Fare Review Exercise 2025

PTC grants overall fare adjustment of 5.0% - below the maximum allowable quantum of 14.4%; deferment of remaining quantum (9.4%) supported by additional Government subsidies
 
Prices of monthly passes for adults, workfare transport concession cardholders, seniors, and persons with disabilities reduced by up to 5%
 
No increase in fares for short-distance journeys (up to 3.2km) for about 2 million concession card holders; 3-4 cents increase for journeys longer than 3.2 km. This is lower than last year’s increase of 4 cents per journey
 
Adult commuters will pay 9-10 cents more per journey, lower than last year’s increase of 10 cents per journey
 
Express bus card fare differential over basic bus fares will increase by 40 cents for adults and 20 cents for concession groups
 
All adjustments will take effect on 27 December 2025

1        For the 2025 Fare Review Exercise (FRE), the output from the fare adjustment formula is 1.5%. Over the past three years, the Public Transport Council (PTC) has moderated the fare increase to reduce the impact on commuters, despite sustained increases in costs of public transport operations. This has led to a deferred fare quantum of 12.9% from previous FREs. After the deferred fare quantum is added to the fare adjustment formula output for this year, the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum for FRE 2025 is 14.4%, lower than the 18.9% for FRE 2024.

2        The PTC understands that cost of living remains a concern for Singaporeans. To cushion commuters from the full fare increase, PTC has decided to grant an overall fare increase of 5.0% for this year, below the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum of 14.4%. This will reduce the deferred fare quantum to 9.4% (from 12.9%), which will be considered at future FREs. This helps keep fare changes manageable for commuters, and also reduces the deferred fare quantum to be carried over.

3        To cover the deferred fare adjustment quantum, the Government has agreed to provide an additional subsidy of more than $200 million in 2026. This is on top of the annual operating subsidies of $2 billion for public transport and additional government funding of close to $1 billion over 8 years (from 2024 to 2032) for the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme. This additional Government subsidy will help to moderate the fare increase, while still accounting for the higher costs of public transport provision.

4        For basic bus and rail services, adult card fares will increase by 9-10 cents per journey, lower than last year’s increase of 10 cents per journey. Concession card fares for journeys on all basic bus and rail services up to 3.2 km will be kept unchanged. This will benefit concession cardholders who are dependent on public transport for short trips to school, work or nearby amenities. More than one-third (about 450,000) of journeys paying concession fares are currently 3.2 km or shorter, and will benefit from fares kept at the same level. For journeys longer than 3.2km, concession card fares will increase by 3-4 cents. This is also lower than last year’s increase of 4 cents per journey for concession cardholders.

5        Per journey cash fares will increase by 5 cents for students, 10 cents for seniors and persons with disabilities, and 20 cents for adults and other commuters. This reflects the higher operating costs of cash handling. Less than 1% of all public transport journeys were paid in cash, and cash fares were last adjusted in 2023.

Helping heavy public transport users with reduced cost of monthly passes

6        Currently, adult commuters and concession cardholders can cap their monthly public transport expenditure by purchasing monthly passes.  PTC will reduce the prices of monthly passes for adults and seniors by up to 5%[1], and notes that the Government will similarly reduce the prices of monthly passes for workfare transport concession cardholders and persons with disabilities[2], benefitting about 155,000 commuters in total. PTC will also maintain the prices for all other monthly passes. To mitigate the impact of the fare increase on heavy users of public transport, PTC encourages more adults and concession cardholders who use public transport frequently to consider buying monthly passes to cap their public transport expenses.

Adjustments to fares for express bus services

7        PTC has also decided to adjust the fares for express bus services. Express bus services are subject to higher fares than basic bus services as they provide commuters with a differentiated service in the form of faster journeys from the heartlands to city areas and key employment centres as compared to basic bus services.

8        The difference in fares between express and basic bus services has not been adjusted since distance-based fares were introduced in 2010, at $0.60 for adults, and $0.30 to $0.50 for concession groups.

9        To better reflect the higher costs of providing express bus services[3] and improve the financial sustainability of our bus services, PTC has decided to increase the fare difference for express bus services over basic adult bus and train fares by $0.40 for adults and $0.20 for concession groups, for payments made by card. For payments by cash on express bus services, where all commuter groups pay the same fares, the fares will be increased by $0.60.

10      The fare adjustments, which are applicable from 27 December 2025, are summarised as follows:

Targeted support for lower-income households in the form of Public Transport Vouchers

11        In tandem with the fare increase, PTC will require SBS Transit Rail and SMRT Trains to contribute 20% of their expected increase in revenue – a total of $10.65 million (SBS Transit Rail: $3.52 million; SMRT Trains: $7.13 million) to the Public Transport Fund. This is in addition to financial penalties imposed on public transport operators which are paid into the Fund. 

12      To cushion the impact of the fare increase, PTC has also recommended that the Government draw on the Public Transport Fund to provide further assistance to lower-income resident households in the form of Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs). For FRE 2025, PTC is heartened to know that the Government will continue to make available PTVs worth $60 each to eligible households.

Balancing Fare Affordability and Financial Sustainability

13      Over the past decade, the share of monthly household income spent on public transport has remained low and ranged from 2.4% to 3.1% for the second decile of household income (representing the lower-income commuter group) and from 1.7% to 2.2% for the second quintile of household income (representing the average commuter group). PTC will continue to monitor household expenditure on public transport, to balance fare affordability with the financial sustainability of the public transport system.

14        “The Public Transport Council recognises that any fare adjustment can be challenging for commuters, but it is a necessary step to ensure that our public transport system remains financially sustainable amid rising manpower, operations and maintenance costs.

           Similar to past years, PTC has decided not to grant the maximum allowable fare quantum in order to moderate the financial impact of fare increases on commuters. With a 5% fare increment this year, we are gradually reducing the deferred quantum from last year's 12.9% to 9.4%. PTC is heartened that the Government has agreed to provide an additional subsidy of more than $200 million this coming year to cover the deferred quantum. We remain committed to supporting those who need help most. We are implementing zero fare increase for short-distance journeys for concession groups. The price of monthly concession passes for adults, workfare transport concession cardholders, seniors, and persons with disabilities is reduced by up to 5% to support and encourage heavy public transport users to better manage their public transport travel costs.

          As always, PTC takes a balanced approach in the fare review exercise to enable us to support the enhancement and growth of the public transport network, while ensuring that public transport remains accessible, affordable, and sustainable for everyone.” said Ms Janet Ang, Chairperson, Public Transport Council.

[1] Monthly passes for adults and seniors will be reduced by $6 and $3 respectively.

[2] Concessions and monthly passes for lower-wage workers and persons with disabilities are fully-funded by the Government. Monthly passes for lower-wage workers and persons with disabilities will be reduced by $4 and $3 respectively.

[3] Express bus services are distinct from premium bus services which are operated by private bus operators on a purely commercial basis outside the Bus Contracting Model. Fares for these privately-operated premium bus services average around $4 to $5, higher than that of the express bus services operated by public transport operators.

Annex A: Factsheet for Fare Review Exercise 2025

Annex B: Bus and Train Fares

Download PTC FRE Annex A & B [PDF, 395 KB]