No reason to raise bus and train fares
-
How much more, must all these daily costs go up?
======================================
No reason to raise bus and train fares
Aug 03, 2006
The Straits Times
I NOTE with apprehension that SBS Transit and SMRT have applied for bus- and train-fare hikes.
I don't understand why SMRT and SBS Transit have decided to raise fares when SMRT registered operating profits of $68.9 million in 2004 and $70 million in 2005 on its bus and MRT services. SBS Transit, too, enjoyed healthy operating profits, of $52.6 million (2004) and $57.15 million (2005). Both companies enjoyed operating margins in excess of 10 per cent in both years.
According to Statistics Singapore, residents in lower-income households and smaller HDB flats and holding jobs of a lower status rely more heavily on public transport; 4.8 per cent of working people with monthly incomes below $2,000 commute to work by car, as compared to 43.7 per cent of their counterparts earning $8,000 and above in 2005.
According to Statistics Singapore, working commuters who switch between MRT and buses take on average 51 minutes to journey to their destination vis-?-vis 27 minutes for their car-commuting counterparts.
A fare hike will hit lower-income groups harder, and raise income inequality as well as inflation.
Although attempts to counteract this have been targeted at the lowest income groups, there will always be a marginal group that lies just above the cut-off line for assistance.
A higher income inequality means that while the economy develops, the lower-income groups do not get a share of the progress.
People in Singapore, a densely populated country, rely heavily on public transport to commute, leading to less traffic congestion. The social benefits of having low-priced and efficient public transport are thus enormous.
Huang Junxiang -
Let so some simple math here,
Assuming they raise the fare by 2 cent,
assuming average person take 4 bus rides a day that will = to 8 cents a day
Mult that by 365 day = $29.2 a years
Assuming out of the 4m population, only 2.5m take bus daily
That will add up to a cool 73m of revenue yearly.
WTF, 2 cents can result in 73m yearly.
The reason for fare increase is increasing fuel cost and operating cost, I think that is a lame reason, Dun they know how to do forward future hedging to keep fuel cost managable.
Haiz... it appear the only way to hedge against fares increase is to buy share into Comfort Delgo, SBS transit and Smrt. -
strong mandate
-
I would say they wouldnt need a reason. Just need an excuse.
-
Here we go again with the arguments...
Problem is, consumers have no power. -
well said, strong mandate.
as we all know, after election everything gona go up except your salary.
what the #$%#$% -
Everything go up except for Salary and rebates...
More good years ahead.
Thank you -
yay! more good years ahead...
-
Isn't it you people who gave them the 'strong mandate'?
If you are not happy about what's going on, then do something about it.
-
what can we do?
sigh..
oppressed..
indignant.
yet powerless.
the results of a monopoly. -
What can we do ?
Boycott the buses and the MRT.
Use our cars less.
Ride a bicycle to work - for the sake of our heart and muscles - and live a longer life.
If too lazy to work out on a bicycle, buy a scooter bike - even if it only a small engine capacity.
Change Singapore into a 2-wheeler paradise. -
Fark PapOriginally posted by ceciltan:Let so some simple math here,
Assuming they raise the fare by 2 cent,
assuming average person take 4 bus rides a day that will = to 8 cents a day
Mult that by 365 day = $29.2 a years
Assuming out of the 4m population, only 2.5m take bus daily
That will add up to a cool 73m of revenue yearly.
WTF, 2 cents can result in 73m yearly.
The reason for fare increase is increasing fuel cost and operating cost, I think that is a lame reason, Dun they know how to do forward future hedging to keep fuel cost managable.
Haiz... it appear the only way to hedge against fares increase is to buy share into Comfort Delgo, SBS transit and Smrt. -
Well, that's not surprising rite? 'They' give some (in form of Progress package) and take more (everything else increase in price). They still gain
-
Isn't it you people who gave them the 'strong mandate'?
If you are not happy about what's going on, then do something about it.
most of us cant vote due to walkover. those who can already do something about it otherwise where do you think the 30%+ of the vote for the opposition come from? -
all strike for 1 day
-
KNN, the request for fare increase shld be pegged to these tpt companies KPI.
All the nonsense of fuel cost increase is not good enough justification for fare increase.
The mobile TV is waste of money, half the time, its a nuisance to me & disrupt my peaceful sleep. The other half of the time, its not working.
The bus that I take to work, day in day out, old and creaky and no air con ~ still tok abt providing first class svc. Bus frequency is f*** up, even ppl's period is more regular than the stupid bus frequency.
If all our pay are incresaingly pegged to KPIs, the same thing shld apply to these tpt companies ~ they must justify their increase with results -i.e. meeting of service KPIs. Don't forget, these are supposed to be public services...and stop using fuel cost increase as reasons to increase fares, these are part and parcel of business risks.
Does that mean if oil prices slump overnight, we can got PTC and apply for fare decrease ?
I am confirm, this won't happen...NB.... -
It's called inflation for delivering the same basic transport service.
There are no valid grounds to raise bus and train fares this year (because fuel prices have gone up) when transport companies have been making huge profits in the earlier years (when fuel prices were low).
To raise fares is simply to maintain high profits.
-
PAP.... PAY AND PAY!!!!! EVERYDAY PAY AND PAY...!!!,SALARY AND CPF NEVER INCREASED. 
-
Most of the Millionaire Poodle are directors or major shareholders of the transport company.
They are just reaping the rewards for the next four years.
They dun have to justify and take care of the low income family.
They dun have any social responsibility at all.
It is just wishful thinking of the people to expect the Millionaire Poodle to think for the people.
They are thinking about the people - Rich ones and themselves.
Just look at the light on the Potong Pasir MRT, once the show is over, wayang is over even though he owns the lane, so much for serving the people.
Lucky for the PP People, they did not elect this wayang DOG as their leader. -
Its just an excuse to increase their profits. Oil price increase so must increase our fare, then when oil price drop?? Use the money to improve their "service". And since when did they care about what we think?
excuses, excuses, excuses.
-
Its just an excuse to increase their profits. Oil price increase so must increase our fare, then when oil price drop?? Use the money to improve their "service". And since when did they care about what we think?
excuses, excuses, excuses. -
i read today's zao bao got pple complain SBS buses aircon lousy. now still wan to increase price. chay....
-
Yes, they said very small increase only but multiply by the large number of commuters the increase in revenue is quite substantial.Originally posted by ceciltan:Let so some simple math here,
Assuming they raise the fare by 2 cent,
assuming average person take 4 bus rides a day that will = to 8 cents a day
Mult that by 365 day = $29.2 a years
Assuming out of the 4m population, only 2.5m take bus daily
That will add up to a cool 73m of revenue yearly.
WTF, 2 cents can result in 73m yearly.
The reason for fare increase is increasing fuel cost and operating cost, I think that is a lame reason, Dun they know how to do forward future hedging to keep fuel cost managable.
Haiz... it appear the only way to hedge against fares increase is to buy share into Comfort Delgo, SBS transit and Smrt.
Unfortunately those who are most affected are unable to hedge against the hikes as they don't have the means to buy the transport companies' shares. -
Taxis and buses if I not wrong run on disel, and the price rises for diesel nowehere as bad as petrol. they just being greedy and want to increase profit.
but guess 66.6% of the population does not mind hahahah. -
why must public transportation provided by a private company?
