Singapore to match Malaysia's reduction of tolls at Second Link

Singapore will follow Malaysia’s move to reduce toll charges at the Second Link in a bid to relieve traffic congestion at the Causeway, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Friday (9 Feb).

The new tolls, which take effect from 1 April 2018, will reduce charges by more than 85 per cent for all vehicles except motorcycles passing through Tuas Checkpoint during the off-peak hours of 10am to 3pm and 11pm to 5am daily.

LTA will also revise the peak period tolls “to adjust for changes in exchange rates since the tolls were last set in 2010”, it said.

There would be no changes to toll charges at Woodlands Checkpoint, LTA said.

Earlier on Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had announced that the country would reduce tolls and levies for vehicles passing through the Second Link, also with the objective of reducing congestion at the Causeway.

Malaysia’s new tolls, which take effect from Tuesday (13 Feb), will be reduced by between 47 and 82 per cent for non-peak periods for all vehicles except motorcycles.

“The new (toll) rates are as follows: individual vehicles will now be paying RM4 from RM7.50, taxis to pay RM3 from RM5.70, buses to pay RM4.50 from RM9.10,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.

“Commercial vehicles of both categories (light and heavy) will pay revised rates of RM4.50 and RM6.10 respectively,” the statement added.

Levies for commercial vehicles will be lowered from between RM100 and RM200 to just RM50.

LTA said toll charges at Tuas Checkpoint were reduced based on Singapore’s long-standing policy to reciprocate toll reductions in Malaysia.

The agency also welcomed the increased frequency of the Tebrau shuttle service by Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu, from 26 trips to 31 trips daily, saying this would further address congestion at the Causeway and lower cross-border transport costs.

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