Simpler cab fare structure around the corner

Changes to cab fares are around the corner, with industry players expecting higher flagdown rates, bigger interval jumps but pared down surcharges, reported The Straits Times.

According to a Zello-based taxi-driver chat group, Cabbie Korner, most cabs will have a standardised flagdown fare of $3.80, instead of rates ranging from $3.20 to $5 today. Distance and time-based interval jumps will be a uniform 30 cents, instead of the 22, 30 and 33 cents in place today.

In addition, peak-hour surcharges will be dropped, but the midnight surcharge will remain, and location surcharges standardised. The group also expects a flat monthly Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) levy of $150, regardless of the number of times a cabby crosses an ERP gantry.

However, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that nothing is on the table yet. "We are still studying and discussing with stakeholders the harmonisation of the taxi fare structure," an LTA spokesman said.

"The issue is complicated as the fare structure fundamentally reflects the different rental costs of different taxis. Different stakeholders, ranging from commuters, taxi-drivers to taxi companies, have different interests," the spokesman added.