Press Release

Full Cut-Over To New Standard Ticket Scheme From 1 March 2013

SINGAPORE, 27 FEBRUARY 2013 – The new Standard Ticket scheme, which has been progressively implemented since November 2012 is now operational island-wide. The full cut-over to the new Standard Ticket will take place on 1 March 2013. Passengers will not be able to purchase or use the current Standard Ticket for travel on the MRT/LRT after this date.

Current Standard Ticket holders can get a refund of any remaining unused 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.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF THE NEW STANDARD TICKET

A key benefit of the new Standard Ticket is that it removes the need for ticket users to return to the General Ticketing Machine (GTM) to obtain the $1 deposit after each trip. The new Standard Ticket requires a lower deposit of 10 cents and can be used up to six times within 30 days from the date of purchase. The deposit of 10 cents is automatically returned through an off-set against the passenger’s fare on the third trip to encourage passengers to reuse the ticket.
To further incentivise passengers to reuse the standard ticket and minimize wastage, a discount of 10 cents is given for the sixth trip. Presently, passengers using the current standard ticket have to buy a new ticket for each trip, with no discount given.
Passengers using the new Standard Ticket can also choose to buy a ‘Return Trip’[1] 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. The current Standard Ticket allows only a single trip to be bought on each 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.

Information on the new Standard Ticket scheme is available at all MRT/LRT stations through posters and brochures as well as on the TransitLink website at www.transitlink.com.sg.

NEW STANDARD TICKET AVAILABLE AT UPGRADEDGeneral Ticketing Machines

By May 2013, all GTMs will be upgraded. The GTMs will feature 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.

[1] The ‘Return Trip’ option provides commuters who plan to travel back to the same original station the choice to buy two trips at the same time. For commuters who purchase the return trip, but decide not to return to the original 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 the 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 the unused trip, passengers can approach the MRT station to get a refund of the fare.

Annex A: Visual of the new Standard Ticket

Standard Ticket