Utilising Distance Fares Scheme

Distance fares benefit commuters who travel long distances as the total fare is computed based on the total distance travelled. However, some people do not utilise it correctly. I strongly recommend you to check on how distance fares works and my post on planning your public transport trip. By doing so, you would be able to find the cheapest or fastest route to your destination.

Here are some of the important points taken from PublicTransport@SG site which I believed most of the commuters ignored or find it difficult to understand.

To fully enjoy the benefits of Distance Fares, remember these points:

• Pay with an EZ-Link or NETS Flashpay stored value card 
• You may make up to 5 transfers within a single journey, with a 45-minute allowance between each transfer 
• You can take up to 2 hours to complete your journey 
• You should enter and exit the train network only once in a journey
• You should not take the same bus service number more than once in a journey

In this article, I will show you some of the scenarios that can save money for you based on the above points.

Scenario 1

Peter stays in Compassvale Street and wants to go to Sengkang interchange to buy food back home.

Usual route he took

Board LRT from Compassvale station and alights at Sengkang station. Distance 0.8 km and fare S$0.73.
Within 45 minutes, he has to board LRT from Sengkang station and alights at Compassvale station. Distance 0.8 km and fare S$0.73.

Total distance would be 1.6 km and total fare calculated to be S$1.46.

Suggested route
Board LRT from Compassvale station and alights at Sengkang station. Distance 0.8 km and fare S$0.73.
Within 45 minutes, he has to board Bus 83 from Sengkang interchange and alights at Compassvale Street. Distance 2.0 km and fare S$0.0.

Total distance would be 2.8 km and total fare calculated to be S$0.73. He saved S$0.73 i.e. 50%!

This is one of the best ways to save money if you can complete the tasks within 45 minutes. Do take note of the important point which is to change a different transport. Moreover, there might be more choices of buses for him to travel back home so he can cut down the waiting time. Although the travelling distance might be longer for some buses, the fare is still cheaper overall.

Scenario 2

Mary stays near the bus stop at 190C Punggol Road and wants to go Hougang Avenue 10 to pass her friend something.

Usual route she took

Board Bus 27 from 190C Punggol Road bus stop and alights at Hougang Avenue 10 opposite Blk 521. Distance 3.3 km and fare S$0.83.
Within 45 minutes, she has to board Bus 27 from Hougang Control Interchange and alights at Blk 298A Punggol Road. Distance 4.0 km and fare S$0.83.

Total distance would be 7.3 km and total fare calculated to be S$1.66.

Suggested route

Board Bus 27 from 190C Punggol Road bus stop and alights at Hougang Avenue 10 opposite Blk 521. Distance 3.3 km and fare S$0.83.
Within 45 minutes, she has to board Bus 89 from Hougang Control Interchange and alight at Blk 298A Punggol Road. Distance 4.0 km and fare S$0.34.

Total distance would be 7.3 km and total fare calculated to be S$1.17. She saved S$0.49.

If her return trip has alternative bus that travels the same route back, she simply can wait for other buses to save cost unless she had exceeded the 45 minutes transfer allowance.

Scenario 3

John stays near Punggol Coral Edge LRT station and travels to his workplace at Courts Bukit Timah.

Usual route he took

Board LRT from Punggol Coral Edge station and alights at Boon Keng MRT Station. Distance 12.9 km and fare S$1.64.
Within 45 minutes, he has to board Bus 985 from Boon Keng station bus stop and alights at opposite Bukit Timah Plaza. Distance 13.6 km and fare S$0.43.

Total distance would be 26.5 km and total fare calculated to be S$2.07.

Suggested route

Board LRT from Punggol Coral Edge station and alight at Boon Keng MRT Station. Distance 12.9 km and fare S$1.64.
Within 45 minutes, he has to board Bus 985 from Boon Keng station bus stop and alights at opposite Bukit Timah Plaza. Distance 13.6 km and fare S$0.43. After that, he has to board any one of the buses from bus 67, 75, 170, 171, 184, 852, 961 within 45 minutes at opposite Bukit Timah Plaza and alights at opposite Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. Distance 0.5 km and fare S$0.00.

Total distance would be 27.0 km and total fare calculated to be S$2.07. He saves time from walking 500 m of distance.

Hope this article teaches you how to save money by utilising distance fares calculation and also save you time from walking as well.

Screen shot and calculation taken from Distance Fare Calculator.