Downtown Line 2 opening heralds bus, train fare rollback

Fares will be down by 1.9% in December.

More good news are coming for commuters as fares are expected to go down by as much as 1.9% and more trains will be added for service on the Circle Line (CCL) for shorter waits and less crowded rides.

Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced that the bus and train fare rollback will take place at the end of 2015 instead of April next year as it is "more convenient" to tick the fare once instead of twice.

Three to five new trains are also expected to be added by the end of this year, increasing the capacity of CCL by 60%.

"Average peak-hour headways will improve from 3.5 minutes to about 2.7 minutes. During off-peak periods, commuters can expect to wait no more than 5 minutes for trains on the CCL, an improvement from up to 7 minutes wait today," a report from LTA said.

Yew also said the cut back rate would be determined by the PTC, and that they would take into account "every commuter group".

Meanwhile, the LTA and SMRT has ensured commuters that the new trains have been fully tested to guarantee their safety.

“After the tests are completed, the new trains are first put into service during off-peak hours before being progressively introduced for peak-hour service,” the report said.

“These trains are part of LTA’s continuous efforts to add more capacity to the system so that commuters can enjoy a better travel experience. LTA will continue to monitor the ridership along the various rail lines and work with the operators to augment the capacity and meet the long-term projected demand,” the report added.