Earlier, most commuters of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system were dependent on paper tickets for travelling from one destination to another. It has been a long time, but finally, Singaporeans are adopting value cards or account-based ticketing systems to pay for their journeys. Recently, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that it will progressively stop the sale of limited-use paper tickets at MRT stations between January and March 2022.
Why LTA Has Decided to Stop the Sale of Paper Tickets
According to a survey by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), only 1 out of 1000 MRT rides is paid using the paper standard ticket.
Standard tickets were introduced when the MRT system began operations in 1987. This allowed commuters to pay for their rides. Now, most commuters are using EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards or account-based ticketing options. Standard paper tickets can be used only once. They are not a sustainable option when it comes to making Singapore a smart, green nation.
LTA will start with the Thomson-East Coast and Downtown lines and stop selling paper tickets in these lines from January 10, 2022. This will be followed by the Circle and North East lines on Feb 10, 2022, and the North-South and East-West lines on March 10, 2022.
“This will allow commuters who have limited cash on hand to top up, continue their journeys and enjoy the cost savings,” said the LTA.
In preparation for the actual phase-out of standard tickets, LTA conducted trials at Farrer Park and Lavender MRT stations in August 2021. The trials helped LTA and rail operators like SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit to gather information on the actual usage of paper tickets. Currently, LTA, Transit Link, and rail operators – SMRT and SBS Transit -are refining standard operating procedures for the planned phase-out of paper tickets from January-March 2022.
Benefits Commuters Will Get From This Phase-Out
LTA is lowering the minimum top-up amount for stored value cards like EZ-Links to $2. People will now save more money on each journey. For instance, a 3.2km MRT trip usually costs $1.70 with a standard paper ticket but only 92 cents if paid using stored value cards or account-based ticketing. Using stored value cards and an account-based ticketing system is convenient as well and saves time.
What Options You Have After the Scrapping of Paper Tickets
- Stored Value Cards – A stored value card is a type of electronic bank debit card that has a specific dollar value pre-loaded to it.
The EZ-Link card is the very first local contactless stored value card introduced in April 2002. You can use it for fare payments. NETS FlashPay is a multi-purpose stored value card that you can use for traveling on buses, the MRT and LRT, shopping, and more. If you want to shop, travel and save money, use Citibank-SMRT Credit Card. SMRT and Citibank provided card offers savings each time users shop and spend. Best of all, you can earn cash rewards each time the EZ-Reload function is used. Also, SMRT is removing old General Ticketing Machines with new energy-efficient Top-up Kiosks, expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Commenting on SMRT’s efforts to make MRT the most efficient and comfortable public transport system, SMRT Chairman, Seah Moon Ming, said: “We continue to contribute towards sustainable communities in our role as a public transport operator, by transporting commuters efficiently and making our network more inclusive for commuters.”
- Account-Based Ticketing: You can use this ticketless way of travelling when using the MRT system. You need to tap or scan using a secure token, which is linked to an account in the back office.
Conclusion
With the low usage of paper tickets, it was necessary to stop the sale of these tickets at MRT stations. Stored value cards and account-based ticketing options offer commuters more savings and convenience. LTA and rail operators will have to work together to make sure the planned phase-out of standard paper tickets goes smoothly.
About the Author
Jia Jihyun
Jia is a financial analyst in a leading company in Singapore. Being a frequent user of the public transport system in Singapore, she loves the fact that she can use convenient options like stored value cards and mobile wallets to pay for her rides. In her free time, she likes to share her views on sustainable initiatives taken by companies and the government.
