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April 17, 2009
Circle Line fares unveiled
Service to start two days earlier on May 28; Buses on route remain
By Yeo Ghim Lay
CIRCLE Line trains will start rolling on May 28 - two days early - and fares will be identical to those on the North-East Line (NEL), the Public Transport Council (PTC) said yesterday.
Adult ez-link fares for the line, which runs from Harbourfront to Dhoby Ghaut, will range from 73 cents to $2.07.
Children and senior citizens will pay the same concession fares on the new line that they do on the NEL - ranging from 39 cents to 49 cents for children and students, and 73 cents for senior citizens.
The five stations to open on May 28 are Marymount, Bishan, Lorong Chuan, Serangoon and Bartley. The remaining 24 stations will open from 2010 onwards.
The Circle Line's fare structure, while widely anticipated by those who stand to save on travel time by taking its trains, was not surprising.
Both the NEL and Circle Line are fully underground and automated, which makes them 2.5 times more costly to run and maintain than the older rail lines, explained the PTC.
Announcing the fares at a press conference yesterday, PTC chairman Gerard Ee said:
'As a fully underground line, the Circle Line requires a fare structure identical to the NEL in order to be financially viable.'
While the fares raised few eyebrows, surprise greeted the Land Transport Authority's decision to leave bus services in the area where the five new stations are unchanged. Previously, bus services were re-routed or withdrawn when new rail lines began running, to avoid duplicating services.
But this will not be necessary in the case of the five stations, as they cover a relatively short stretch. This is expected to be welcomed by residents in the area. In the past, bus commuters complained when some services were removed when new rail lines began operations.
April 17, 2009
Circle Line fares unveiled
Service to start two days earlier on May 28; Buses on route remain
By Yeo Ghim Lay
CIRCLE Line trains will start rolling on May 28 - two days early - and fares will be identical to those on the North-East Line (NEL), the Public Transport Council (PTC) said yesterday.
Adult ez-link fares for the line, which runs from Harbourfront to Dhoby Ghaut, will range from 73 cents to $2.07.
Children and senior citizens will pay the same concession fares on the new line that they do on the NEL - ranging from 39 cents to 49 cents for children and students, and 73 cents for senior citizens.
The five stations to open on May 28 are Marymount, Bishan, Lorong Chuan, Serangoon and Bartley. The remaining 24 stations will open from 2010 onwards.
The Circle Line's fare structure, while widely anticipated by those who stand to save on travel time by taking its trains, was not surprising.
Both the NEL and Circle Line are fully underground and automated, which makes them 2.5 times more costly to run and maintain than the older rail lines, explained the PTC.
Announcing the fares at a press conference yesterday, PTC chairman Gerard Ee said:
'As a fully underground line, the Circle Line requires a fare structure identical to the NEL in order to be financially viable.'
While the fares raised few eyebrows, surprise greeted the Land Transport Authority's decision to leave bus services in the area where the five new stations are unchanged. Previously, bus services were re-routed or withdrawn when new rail lines began running, to avoid duplicating services.
But this will not be necessary in the case of the five stations, as they cover a relatively short stretch. This is expected to be welcomed by residents in the area. In the past, bus commuters complained when some services were removed when new rail lines began operations.
