New Standard Ticket Scheme Offers Savings And Convenience For Passengers
SINGAPORE (25 July, 2012) – From 1 November 2012, passengers will be able to purchase a new Standard Ticket at upgraded General Ticketing Machines1 (GTMs).
The new Standard Ticket is being introduced as part of GTM enhancements. As the current GTMs are due for upgrade, this is a good time to improve the features of the GTM and the Standard Ticket that the machine dispenses.
Enhancements to the new Standard Ticket scheme took in survey results conducted in August 20102 to better understand ticket user profiles and to elicit improvements that can be made to the Standard Ticket scheme. A key benefit of the new Standard Ticket is that it removes the need for ticket users to return to the GTM to obtain the $1 deposit after each trip. This will help reduce the number of passengers who need to queue at the GTMs.
Features and benefits of the new Standard Ticket
With the new Standard Ticket, a lower deposit of 10 cents will be required instead of the current $1. As the new Standard Ticket can be used up to six times within 30 days from the date of purchase, the deposit of 10 cents will be automatically returned through an off-set against the passenger's fare on the third trip to encourage passengers to reuse the ticket. As a further incentive and to minimize wastage of the standard tickets, a discount of 10 cents will be given for the sixth trip. Presently, passengers have to buy a new standard ticket for each trip with no discount given and a higher deposit.
In addition, passengers using the new Standard Ticket can choose to buy a 'Return Trip'3 in addition to a 'Single Trip'. A maximum of two trips can be bought on the card at a time. Similar to today, trips bought on the Standard Ticket are valid for use on the date of ticket purchase and on the MRT/LRT. Presently, only a single trip can be bought on the Standard Ticket.
Example of how the new Standard Ticket scheme works:
| 1st trip | If the fare for the first trip is $1, the passenger will need to pay $1.10. This comprises the $1 travel fare and the 10 cents deposit. |
| 2nd trip | Passenger pays amount as per the travel fare for the second trip. |
| 3rd trip | If the fare is $1, the passenger will only pay 90 cents as the deposit of 10 cents will be automatically returned through an off-set against passenger's fare on their third trip. |
| 4th trip | Passenger pays amount as per the travel fare for the fourth trip. |
| 5th trip | Passenger pays amount as per the travel fare for the fifth trip. |
| 6th trip | If the fare for the sixth trip is $1, the passenger will only need to pay 90 cents due to the 10 cents discount given for the sixth trip. |
TransitLink will publicise the new Standard Ticket scheme at MRT/LRT stations through posters and brochures, and on its corporate website www.transitlink.com.sg closer to the date of implementation.
Features and benefits of upgraded GTMs
The upgraded GTMs will have larger screens to make it easier for passengers, especially senior citizens, to read them. In addition, passengers can opt to select their destination by 'Station Name' on top of the current 'Rail Map' option. With the new zoom function, passengers can choose to have a closer view of the names of the stations when using the 'Rail Map' option.
What passengers need to do
Cash and NETS top-up services for the stored value transit cards and concession cards will continue to be available at all GTMs. However, as GTMs that are being upgraded will not be able to dispense the Standard Ticket, passengers who need to purchase the Standard Ticket are advised to use alternative GTMs.
The GTMs will be progressively upgraded from 1 August 2012, with each MRT/LRT station to have an upgraded GTM by 1 November this year. By May 2013, all GTMs will be upgraded.
The new Standard Ticket will be available from 1 November 2012 when all MRT/LRT stations would have an upgraded GTM. As more GTMs are upgraded, passengers will be able to purchase the new Standard Ticket at more machines.
The full cut-over to the new Standard Ticket will take place in March 2013, when the sales and use of the current Standard Ticket will be discontinued. An announcement for the full cut-over to the new Standard Ticket will be made one month ahead of the date. After the cut-over, the current Standard Ticket cannot be used for travel on the MRT/LRT. However, Standard Ticket holders can still get a refund of any remaining value in the ticket within 3 days from the date of purchase and refund of the $1 deposit within 30 days from the date of purchase at any MRT station Passenger Service Centre.
1 The GTMs will be progressively upgraded from 1 August 2012 to enable the GTMs to dispense the new paper Standard Ticket. The new ticket will be progressively available from 1 November 2012.
2 About 5,040 Standard Ticket users were surveyed and comprised of tourists (56%), Singaporeans/ permanent residents (32%) and work permit holders (12%). Based on anecdotal evidence, most Singaporeans/permanent residents and work permit holders have a stored value card and buy a Standard Ticket on occasions when they forget to bring their card; or travel on rail occasionally and thus prefer to use a Standard Ticket.
3 The 'Return Trip' option provides commuters who plan to travel back to the same origin station the choice to buy two trips at the same time. For commuters who purchase the return trip, but decide not to return to a different station, they can still use the ticket by making a fare upgrade at the MRT station Passenger Service Centre if the fare paid is lesser than value of the return trip. In the case that the fare paid is more than the value of the return trip, there will be no refund of the price difference. For unused trip, passengers can approach the MRT station to get a refund of the fare.
Annex A: Photograph of the new paper Standard Ticket
Annex B: Visuals of User Interface of upgraded General Ticketing Machine
| New Features of upgraded GTMs | |
| Welcome Screen |  |
| Buy Ticket > Map |
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| Buy Ticket > Station Name |
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| Buy Standard Ticket > Single Trip/ Return Trip |  |
About Transit Link Pte Ltd
Transit Link Pte Ltd was incorporated on 16 November 1987 and became a subsidiary of the Land Transport Authority on 30 April 2010.
TransitLink is the transit merchant acquirer for Singapore's public transport system. It processes transit transactions and apportions revenue to the Public Transport Operators. In addition, it acts as an agent for card managers, providing card sales, refunds and replacements. As a master load agent, TransitLink provides transit top-up services for all card managers in Singapore.
Website: www.transitlink.com.sg
Contact Persons:
Transit Link Pte Ltd
Ms Corrine Ng
Vice President, Corporate & Marketing Communications
Tel: (65) 6236 6610
Email: Corrine_Ng@transitlink.com.sg
Ms Maureen Lim
Executive, Corporate & Marketing Communications
Tel: (65) 6236 6612
Email: Maureen_Lim@transitlink.com.sg