Fares and ticketing on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)

Because the rail operators are government-assisted profit-based corporations, fares and ticketing on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system are currently aimed at least in breaking-even to at least compensate for their costs of running the system. The rail operators collect fares by selling electronic tickets capable of storing data, the price of which are calculated based on the distance between the start and destination stations. These prices increase in fixed stages for standard non-concessionary travel. From the information that was earlier written in these tickets, it is possible to increase the fare according to increments based on approximate distances between stations.

Stations on the MRT system are divided into two areas, paid and unpaid areas which allow the rail operators to collect needed fares by restricting entry only through the fare gates, also as access control gates. These gates, connected to a computer network, are capable to the electronic tickets, and can store information such as the amount of time taken per trip, and the start and destination stations per trip. This will thus allow the rail operators to collect fares based on this information.

The General Ticketing Machines (GTMs) at each station allow commuters to purchase value additions for their tickets or purchase tickets for single trips. Tickets for single trips, coloured in green, are valid only on the day of purchase, and have a time allowance of 30 minutes above the estimated travelling time between the destination and starting stations. Tickets that could be used repeatedly until its expiry date required a minimum amount of money in order to purchase both a new ticket or additional value.

It is possible for passengers to extend a trip mid-journey, and pay the difference as they exit their destination station. Using distance-based prices stands in contrast to utilising fare zones in some other subway systems such as the London Underground.

Although operated by private companies, the system's fare structure is regulated by the Public Transport Council, with the operators submitting requests for fare revision for approval. Fares are kept affordable by approximately pegging them to distance-related bus fares, thus encouraging commuters to utilise the network and move away from past heavy reliance on the bus system. Recent fare increases in the past few years have raised the ire of the public. There were also similar expressions of disapproval over the slightly higher fares charged on SBS Transit's lines, a disparity which SBS Transit justified by citing higher operational and maintenance costs, and lower ridership.

EZ-Link/NETS FlashPay card adult fares
North South Line and East West Line
 * 0 km – >32 km: S$0.73 – S$1.96

North East Line and Circle Line
 * 0 km – 40.2 km: S$0.78 – S$2.21

EZ-Link card senior citizen fares
North South Line, East West Line
 * S$0.55 – S$0.86

North East Line and Circle Line
 * S$0.59 – S$0.86

EZ-Link card child and student fares
All lines 0 km – >7.2 km: S$0.36 – S$0.58

Standard ticket fares
North South Line, East West Line
 * 0 km – >32 km: S$1.00 – S$2.10

North East Line and Circle Line
 * 0 km – 30 km: S$1.10 – S$2.30

Note

 * Free travel for children 0.9m and below, from 6 April 2014 with child concession cards.
 * Free travel (before 7.45am) and S$0.50 early travel rebate (7.45am - 8am) apply when a passenger taps the EZ-Link card in a fare gate at the station outside the city area and taps out at the MRT Station inside the city area. The following stations do have their early travel rebates:
 * East West Line: Lavender, Bugis, City Hall, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Outram Park
 * North South Line: Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall, Raffles Place, Marina Bay
 * North East Line: Outram Park, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut
 * Circle Line: Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Promenade, Nicoll Highway, Bayfront, Marina Bay

Ticketing

 * Main articles: EZ-Link, NETS, and CEPAS

Tickets
Contactless smart cards replaced their magnetic ticket predecessors completely on 1 December 2002, making Singapore one of the first cities to implement contactless smart card payment on all the main modes of public transportation, along the likes of Hong Kong.

The ticketing system uses the EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay contactless smart cards based upon the Symphony for e-Payment (SeP) system for public transit built on the Singapore Standard for Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS) system. This system allows for up to 4 card issuers in the market. The EZ-Link card was introduced on 13 April 2002 as a replacement to the original TransitLink farecard while its competitor the NETS FlashPay card entered the smart card market on 9 October 2009.

Stored Value Card
An adult EZ-Link card may be purchased for S$12 (inclusive of a S$5 non-refundable card cost and a S$7 credit) for payment of public transportation fares in Singapore. The card may be purchased at any TransitLink Ticket Office or Passenger Service Centre. The card may also be used for payment of goods and services at merchants displaying the "EZ-Link" logo, Electronic Road Pricing tolls and Electronic Parking System carparks. Additional credit may be purchased at any General Ticketing Machine (GTM), Add Value Machine (AVM), TransitLink Ticket Office, Passenger Service Centre, AXS Station, DBS/POSB Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), online via a card reader purchased separately or selected merchants. Additional credit of a predetermined value may also be automatically purchased whenever the card value is low via an automatic recharge service provided by Interbank GIRO or through a manual application at the TransitLink Ticket Office or credit card online. An option for EZ-Link Season Pass for unlimited travel on buses and trains is available for purchase and is non-transferable.

The NETS FlashPay card may be purchased at all TransitLink Ticket Offices at MRT stations, retail points such as 7-Eleven stores, Cheers and Fairprice Xpress as well as iNETS Kiosks. It can be used for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore and at merchants displaying the "NETS FlashPay" logo.

First generation Standard Ticket
A Standard Ticket contactless smart card for single trips may also be purchased between S$2 and S$4 (inclusive of a S$1 refundable card deposit)for the payment of MRT and LRT fares. The card may be only purchased at the GTM. The deposit may also be retrieved by returning the card to the GTM within 30 days from the date of issue or donated to charity by depositing it in a collection box at any station. This card cannot be recharged with additional credit.

Second generation Standard Ticket
A paper-based Standard Ticket contactless smart card for single/return trips may be purchased between S$1.10 and S$7 (inclusive of a S$0.10 refundable card deposit) for the payment of MRT and LRT fares. The card may only be purchased at the GTM. Unlike the first generation Standard Ticket, this second generation Standard Ticket can be recharged with additional credit for up to 6 trips within 30 days from the date of issue. The deposit will be refunded upon recharging the card for the third trip at the GTM. A further S$0.10 rebate will be given upon recharging the card for the sixth and final trip at the GTM. Credit purchased for the single/return trips must be used on the same day of purchase. For commuters who purchased credit for the return trip, but did not return to the original station on the 'return trip', they can top up the fare difference at the destination station if the purchased credit is less than value of the trip.

Singapore Tourist Pass
Alternatively for tourists, a Singapore Tourist Pass contactless smart card may be purchased from S$18 (inclusive of a S$10 refundable card deposit and a 1-day pass) for the payment of public transportation fares. The card may be purchased at selected TransitLink Ticket Offices and Singapore Visitors Centres. The deposit may be retrieved by returning the card to selected TransitLink Ticket Offices and Singapore Visitors Centres within 5 days from the date of issue.

Access Control Gates
Access control gates found in Singapore's MRT stations have evolved in design & features over the years. 5 different series of gates have been used in the MRT stations. All series of these gates are still working side by side in the MRT system, although the 2 oldest generations of these gates in the MRT stations have had their magnetic farecard components removed and have been upgraded to accept contactless smart cards.

First generation gates

 * Originally accepted the now defunct magnetic farecards
 * Upgraded to accept contactless smart cards in 2002
 * VFG fare information display slanted at an angle for some units

Second generation gates

 * Originally accepted the now defunct magnetic farecards
 * Upgraded to accept contactless smart cards in 2002
 * LED front entry/exit only display
 * VFD fare information display slanted at an angle for all units

Third generation gates
These are the standard sized gates you would normally see at every station. Each gate features Sony and CEPAS contactless smart card readers and 2 central retractable flaps. They are also ergonomically designed & made of stainless steel. Furthermore, they also feature a 6.5 inch LCD/TFT monitor which is used to display information about the ticket used by the passenger passing through the gate, as well as LED displays which show the operating status of the gate (whether it is for entry or exit).

Fourth generation gates
The fourth generation "Titan" gates will eventually replace the first and second generation gates that have been in use for over 20 years. These new gates will be 10% more energy efficient with low energy LED displays, LCD displays and servo-motors. The faregates are much smaller and wider compared to the two types of old gates. They will also be able to differentiate between human and inanimate objects, as there is no more green arrow and red cross signs, all of which replaced by illuminated bars. Red pin-holed sensors are removed, replaced by black plastic. It also makes low-buzzing sounds when there is error.

Currently, there are 16 stations on the East West Line and 12 stations on the North South Line with these gates.

First generation wide gates

 * Accepts only contactless smart cards
 * LED front entry/exit only display
 * Fare information Liquid Crystal Display
 * Ergonomically designed

Second generation wide gates
Each gate features contactless smart card readers capable of reading type A, B and FeliCa cards and 2 central retractable flaps. They are also ergonomically designed & made of stainless steel. Furthermore, they also feature a 6.5 inch LCD/TFT monitor which is used to display information about the ticket used by the passenger passing through the gate, as well as LED displays which show the operating status of the gate (whether it is for entry or exit). These gates were designed for passengers with bulky luggage, prams, in wheelchairs or those who are disabled to use. These gates are much wider than the standard ones & feature 2 double retractable flaps. There will always be at least 1 in every station. For Changi Airport, because it serves airport passengers who are likely to carry bulky hand luggage, all gates at this station are of the wide gate variety.

Ticketing Machines
In the early years, single trip magnetic tickets were purchased at Ticket Vending Machines with coins only. Notes could be broken up into small change at a separate change machine. Those holding magnetic multi trip farecards could only reload their cards with additional credit at manual service counters or a separate Add Value Machine.

Today, the multi functional General Ticketing Machines have replaced their predecessors above for all of the passenger's ticketing needs. Through a touch screen monitor & a touch sensitive system map, these new generation of machines allow the passenger to reload the stored value in their EZ-Link Cards in cash (notes), through NETS & apply for automatic reload service through GIRO or VISA. Passengers can also purchase a Standard Ticket in cash (coins & notes), get a refund on their Standard Ticket deposit, check the value remaining in their EZ-Link Cards & view their past card transactions. 2 variations of the General Ticketing Machines are in use, differing only slightly in design as they are manufactured by different companies.

Change Machine (1987–1990s)

 * Notes are inserted and small change provided for use at the Ticket Vending Machine
 * For North South Line & East West Line

Add Value Machine (1990s–2013)

 * Originally accepts magnetic farecards
 * Accepts reload of card credit via NETS only
 * Upgraded to accept contactless smart cards and LED displays

Add Value Machine Plus (AVM+) (2013–current)

 * Express claims and refunds
 * Emailing of travel transactions
 * Instant redemption of transport voucher

Ticket Vending Machine (1987–2002)

 * Push button to select fare
 * Accepts coins only

Touch Screen Ticket Vending Machine (Late 1990s–2002)

 * Touch screen to select fare
 * Accepts coins only

General Ticketing Machines by Ascom (2002–current)

 * Passenger selects destination station on a touch sensitive rail map and fare is automatically calculated
 * For all EWL/NSL and CCL stations
 * EZ-Link/NETS FLashPay card is placed on an external reader to be read

General Ticketing Machines by Cubic (2003–current)

 * Passenger selects destination station on a touch sensitive rail map and fare is automatically calculated
 * For all NEL stations
 * EZ-Link/NETS FlashPay card is placed on an external reader to be read