanimate objects, as there is no more green arrow and red cross signs, all of which replaced by illuminated bars. Red pin-holed sensors are removed, replaced by black plastic. It also makes low-buzzing sounds when there is error.
, because it serves airport passengers who are likely to carry bulky hand luggage, all gates at this station are of the wide gate variety.
Today, the multi functional General Ticketing Machines have replaced their predecessors above for all of the passenger's ticketing needs. Through a touch screen monitor & a touch sensitive system map, these new generation of machines allow the passenger to reload the stored value in their EZ-Link Cards in cash (notes), through NETS & apply for automatic reload service through GIRO or VISA. Passengers can also purchase a Standard Ticket in cash (coins & notes), get a refund on their Standard Ticket deposit, check the value remaining in their EZ-Link Cards & view their past card transactions. 2 variations of the General Ticketing Machines are in use, differing only slightly in design as they are manufactured by different companies.
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger allowing him or her to make use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.-Uses:...
s on Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's Mass Rapid Transit
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
(MRT) system are currently aimed at least in breaking-even
Breakeven
In economics & business, specifically cost accounting, the break-even point is the point at which cost or expenses and revenue are equal: there is no net loss or gain, and one has "broken even"...
to at least compensate for their costs of running the system. The rail operators collect fares by selling
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
electronic
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
tickets capable of storing data, the price
Price
-Definition:In ordinary usage, price is the quantity of payment or compensation given by one party to another in return for goods or services.In modern economies, prices are generally expressed in units of some form of currency...
of which are calculated based on the distance between the start and destination stations. These prices increase in fixed stages for standard non-concession
Concession
Concession may refer to:* Concession : failure to challenge or cessation of challenging, as in "conceding an election" or "conceding a game".* Concession : a contracted-out service, as in concession stand....
ary travel. From the information that was earlier written in these tickets, it is possible to increase the fare according to increment
Increment
An increment is an increase of some amount, either fixed or variable. For example one's salary may have a fixed annual increment or one based on a percentage of its current value...
s based on approximate
Approximation
An approximation is a representation of something that is not exact, but still close enough to be useful. Although approximation is most often applied to numbers, it is also frequently applied to such things as mathematical functions, shapes, and physical laws.Approximations may be used because...
distance
Distance
Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are. In physics or everyday discussion, distance may refer to a physical length, or an estimation based on other criteria . In mathematics, a distance function or metric is a generalization of the concept of physical distance...
s between stations.
Stations on the MRT system are divided into two areas, paid and unpaid areas which allow the rail operators to collect needed fares by restricting entry only through the fare gate
Gate
A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port...
s, also as access control gates. These gates, connected to a computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
, are capable to the electronic tickets, and can store information such as the amount of time taken per trip, and the start and destination stations per trip. This will thus allow the rail operators to collect fares based on this information.
The General Ticketing Machines (GTMs) at each station allow commuters to purchase value additions for their tickets or purchase tickets for single trips. Tickets for single trips, coloured in green, are valid only on the day of purchase, and have a time allowance of 30 minutes above the estimated travelling time between the destination and starting stations. Tickets that could be used repeatedly until its expiry date required a minimum amount of money in order to purchase both a new ticket or additional value.
It is possible for passengers to extend a trip mid-journey, and pay the difference as they exit their destination station. Using distance-based prices stands in contrast to utilising fare zones in some other subway systems such as the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
.
Although operated by private companies, the system's fare structure is regulated by the Public Transport Council
Public Transport Council
The Public Transport Council is an independent regulatory statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of Singapore, established on 14 August 1987 by the Public Transport Council Act of 1987...
, with the operators submitting requests for fare revision for approval. Fares are kept affordable by approximately pegging them to distance-related bus fares, thus encouraging commuters to utilise the network and move away from past heavy reliance on the bus system. Recent fare increases in the past few years have raised the ire of the public. There were also similar expressions of disapproval over the slightly higher fares charged on SBS Transit
SBS Transit
SBS Transit Limited is a public transport operator in Singapore. Its major competitor in Singapore's duopoly transport system is SMRT Corporation, which also operates bus, rail, taxi and other transport services....
's lines, a disparity which SBS Transit justified by citing higher operational and maintenance costs, and lower ridership.
EZ-Link card adult fares
North South LineNorth South MRT Line
The North South Line was the 1st Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 44 km long with 25 stations, and is operated by SMRT Corporation...
and East West Line
East West MRT Line
The East West Line was the 2nd Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 49.2 km long with 35 stations , making it the longest MRT line in Singapore. It takes about 63 minutes to travel from one end to the other...
- 0km - >32km: S$0.71 - S$1.94
North East Line
North East MRT Line
The North East MRT Line is the third Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore and the world's second longest fully underground, automated and driverless, rapid transit line after Singapore's Circle MRT Line. The line is 20 km long with 16 stations and operated by SBS Transit. Travelling from one end...
and Circle Line
Circle MRT Line
The Circle Line is Singapore's fourth Mass Rapid Transit line, operated by SMRT Corporation. This underground line is currently long with 28 stations and is fully automatically operated...
- 0km - 40.2km: S$0.76 - S$2.19
EZ-Link card senior citizen fares
North South Line, East West Line- S$0.53 - S$0.86
North East Line and Circle Line
- S$0.57 - S$1.05
Standard ticket fares
North South Line, East West Line- 0km - >32km: S$1.00 - S$2.10
North East Line and Circle Line
- 0km - 30km: S$1.10 - S$2.30
Note
- Free travel for children 0.9m and below.
- S$0.30 early travel rebate apply when a passenger taps his EZ-Link card in at a fare gate at a SMRT station outside the city area and taps out at a SMRT station within the city area (Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Outram Park, Bugis, Lavender) before 7:45AM from Mondays to Fridays.
Tickets
Contactless smart cardContactless smart card
A contactless smart card is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits that can process and store data, and communicate with a terminal via radio waves. There are two broad categories of contactless smart cards. Memory cards contain non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps...
s replaced their magnetic ticket predecessors completely on 1 December 2002, making Singapore one of the first cities to implement contactless smart card payment on all the main modes of public transportation, along the likes of Hong Kong.
Magnetic farecards (1987 - 2002)
When the system first came into operation in 1987, fares on the Yio Chu KangYio Chu Kang MRT Station
Yio Chu Kang MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit station on the North South Line in Singapore.The station's architecture design theme is similar to Ang Mo Kio station, with brown granite walls and floors, except for the middle platform in Ang Mo Kio station, which this station does...
to Clementi
Clementi MRT Station
Clementi MRT Station ' is an above-ground MRT station in the west of Singapore. It is part of the East West Line.One of the older MRT stations in Singapore, Clementi MRT station was opened in 1988. The station is painted light blue, and with recent renovations a lift has been added for the benefit...
ranged from S$
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
0.50 to S$1.10 in S$0.10 increments for all adult tickets, regardless of whether they were single-trip or stored tickets. Several concessionary fares were available. Senior citizens and permanent residents above the age of 60 could travel on a flat fare S$0.50 during off-peak hours, namely from 10am to 4pm, and from 7pm onwards on weekdays, from 2.30pm onwards on Saturdays, and for the entire day on Sundays and public holidays. At all other times, standard adult fares were payable. Children below the height of 1.2 metres, and full time students studying in primary, secondary, Pre-university and VITB institutions can pay a flat fare of S$0.30 at any time of the day.
Magnetic strip plastic tickets were used, and came in various forms. The single trip ticket, coloured in green, has a validity on the day of purchase, as well as a time allowance of 30 minutes above the travelling time. Stored value tickets came in three values: The S$10 blue ticket for adults, the S$10 magenta tickets for senior citizens, and the S$5 red tickets for children. In addition, monthly concession tickets can also be purchased, and comes in four values: The beige coloured S$13 ticket for primary students, the peach coloured S$17 ticket for secondary, pre-university and VITB students, the pink coloured S$30 ticket for tertiary students, and the purple coloured S$36 ticket for full time national servicemen. These concession tickets have a validity of one month from the date of purchase, allows up to four trips per day, and are non transferable.
EZ-Link Card & Standard Ticket (2002 -)
- Main article: EZ-LinkEZ-LinkThe EZ-Link card is a contactless smart card based on the Sony FeliCa smartcard technology and used for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore, with limited use in the small payments retail sector...
The EZ-Link
EZ-Link
The EZ-Link card is a contactless smart card based on the Sony FeliCa smartcard technology and used for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore, with limited use in the small payments retail sector...
Card enables residents & foreign visitors alike to travel freely on the MRT, LRT & Bus system without the need for multiple cards, saving them both time & effort as they no longer need to figure out which card to use for which system. Commuters travelling on the MRT & LRT system are also not hindered when transferring lines (which could be run by different operators), by the need to exit the faregates and re-enter through another in order to change lines. In general, once one has tapped the EZ-Link
EZ-Link
The EZ-Link card is a contactless smart card based on the Sony FeliCa smartcard technology and used for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore, with limited use in the small payments retail sector...
Card on the card readers and enters the MRT & LRT system, he or she never has to tap it again until he or she has arrived at the desired destination station.
Just released in 2007, the Singapore Tourist Pass, a variant of the EZ-Link
EZ-Link
The EZ-Link card is a contactless smart card based on the Sony FeliCa smartcard technology and used for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore, with limited use in the small payments retail sector...
Card, offers tourists an entire day's of unlimited travel at S$8.
This is not always true on other metro systems in the world, where a commuter may have to exit the faregates in order to transfer to another line or system. For example, in New York City, if a commuter on the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
system wishes to transfer to the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) metro system, he or she has to exit the faregates at a designated station on the New York City Subway and re-enter the faregates at the designated PATH station in order to make the transfer, and vice-versa, as there are no connections between the paid areas of both systems where the commuter can make the transfer.
Access Control Gates
Access control gates found in Singapore's MRT stations have evolved in design & features over the years. 5 different series of gates have been used in the MRT stations. All series of these gates are still working side by side in the MRT system, although the 2 oldest generations of these gates in the MRT stations have had their magnetic farecard components removed & have been upgraded to accept contactless smart cards.First generation gates
- Originally accepted the now defunct magnetic farecards
- Upgraded to accept contactless smart cards in 2002
- VFG fare information display slanted at an angle for some units
- For most EWL/NSL stations
Second generation gates
- Originally accepted the now defunct magnetic farecards
- Upgraded to accept contactless smart cards in 2002
- LED front entry/exit only display
- VFD fare information display slanted at an angle for all units
- For selected EWL/NSL stations
Third generation gates
- For NEL stations, CCL stations and selected EWL/NSL stations
Fourth generation gates
Currently on trial at SomersetSomerset MRT Station
Somerset MRT Station ' is an underground station on the North South Line of the Mass Rapid Transit in Singapore, located under 313@Somerset Shopping Centre between Orchard Road and Somerset Road. It was upgraded in 2002, the first phase of station upgrading works on the system...
, and now have been rolled out to Bishan
Bishan MRT Station
Bishan MRT Station is a Singapore Mass Rapid Transit interchange station along the North South Line and the Circle Line that serves the Bishan community, especially that of Bishan East. The station is located in Central Singapore, along Bishan Road, close to the town centre of Bishan...
and Newton
Newton MRT Station
Newton MRT Station ' is a station on the North South Line in on the Mass Rapid Transit in Singapore. It is located along Scotts Road and is an underground station. It is the shallowest underground MRT Station on the North South and East West MRT Lines at just about 12m underground. Its livery is...
, the fourth generation "Titan" gates will eventually replace the first and second generation gates that have been in use for over 20 years. These new gates will be 10% more energy efficient with low energy LED displays, LCD displays and servo-motors. The faregates are much smaller and wider compared to the two types of old gates. They will also be able to differentiate between human and inanimate objects, as there is no more green arrow and red cross signs, all of which replaced by illuminated bars. Red pin-holed sensors are removed, replaced by black plastic. It also makes low-buzzing sounds when there is error.
First generation wide gates
- Accepts only contactless smart cards
- LED front entry/exit only display
- Fare information Liquid Crystal Display
- Ergonomically designed
- For most EWL/NSL stations
Second generation wide gates
Each gate features contactless smart card readers capable of reading type A, B and FeliCa cards and 2 central retractable flaps. They are also ergonomically designed & made of stainless steel. Furthermore, they also feature a 6.5 inch LCD/TFT monitor which is used to display information about the ticket used by the passenger passing through the gate, as well as LED displays which show the operating status of the gate (whether it is for entry or exit). These gates were designed for passengers with bulky luggage, prams, in wheelchairs or those who are disabled to use. These gates are much wider than the standard ones & feature 2 double retractable flaps. There will always be at least 1 in every station. For Changi Airport StationChangi Airport MRT Station
Changi Airport MRT Station was opened on 8 February 2002 as one of the terminal Mass Rapid Transit stations for the East West Line, and located in between Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. This is one of the four MRT stations that have fare gates on the same level as the...
, because it serves airport passengers who are likely to carry bulky hand luggage, all gates at this station are of the wide gate variety.
- For NEL stations, CCL stations and selected EWL/NSL stations
Ticketing Machines
In the early years, single trip magnetic tickets were purchased at Ticket Vending Machines with coins only. Notes could be broken up into small change at a separate change machine. Those holding magnetic multi trip farecards could only reload their cards with additional credit at manual service counters or a separate Add Value Machine.Today, the multi functional General Ticketing Machines have replaced their predecessors above for all of the passenger's ticketing needs. Through a touch screen monitor & a touch sensitive system map, these new generation of machines allow the passenger to reload the stored value in their EZ-Link Cards in cash (notes), through NETS & apply for automatic reload service through GIRO or VISA. Passengers can also purchase a Standard Ticket in cash (coins & notes), get a refund on their Standard Ticket deposit, check the value remaining in their EZ-Link Cards & view their past card transactions. 2 variations of the General Ticketing Machines are in use, differing only slightly in design as they are manufactured by different companies.
Change Machine (1987-1990s)
- Notes are inserted and small change provided for use at the Ticket Vending Machine
- For North South Line & East West Line
Add Value Machine (1990s-Present)
- Originally accepts magnetic farecards
- Accepts reload of card credit via NETS only
- Upgraded to accept contactless smart cards and LED displays
Ticket Vending Machine (1987 - 2002)
- Push button to select fare
- Accepts coins only
- For North South LineNorth South MRT LineThe North South Line was the 1st Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 44 km long with 25 stations, and is operated by SMRT Corporation...
& East West LineEast West MRT LineThe East West Line was the 2nd Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 49.2 km long with 35 stations , making it the longest MRT line in Singapore. It takes about 63 minutes to travel from one end to the other...
Touch Screen Ticket Vending Machine (Late 1990s - 2002)
- Touch screen to select fare
- Accepts coins only
- For North South LineNorth South MRT LineThe North South Line was the 1st Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 44 km long with 25 stations, and is operated by SMRT Corporation...
& East West LineEast West MRT LineThe East West Line was the 2nd Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 49.2 km long with 35 stations , making it the longest MRT line in Singapore. It takes about 63 minutes to travel from one end to the other...
General Ticketing Machines by Ascom (2002 -)
- Passenger selects destination station on a touch sensitive rail map and fare is automatically calculated
- For all EWL/NSL and CCL stations
- EZ-Link card is placed on an external reader to be read
General Ticketing Machines by Cubic (2003 -)
- Passenger selects destination station on a touch sensitive rail map and fare is automatically calculated
- For all NEL stations
- EZ-Link card is placed on an external reader to be read