SMRT increase late night bus fare

[MarrickG]

PUBLIC transport operator SMRT has raised the fare of all seven of its special late night bus services from $3.50 to $4.

The increase, which took effect last Wednesday, put the fare on a par with that of the six late night bus services run by the other public transport operator, SBS Transit.

The fare increase follows the Public Transport Council's announcement last month that the annual public transport fare adjustment will be deferred from mid-year to until after the last two stretches of the MRT Circle Line open in the fourth quarter of this year.

That fare review covers feeder, trunk and express bus services, as well as MRT and LRT trains, but excludes special late night bus services.

Some analysts say raising the fare of special late night bus services could be a way for transport companies to meet rising operating costs before the annual fare adjustment is approved, in addition to increasing rental rates for shop space in MRT stations.

An SMRT spokesman told The Straits Times on Monday: 'While we continue to manage our operating costs, we have adjusted fares for NightRider services from $3.50 to $4 in view of an inflationary and higher operating cost environment, which includes higher energy prices.'