Public transport fares in Singapore will increase by 12 to 13 cents per journey for adult card users starting December 26, 2026, marking a record increase in cash terms and extending a continuous series of annual fare increases. This fare adjustment represents the sixth consecutive year of public transport fare increases in Singapore, stretching back annually to 2021. The Public Transport Council announced on September 29, 2026, that adult commuters travelling up to 3.2 kilometers will pay 12 cents more per journey, while those travelling farther will see a 13-cent increase. Overall, public transport fares will increase by 7 per cent, which is higher than the 5 per cent increase implemented in 2025 and surpasses the 10 to 11 cent increase recorded in 2023. Concession cardholders, including students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, will see a 5-cent increase per journey. Cash fares will rise by 20 cents for adults and 10 cents for concession groups, though less than 1 per cent of journeys are paid for in cash. Card fares for lower-wage workers under the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme will remain unchanged, with the government absorbing the increase for about 190,000 cardholders.
The PTC stated that the fare formula output was driven by a substantial increase in energy prices between July 2025 and June 2026 due to conflicts in the Middle East, with energy costs rising sharply by 21 per cent in the past year. Under the fare adjustment formula, the 2026 output generated was 5.3 per cent. Combined with a 9.4 percentage-point roll-over carried forward from previous consecutive fare review exercises, the maximum allowable fare adjustment was 14.7 per cent. Both SBS Transit Rail and SMRT Trains had applied for the full 14.7 per cent increase, citing rising energy costs and a competitive labor market. However, the PTC granted a 7 per cent increase and deferred the remaining 7.7 percentage points to future annual reviews to cushion the financial impact on commuters.
Prices for all monthly passes will remain unchanged, benefiting around 126,000 existing pass holders. Over the course of these successive annual fare hikes, monthly pass sales have more than doubled from 56,000 in 2023 to 126,000 in 2026, with average monthly savings rising from 11 dollars to 26 dollars per user. The PTC estimates that another 110,000 commuters could save money by switching to a monthly hybrid pass, which offers unlimited travel on basic bus and train services. Commuters are encouraged to use the SimplyGo app to evaluate their travel spending.
To mitigate the cumulative impact of six consecutive years of fare increases, the government is allocating an additional 15 million dollars for public transport vouchers, raising the total voucher amount from 60 dollars to 80 dollars per eligible household. The income eligibility ceiling will also be raised from a monthly household income per person of 1,800 dollars to 2,100 dollars, allowing about four in 10 households, including 60,000 additional households to qualify. The vouchers will be distributed in two stages starting at the end of December 2026 and early 2027, remaining valid until March 31, 2028.
Public transport operators SBS Transit Rail and SMRT Trains are required to contribute 30 per cent of their expected increase in fare revenue totaling 23.94 million dollars to the Public Transport Fund. The 7 per cent fare adjustment will generate approximately 176.9 million dollars in additional annual revenue, with 26.9 million dollars going to SBS Transit Rail, 52.9 million dollars to SMRT Trains, and 97.1 million dollars to the Land Transport Authority for bus services and the Thomson-East Coast Line. To cover the deferred 7.7 percentage point increase, the government will provide an additional subsidy of close to 200 million dollars for 2027, on top of more than 2 billion dollars in annual operating subsidies and 5 billion dollars in annual capital expenditure.
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