SimplyGo: From 18 March, eligible users can collect card-based ticketing cards which will show fares on gantries and readers

SINGAPORE — New card-based ticketing (CBT) public transport payment cards will be made available to adult commuters who had earlier converted to SimplyGo ones, or purchased a SimplyGo EZ-Link or NETS Prepaid Card between 9 and 22 January.

This comes after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) reversed its announcement to retire the older CBT system by 1 June, fully replacing it with SimplyGo, an account-based system that processes fare payments at the back end. Following public outcry over the announcement, Adult EZ-Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards - which are based on the old CBT system - will continue to be accepted for public transport fare payments until at least 2030.

LTA announced on Wednesday (28 February) that from 18 March to 30 June, adult commuters who had converted to SimplyGo cards and who wish to obtain a new CBT card for use can do so at any of the 44 SimplyGo ticket offices island-wide.

They can check if they are eligible to collect a new CBT card by entering their 16-digit SimplyGo EZ-Link card identification number found at the back of the card through this online card collection eligibility checker, or via the SimplyGo hotline at 1800-2255663.

Card collection for eligible commuters will be scheduled based on the last digit of their SimplyGo EZ-Link card identification number. This is to ensure a more organised collection process with shorter waiting times.

An LTA spokesperson has stated that around 290,000 adult cardholders, which include users of SimplyGo EZ-Link and NETS Prepaid, along with 67,000 concession card users, are eligible to receive the new CBT cards.

LTA said that there is sufficient stock of CBT EZ-Link cards and eligible commuters are encouraged to adhere to their allotted collection dates. Commuters who are unable to collect their cards on the allocated dates can visit the ticket offices at a time of their convenience from 29 April onwards. Commuters must bring their current SimplyGo card for verification during card collection.

To facilitate card collection, the operating hours of all 44 SimplyGo Ticket Offices will be extended from 18 March to 26 May, while service ambassadors will also be deployed to assist commuters.

Commuters who have collected their new CBT EZ-Link card can continue to keep and use their existing SimplyGo EZ-Link card.

Concession cardholders can also get new CBT cards

The CBT cards will also be made available to concession cardholders who were issued or converted their cards to SimplyGo on or before 22 January. This includes all senior citizen, Workfare transport and person with disabilities concession cardholders, as well as adult monthly travel cardholders.

These cardholders will receive a replacement CBT card between 1 April and 31 May, and it will be mailed to them as they have addresses registered with TransitLink.

To ensure that each eligible concession cardholder has only one valid concession card, they will need to activate their new CBT concession card at any ticket office, should they wish to use it. They are required to bring along their NRIC, existing and new concession cards for activation.

For those who have purchased a NETS Prepaid Card between 9 and 22 January, they can also visit any of the SimplyGo ticket offices from 1 April to 30 June to collect a free NETS FlashPay Card. Cardholders can similarly check their eligibility at the SimplyGo website or the NETS customer service hotline at 6274-1212.

Transport Minister acknowledged 'judgment error'

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat acknowledged that the authorities had made a "judgment error" in their decision to phase out older public transport payment cards for adults, having underestimated commuters' preferences for viewing fare information and card balances.

Passengers initially voiced frustration over the lack of visibility into fare deductions and card balances when tapping out.

LTA said that an additional $40 million would be allocated for the maintenance and replacement of hardware in the card-based system, with funding provided by the government.

Since 9 January, over 100,000 commuters have downloaded the SimplyGo app, and nearly 140,000 adult commuters and concession card users have switched to using SimplyGo.

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