Singapore Retains Older Ticketing System Until 2030, Admits 'Judgment Error' in Push for SimplyGo

Government to bear US$30 million cost for maintaining older system, following strong commuter feedback for fare visibility.

Singapore's Transport Minister, Chee Hong Tat, has admitted that the push for full adoption of the SimplyGo payment platform for public transport was a 'judgment error'.
The older ticketing system, which allows commuters to view fare deductions and card balances at station gates and bus card readers, will remain in place until at least 2030.
An estimated S$40 million (US$30 million) will be spent to maintain the older system, a cost that will be borne by the government, not included in public transport fares.
The decision to keep the older system came after strong feedback from commuters who prefer to see their fare deductions and card balances.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been tasked with improving the features of SimplyGo, but there is currently no technical solution to display fare deductions and card balance information at station gates and bus card readers.