SINGAPORE : Will public transport commuters have to brace themselves for another round of fare increases?
August 1 is the deadline for the two operators to submit any such proposals to the Public Transport Council.
SMRT has said it will be making such an application, against a background of spiralling fuel costs.
But Comfort DelGro has yet to make an official announcement, although it had previously been reported as saying it would probably apply for a rise when the time comes.
Commuters' views are clear.
In an online poll conducted by Channel NewsAsia, 66 percent of the more 2,000 people who had responded by 5pm on Monday felt the increase was not justified, since the companies were not making losses.
Comfort DelGro posted net earnings of about S$200 million last year, while SMRT made about S$100 million.
Thirty percent agreed with a price increase - if it was accompanied by better service.
The Public Transport Council recently announced new service standards that the big two bus operators would have to adhere to.
The only silver lining here is that if hikes are asked for and granted, the increases should be smaller.
Last year, a new formula that reflects economic conditions was introduced.
Then, the hike was capped at 2.4 percent, which meant a one to ten cent increase; this time, any increase will be capped at 1.7 percent, which means a couple of cents’ increase, if approved.
What do you all think and feel about this?
hmm....it was reported, i think Today/ST paper, that sbst net profit last year is 55million and smrt is 27million. For sbst, they give excuse because need to buy buses that catered to disable people and quoted 150million. The hardest hit would be people paying cash as need to fork out extra 10 cents. Now also got reason to say oil price increase. what to do? they are private organisations not publicly owned...guess they would have increased more if there's no cap. But i hope that if they have more profits maybe can have few months of reduced prices to help those in need...
