Rush hour riders down 9% post free MRT trip scheme's debut

Too early to see full impact.

According to the Land Transport Authority, the government's free travel trial drew encouraging results with data indicating a decrease of about 9% of commuters exiting the designated city stations during the peak period between 8.00am and 9.00am today, compared to the average daily figures for the first three weeks of June 2013.

Travel patterns typically take time to stabilise, as employers and employees make adjustments in workplace and personal arrangements, and there may be daily fluctuations as well. The LTA will therefore continue to monitor the change in travel patterns over the next few months before drawing any conclusions as to the effectiveness of the trial.

To create awareness about the free travel trial, banners and posters have been put up in all MRT stations and major transport nodes. Train hangers are also available on the trains for commuters to pick-up and take with them for easier reference. More recently, television interstitials to inform public of the free travel trial are being aired on major free-to-air channels.