Fares and ticketing on Singapore's public transport system are aimed to break-even or exceed operating expenses. Public transport operators collect fares based on account-based (ABT) and card-based ticketing options, the prices of which are calculated based on the distances travelled between the origin and destination. These prices increase in stages for standard non-concessionary travel, according to the distances travelled. In account-based ticketing, the fare is automatically calculated in the back-end and charged to the passenger post journey. On the other hand, card-based ticketing is proprietary to the transport network and the fare is computed by the system based on the store values recorded in the cards. The public transit system is harmonising towards full ABT.
Stations on the MRT system are divided into two areas, paid and unpaid areas, which allows the rail operators to collect needed fares by restricting entry only through the fare gates, also known as access control gates. These gates, connected to a computer network, are able to read the electronic tickets, and can store information such as the amount of time taken per trip, and the start and destination stations of each trip. This allows the rail operators to collect fares based on this information.
Fares Although operated by private companies, the system's fare structure is regulated by the Public Transport Council (PTC), to which the operators submit requests for changes in fares.Land Transport Authority, Singapore 1996, pp. 58–59. Fares are kept affordable by pegging them approximately to distance-related bus fares, thus encouraging commuters to use the network and reduce heavy reliance on the bus system. A fare review is conducted every year, based on a formula that itself is reviewed every 5 years. Since 2021, fare formula has been revised such that there is no Network Capacity Factor (NCF) involved, but the NCF for 2021 only has January 2020 data. The formula takes into account the main factors affecting the cost of operating the public transport system, including the MRT and public buses. Fare increases have caused public concern, but fares have been reduced in 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Historically, fares on the fully underground North East, Circle, and Downtown lines had been higher than those of the North–South and East–West lines (NSEWL), a disparity that was justified by citing higher costs of operation and maintenance on a completely underground line. However, the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced in 2016 that fares for the three underground lines would be reduced to match those on the NSEWL, which took effect along with the annual fare review, on 30 December 2016.
After the opening of Downtown Line Stage 3, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced that public transport fare rules will be reviewed to allow for transfers across MRT lines at different stations due to the increasing density of the rail network. At the time, commuters were charged a second time when they made such transfers. He added that the PTC would review distance-based fare transfer rules to ensure they continue to facilitate "fast, seamless" public transport journeys. The review of distance-based fare rules on MRT lines was completed, and a waiver on the second boarding fee incurred when making such transfers was announced on 22 March 2018. The scheme was implemented on 29 December 2018.
Children under the age of 4 and below the height of 0.9m travels for free. Children under the age of 7 can travel for free using a child concession card.
After short-term concessionary travel expires, the following measures are being done:
Secondary school students progressing to ITE/Polytechnic will have the concessionary period extended for four more months upon completion of studies until they receive their ITE/Polytechnic Concession Card. Secondary school students will have the concessionary period extended for the entire duration if going to junior college/pre-university. ITE students from 1 January 2023 will continue to have concessionary fares extended for four more months until you pursue a full-time studies (e.g. Nitec to Higher Nitec, Higher Nitec to Work-Study Diploma or normal diploma). Graduating polytechnic students and A Level students after the expiry of concession will have to pay adult fares (and hence no concession fares for all university students), because male citizens are not allowed to defer to pursue degree courses and more than 90% of the undergraduates are eligible voters.
The only long-term concessionary travel is Passion Silver Card, Persons with Disabilities Card and Workfare Transport Concession Card.
Bus Fare TypeFaresAdultSenior CitizenPersons with DisabilitiesStudentWorkfare Transport ConcessionChildren under 0.9m/under age 7Feeder$1.28$0.69$0.52$0.78FREEBasic/Trunk$1.28 - $2.57$0.69 - $1.07$0.52 - $0.78$0.78 - $1.87FREEExpress$2.28 - $3.57$1.34 - $1.72$1.02 - $1.28$1.48 - $2.57FREEPremium$3.00 - $6.00
Transfer Rules In order for a valid transfer, the following conditions must be met:
All journeys must be within 2 hours of the first boarding (on the same journey). Maximum of 5 transfers can be made within a journey. 45 minutes for transfers between rail station and bus service, or between different bus services. 15 minutes for transfers between different rail stations. Current bus service must not be the same number as the preceding bus service. Terminating trip for dual-loop feeders service and transfer to its non-terminating trip at respective interchange will consist as a single trip. No exit and re-entry at the same station (15 minutes for transfer at Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Newton and Tampines stations).
Ticketing Main articles: EZ-Link, NETS, and CEPAS
Tickets Fares can be paid via stored value travel cards (e.g. EZ-Link), bank cards (e.g. credit/debit cards, mobile wallets), or tourist passes. The ticketing system is developed based on the Contactless e-Purse Application (CEPAS) standard. The Symphony for e-payment (SeP) is the backend processing and clearing system for public transit. "SeP 2.0" allows smartcards, credit card and debit card that complies with the CEPAS standard to be used within the system and a wide variety of payment applications. "SeP 2.0" has permitted EZ-Link, NETS, American Express (AMEX), Mastercard and VISA to provide for e-payment services.
The ticketing system currently utilises a mixture of Account-Based Ticketing (ABT), or "SeP 2.0", and legacy (non-ABT) card-based options. ABT has eliminated the need for top-ups.
Fares are charged based on commuters "tapping in" their payment cards, upon entering their mode of transport, at the origin or outset of the journey, and "tapping out" upon exit at the destination. The use of different cards during boarding and alighting, or the failure to tap out, will generally result in full or flat fare(s) charged to the user's account. Furthermore, fare evasion is subject to a penalty of S$50.
The current status of the ticketing methods for public transit are tabulated below:
CEPAS VersionMethods1 Features Authorised Sources Validity23.0 Credit CardAccount-based, transacts via contactless payment with a credit facility.Banks Stated on Card3.0 Debit CardAccount-based, transacts via contactless payment with a debit facility.BanksStated on Card3.0 ATM CardAccount-based, transacts via contactless payment with a bank account.BanksPer terms of service3.0 Mobile DevicesMobile payment via ApplePay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay or Garmin Pay with a compatible NFC enabled mobile device.E-wallet payment service providers Per terms of service2.0 (Purple/Blue) EZ-LinkCard-based, can be upgraded to SimplyGo at Station Machines5, tops up at Station Machines3 or ATMs, displays fares and balances at station gates or bus readers, permits retail and motoring use. Ticketing Offices and convenience stores (7–11)5 years from date of purchase3.0 (Yellow)Account-based, pairs with SimplyGo App, tops up at Station Machines or SimplyGo App4, auto top up via Giro, permits retail use.5 years from date of purchase2.0 (Purple/Blue) NETS FlashPayCard-based, can be traded in at Ticketing Offices for NETS Prepaid Card, tops up at Station Machines, ATMs, or NETS App, displays fares and balances at station gates or bus readers, permits retail and motoring use.Ticketing Offices, Convenience Stores (7–11, Cheers, Buzz), NETS customer service, Lazada and Shopee platforms.7 years from date of purchase.3.0 (Yellow) NETS PrepaidAccount-based, pairs with NETS App, tops up at Convenience Stores (7–11), NETS App or NETS website, permits retail use. Ticketing Offices, Convenience Stores (7–11, Cheers, Buzz), Airport & Ferry Terminals, Lazada and Shopee platforms.5 years from date of purchase2.0 (Purple/Blue) Concession Card Card-based, can be upgraded to SimplyGo at Station Machines, tops up at Station Machines3 or ATMs, displays fares and balances at station gates or bus readers, concessionary travel, or purchase of one month's unlimited rides for a discounted fee, as applicable to prescribed categories, permits retail and motoring use.Institutions (Primary, Secondary, ITE, JC and Polytechnic)Apply via SimplyGo app (Persons with Disabilities, Workfare Transport, Passion Silver, Adult Monthly Travel Card)Ticket office for card replacementTicket office by bringing birth certificate (Child Concession Card)Per eligibility status3.0 (Yellow)Account-based, pairs with SimplyGo App, tops up at Station Machines or SimplyGo App4, auto top up via Giro, permits retail use.Per eligibility status Tourist PassUnlimited rides for limited duration from date of first use. Rental fee is refundable if returned to the Ticketing Office within rental period; otherwise, may be retained as regular EZ-link card. Airport Terminals, Ticketing Offices (selected locations)Per terms of service Standard Ticket†Single trip fare ticketNot AvailablePhased out since 10 March 2022
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