Transport Minister apologizes and outlines a S$40 million plan to maintain the older ticketing system.
SINGAPORE: The transition to the SimplyGo payment system for public transport, which was slated for June 1, 2024, has been reversed after Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat acknowledged it as a “judgment error.” The decision ensures that the card-based ticketing (CBT) system will remain operational until at least 2030.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) faced significant backlash for underestimating commuters’ strong preference for viewing fare deductions and card balances at station gates and bus card readers, a feature unavailable on SimplyGo cards. “This was a judgment error on our part, and I apologise to our commuters for what happened. We will learn from this and do better in the future,” said Mr. Chee in an interview on Friday (Jan 26).
A Costly Reversal
To keep the older ticketing system operational, an estimated S$40 million will be spent on purchasing new hardware, maintaining, and operating the infrastructure. The existing CBT system for adult commuters was nearing the end of its shelf life, pushing LTA to consider its discontinuation.
Mr. Chee clarified that this additional expenditure would be borne by the government and would not affect public transport fares. He emphasized the importance of respecting commuters’ feedback, even at a financial cost, stating, “This was not in line with what many commuters want.”
Three Systems in Play
For now, Singapore’s public transport system will operate three separate platforms:
SimplyGo: An account-based ticketing system.
CBT for adults: The older EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay card-based system.
CBT for concession cardholders: A separate system designed for seniors and other concession groups.
Efforts will be made to integrate the two CBT systems over time, and improvements to SimplyGo are being explored, particularly regarding displaying fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and card readers. However, Mr. Chee admitted that such a solution remains technically challenging and could lead to delays in commuter flow.
Consultation Concerns
The controversy highlighted shortcomings in the consultation process leading up to the January 9 announcement. Between 2020 and 2023, LTA engaged over 1,000 commuters in trials and focus group discussions. Yet, Mr. Chee acknowledged that a wider consultation could have revealed stronger resistance to removing the card balance feature.
“If we had consulted more widely… we would have come across the stronger reactions and preferences that some commuters had expressed,” he said.
What’s Next?
The future of the CBT system beyond 2030 remains uncertain. A decision will hinge on finding a technical solution to display fare details at gates without disrupting commuter flow.
In the meantime, Mr. Chee assured the public that lessons have been learned, with the aim to better balance innovation and user preferences in future policies.
