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Are u happy now ? U turn on Simply Go card. What a total waste of money. Trying to fix something that is not broken.
- Thread starter A Singaporean
- Start date
Now we know why: PAP government was trying not to spend $40 million and instead created this inconvenience for commuters.
The authorities will spend an extra $40 million to allow commuters to continue using ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Lee Nian Tjoe and Kok Yufeng
Jan 22, 20234
SINGAPORE - Holders of older ez-link cards that are not on SimplyGo, an account-based ticketing platform, will no longer have to update their cards by June 1 to pay for public transport.
Nets FlashPay cards will also continue being accepted for adult fare payments, and there will be no need to exchange them for a Nets Prepaid card to pay for bus and train rides by June 1.
The authorities said on Jan 22 that they are pulling the plug on the planned transition after public backlash.
Announcing the change in a Facebook post on Jan 22, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the authorities will spend an extra $40 million to allow commuters to continue using ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards, which use a card-based ticketing system that stores transaction data on the cards.
This is unlike SimplyGo, which processes fare payments at the back end.
“We have decided to extend the use of the current (card-based ticketing system) for adult commuters, and not to sunset the system in 2024 as originally planned,” Mr Chee wrote.
The decision, he added, was made after considering concerns among commuters since the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) announcement on Jan 9 that they would not be able to see fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers with the switch to SimplyGo.
Mr Chee apologised for the delays experienced by commuters who tried to convert their older ez-link cards since Jan 9.
The Straits Times reported that the SimplyGo app became overwhelmed a day after the news broke, with users unable to use some of the app’s features. Passengers also faced difficulties in upgrading their ez-link cards to SimplyGo at ticketing offices and machines at MRT stations and bus interchanges, with the problem persisting into Jan 11.
“This could have been avoided with better preparation,” Mr Chee acknowledged, adding that LTA has worked to deal with these issues by updating the SimplyGo app and speeding up the card-conversion process.
Those who updated their ez-link cards to SimplyGo between Jan 9 and Jan 22, or bought SimplyGo-compatible ez-link cards during that period, will be able to exchange their cards for those that rely on the older ticketing system for free, if they prefer.
LTA said details about how this card exchange will be done will be made public by the end of February, citing the need for preparation time to minimise inconvenience to passengers.
Concession card holders, such as students and seniors, will also be able to revert to non-SimplyGo cards as part of this exchange.
Mr Chee said he has given LTA the task of studying ways to improve account-based ticketing cards. In particular, he has asked the agency to look into possible solutions for these newer cards to display fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers.
The minister noted, however, that for the moment, there is no technical solution to this problem, and Singapore is not alone in facing this issue.
Like SimplyGo, account-based transit cards used in London and Hong Kong do not display fare deductions and card balances at fare gates as well, he said.
Earlier, LTA had said in response to media queries that while it was technically possible for fare and card balance information to be shown at fare gates and bus card readers with SimplyGo, it would take a few seconds to retrieve this information from the back-end system, and slow down the entry and exit of passengers. This would result in longer queues.
With SimplyGo, the idea was for a user to be able to view fare deductions and balances using a smartphone app, which can notify the user once he or she taps out from a bus or MRT stop.
Alternatively, users can also obtain fare information at ticketing machines at MRT stations and bus interchanges.
Other touted benefits of SimplyGo are that users are able to block further transactions through the app if they lose the cards and top up their travel cards on the move.
Yet many who still use older ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards expressed frustration over the reduced functionality that came with switching to SimplyGo. For instance, after the transition, the updated ez-link cards can no longer be used to pay for motoring expenses such as parking and Electronic Road Pricing charges.
After drawing flak from the public, a sign that the authorities had changed their minds came on Jan 19, when a free exchange of Nets FlashPay cards for Nets Prepaid cards that was planned to start that day was postponed on the day itself “until further notice”.
LTA shelves plan to replace older public transport payment cards with SimplyGo by June 1
The authorities will spend an extra $40 million to allow commuters to continue using ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Lee Nian Tjoe and Kok Yufeng
Jan 22, 20234
SINGAPORE - Holders of older ez-link cards that are not on SimplyGo, an account-based ticketing platform, will no longer have to update their cards by June 1 to pay for public transport.
Nets FlashPay cards will also continue being accepted for adult fare payments, and there will be no need to exchange them for a Nets Prepaid card to pay for bus and train rides by June 1.
The authorities said on Jan 22 that they are pulling the plug on the planned transition after public backlash.
Announcing the change in a Facebook post on Jan 22, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the authorities will spend an extra $40 million to allow commuters to continue using ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards, which use a card-based ticketing system that stores transaction data on the cards.
This is unlike SimplyGo, which processes fare payments at the back end.
“We have decided to extend the use of the current (card-based ticketing system) for adult commuters, and not to sunset the system in 2024 as originally planned,” Mr Chee wrote.
The decision, he added, was made after considering concerns among commuters since the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) announcement on Jan 9 that they would not be able to see fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers with the switch to SimplyGo.
Mr Chee apologised for the delays experienced by commuters who tried to convert their older ez-link cards since Jan 9.
The Straits Times reported that the SimplyGo app became overwhelmed a day after the news broke, with users unable to use some of the app’s features. Passengers also faced difficulties in upgrading their ez-link cards to SimplyGo at ticketing offices and machines at MRT stations and bus interchanges, with the problem persisting into Jan 11.
“This could have been avoided with better preparation,” Mr Chee acknowledged, adding that LTA has worked to deal with these issues by updating the SimplyGo app and speeding up the card-conversion process.
Those who updated their ez-link cards to SimplyGo between Jan 9 and Jan 22, or bought SimplyGo-compatible ez-link cards during that period, will be able to exchange their cards for those that rely on the older ticketing system for free, if they prefer.
LTA said details about how this card exchange will be done will be made public by the end of February, citing the need for preparation time to minimise inconvenience to passengers.
Concession card holders, such as students and seniors, will also be able to revert to non-SimplyGo cards as part of this exchange.
Mr Chee said he has given LTA the task of studying ways to improve account-based ticketing cards. In particular, he has asked the agency to look into possible solutions for these newer cards to display fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers.
The minister noted, however, that for the moment, there is no technical solution to this problem, and Singapore is not alone in facing this issue.
Like SimplyGo, account-based transit cards used in London and Hong Kong do not display fare deductions and card balances at fare gates as well, he said.
Earlier, LTA had said in response to media queries that while it was technically possible for fare and card balance information to be shown at fare gates and bus card readers with SimplyGo, it would take a few seconds to retrieve this information from the back-end system, and slow down the entry and exit of passengers. This would result in longer queues.
With SimplyGo, the idea was for a user to be able to view fare deductions and balances using a smartphone app, which can notify the user once he or she taps out from a bus or MRT stop.
Alternatively, users can also obtain fare information at ticketing machines at MRT stations and bus interchanges.
Other touted benefits of SimplyGo are that users are able to block further transactions through the app if they lose the cards and top up their travel cards on the move.
Yet many who still use older ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards expressed frustration over the reduced functionality that came with switching to SimplyGo. For instance, after the transition, the updated ez-link cards can no longer be used to pay for motoring expenses such as parking and Electronic Road Pricing charges.
After drawing flak from the public, a sign that the authorities had changed their minds came on Jan 19, when a free exchange of Nets FlashPay cards for Nets Prepaid cards that was planned to start that day was postponed on the day itself “until further notice”.
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Thank you Madam Ho Ching
https://www.sammyboy.com/threads/sg...th-simplygo-despite-its-many-problems.356045/
https://www.sammyboy.com/threads/sg...th-simplygo-despite-its-many-problems.356045/
Logical to send chee to replace Iswaran at West Coast GRC? Hence and perhaps the damage control
NETS Flashpay is a better card to use for public transport and other payments.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...d-lta-u-turn-free-exchange-40-million-4064446
No longer mandatory for commuters to move to SimplyGo as LTA U-turns on decision to phase out older system
The government will spend an additional S$40 million so that commuters can continue to use EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards for public transport.
- Commuters who bought or converted to SimplyGo cards between Jan 9 and 22 can switch back to an EZ-Link card for free
- The older EZ-Link system allows commuters to see their fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers
- "I apologise on behalf of MOT and LTA for the delays commuters experienced when they tried to convert their existing EZ Link cards," says Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat
SINGAPORE: Commuters will not be made to switch to the SimplyGo payment platform, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat announced on Monday (Jan 22), reversing a decision on the move to phase out the older ticketing system following complaints.
The government will spend an additional S$40 million so that commuters can continue to use EZ-Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards if they wish to.
Those who have upgraded to a SimplyGo EZ-Link card may also exchange it for the previous EZ-Link card for free if they prefer.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said earlier this month that non-SimplyGo EZ-Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards can no longer be used to pay for public transport fares from Jun 1.
This upset some commuters as a card’s balance is not displayed at the MRT fare gate or bus card reader. Users who want to check their card balance have to rely on ticketing machines or the SimplyGo app.
Following public concern, LTA said on Monday that it will extend the existing adult card-based ticketing system to operate together with the SimplyGo system – as is the case currently.
This means adult commuters can continue using EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards or their SimplyGo-compatible cards on public transport.
FREE EXCHANGE OF CARDS
Adult commuters who have purchased a SimplyGo EZ-Link card, or converted their EZ-Link cards to SimplyGo EZ-Link cards from Jan 9 to Jan 22 inclusive, can exchange their cards for free.
Meanwhile, concession cardholders who received a SimplyGo-compatible card or converted their cards to SimplyGo on or before Jan 22 can also exchange their card for free, if they do not wish to continue using SimplyGo cards.
This group includes seniors, students, Workfare Transport Concession cardholders and people with disabilities, said LTA.
More details on the card exchange will be available by end-February.
SPENDING S$40M TO RETAIN PAYMENT OPTION
In a Facebook post on Monday, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat acknowledged the concerns of commuters who want to continue seeing their fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers.
“We will spend an additional S$40 million so that commuters can continue to use EZ-Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards if they wish to,” he said.
In the meantime, LTA will study ways to enhance the features and improve the user experience for account-based ticketing cards – which include SimplyGo and bank cards.
In particular, the authority will look at possible solutions for such cards to display fare deductions and stored value card balances at fare gates and bus card readers, added Mr Chee.
Some commuters told CNA a few days after the announcement that they encountered hiccups in the upgrading process.
A surge in transaction volumes caused the SimplyGo app and ticketing machines to be less responsive, said LTA at the time.
Last Friday, a free exchange service for those looking to swap their NETS FlashPay cards for the NETS Prepaid Card was "temporarily unavailable" until further notice. The planned exchange at SimplyGo ticket offices was initially scheduled to begin that day and run until Jul 18.
On Saturday, the SimplyGo upgrade feature was also "temporarily unavailable" at some ticketing machines.
“I apologise on behalf of MOT (the Ministry of Transport) and LTA for the delays commuters experienced when they tried to convert their existing EZ-Link cards. This could have been avoided with better preparation,” said Mr Chee.
"LTA has worked to address this issue. It has updated the SimplyGo app and speeded up the card conversion process."
On Monday, the Transport Minister also highlighted that cards like SimplyGo and bank cards have become more popular, with about 40 per cent of adult commuters now using bank cards or mobile wallets.
Such cards also "have their benefits", he said.
If a commuter misplaces this card, the balance can be protected because the value is stored in the user's account.
On the other hand, if they misplace their current adult EZ-Link card or NETS FlashPay card, the value in their card will be lost.
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knn, you are one of those who chiong the vax is it? Haven't learnt your lesson LOL
All the fuckers in charge of public transport should be jailed
Dumbass LOL
wont go to jail lah. The fuckers know this is election year. Reputation already stinks sky high, still want to fuck themselves in this way? This is a desperate effort to salvage votes, and an admission they have fucked up big time. But Sinkies won't, can't and don't want to know. Can get vouchers and eat at air con places can already.
Fwah mdm ho one word carries more weight then the whole islandThank you Madam Ho Ching
https://www.sammyboy.com/threads/sg...th-simplygo-despite-its-many-problems.356045/
This is the time for the people to vote for the WP and other opposition parties and hopefully reduce the popular vote share to below 60% for the ruling party
You sound vaccinated.
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