Approximately 40% of households will be eligible for public transport vouchers following upcoming fare increases, marking an expansion of about 60,000 households compared to last year. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced that the income eligibility threshold for the vouchers has been raised from a per capita income of $1,800 to $2,100. Additionally, the voucher value will increase from $60 in 2025 to $80 per household.

These vouchers can be used to top up fare cards or purchase monthly passes once the fare hike takes effect on December 26. Households that qualified for vouchers in 2025 and continue to meet the income requirements will receive the vouchers automatically via postal or SMS notification. Starting in early 2027, households that meet the eligibility criteria but did not previously receive vouchers will be able to apply for them online or in person at community centres, with further details to be announced.

The fare adjustment, set for December 26, involves a 7% increase, adding up to 13 cents to bus and train fares for adult passengers. This increase is attributed to rising energy costs driven by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

At an annual fare review on September 29, the Public Transport Council (PTC) encouraged frequent commuters to use monthly passes as a way to manage expenses. The monthly pass price for adults will remain at $122, while senior citizens and individuals with disabilities will continue paying $55 for a hybrid monthly concession pass valid for both bus and train services. These prices are unchanged from 2025, allowing an estimated additional 110,000 commuters—around 4% of all public transport users—to benefit from switching to monthly passes after the fare hike. Monthly pass users currently total 126,000, accounting for approximately 5% of all public transport users.

Under the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme, the monthly pass price remains at $92, benefiting roughly 190,000 users or 7% of passengers. The PTC noted that monthly pass price reductions introduced in 2025 have resulted in adult fares decreasing from $128 to $122 and concession fares from $58 to $55.

The PTC highlighted that monthly passes provide frequent travellers an option to cap their monthly public transport spending. It is also exploring enhancements to the SimplyGo app to notify users when their total expenditure surpasses the cost of a monthly pass, covering students, national servicemen, adults, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Regarding the potential introduction of an automatic fare cap, PTC chair Janet Ang acknowledged challenges in ensuring fairness and efficiency, noting difficulties if the cap is set too high. Ang also stated that the possibility of including express bus fares within monthly passes is under study. PTC chief executive Leow Yew Chin explained that incorporating express bus fares would require cross-subsidization by other passengers who do not use express bus services.

As part of the fare increase process, public transport operators are mandated to contribute a portion of their additional fare revenue to the Public Transport Fund, which the government uses to finance the voucher scheme for lower-income households. For the current fare review, SBS Transit (SBST) Rail and SMRT Trains will contribute 30% of their projected fare increase revenue, totaling $23.94 million. SBST Rail’s contribution amounts to $8.07 million, while SMRT Trains will contribute $15.87 million.

SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai emphasized the operator’s commitment to providing reliable and safe services amid daily commuter demand, noting ongoing collaboration with the Land Transport Authority and industry partners. Grace Wu, a SBST spokeswoman, cited continuing cost pressures from high energy prices and a competitive labour market, stating that the fare adjustment will help manage these operational costs while maintaining service standards.