In a move that no one expected, LTA made another U-turn (again).
Following an intense wave of public disapproval, persistent technical issues, and a barrage of complaints regarding the inability to view account balances on card readers, the newly appointed Transport Minister, Chee Hong Tat, made a pivotal announcement: the idea that it’s compulsory to switch to SimplyGo on 1 June 2024 has simply gone away.
Instead, 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.
Here’s what you should know.
Why SimplyGo Simply Go Away
The entire situation was set in motion by a social media update from Mr Chee.
He recognized the grievances of commuters who expressed their desire to view fare deductions and card balances upon tapping out at fare gates and on bus card readers—a feature not available with SimplyGo cards.
Addressing the technical aspects of this issue, LTA clarified on 12 January that displaying this information in real-time is “technically possible”.
However, the process would introduce a delay of a “few seconds” as the fare gates and bus readers retrieve and exhibit the card balance and deduction details from the backend system, ultimately slowing down the flow of commuters at entry and exit points.
You can watch this video to know more about this issue:
Mr Chee said, “I have discussed your feedback and concerns with MOT (Ministry of Transport) and LTA.
“We have decided to extend the use of the current CBT (card-based ticketing) system for adult commuters, and not to sunset the system in 2024 as originally planned.”
He, however, highlighted that there are still benefits in SimplyGo, and apologised 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, which could have been avoided with better preparation.
So, what do you do if you’ve converted…but didn’t want to use SimplyGo?
Here’s the thing: you can also U-turn your cards, too.
Switch from SimplyGo to Old Ez-Link Cards
Adult commuters who have purchased a SimplyGo EZ-Link card, or converted their EZ-Link cards to SimplyGo EZ-Link cards between 9 Jan and 22 Jan, now have the option to switch back to the previous card for free.
Additionally, concession cardholders—including seniors, students, Workfare Transport Concession cardholders, and individuals with disabilities—who received a SimplyGo-compatible card or transitioned to SimplyGo on or before 22 January, also have the opportunity to exchange their cards for free, should they decide against continuing with SimplyGo.
LTA has assured that further details regarding the card exchange process will be made available by the end of February.
Not the First U-Turn in Two Months
About two months ago, LTA also made a U-turn on bus service 167.
On 16 November 2023, LTA announced that the bus service will be axed as it goes the same route as the new TEL line.
On 28 Nov, LTA then said they had decided to retain service 167, citing the need to allow more time for commuters to adjust and try new routes. This came after backlash from commuters who think 167 is still relevant.
However, they changed the interval time to every 30 minutes instead.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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