JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysian Jeffrey Lau was struggling to haul a huge luggage from the boot of a Singapore-registered taxi after he alighted on Larkin Sentral bus station on Wednesday morning (Jul 5).
The contractor works near Yishun within Singapore but travels to Johor Bahru fortnightly to see his family.
He learnt the previous evening that taxi fares for Singapore-registered cabs travelling among Singapore and Johor Bahru were scheduled to increase from Jul 11. He made a decision to bring forward his trip by a 7 days.
“I go through that it will be S$12 more (expensive) to take a cab through Singapore to Larkin next week, so I chose it would make more sense to travel nowadays. I have many things to bring home, so having (the) bus is absolutely not an option, ” said the 32-year-old.
Cross-border bus and taxi services between Singapore and Malaysia had been allowed to resume from May 1, regarding two years after operations were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition , cross-border public bus services between Singapore and Johor Bahru were reinstated.
In April, it had been reported that the Singapore-Johor Taxi Operators’ Organization had applied to Singapore’s Public Transport Authorities (PTC) to raise its fares to S$15 each person, or $60 per taxi.
Singapore taxi businesses including ComfortDelGro and Strides Taxi introduced via social media on Monday that there is going to be fare revisions intended for cab trips between Singapore and Johor Bahru. These changes will take effect through next Monday.
Regular cross-border commuters interviewed by CNA said that they would end up bearing the brunts of the fare outdoor hikes for Singapore-registered cabs.
The revisions include an increase within the price of taxi trips from Ban San Street taxi fatal in Rochor in order to Larkin Sentral within Johor Bahru through S$48 to S$60.
Fares from Changi Airport or Seletar Airport terminal to Larkin Sentral will increase from S$80 to S$120. Fares from any other area in Singapore to Larkin Sentral will likely go up from S$60 to S$80.
Meanwhile, the costs for Singapore the taxis to travel from Larkin Sentral to any destination in Singapore, not including Ban San Road taxi terminal, might increase from S$55 to S$60, or even S$70 for those who make an advance booking.
For a trip between Larkin Sentral to Prohibit San Street on the Singapore-registered taxi, it will continue to cost RM120 (US$27. 15).
Mr Lau noted that for normal commuters, the fare revisions will eventually add up.
“The S$12 increase (per taxi) may not sound like a lot to some. When I travel twice a month, it will add up quickly. Soon, I would have no choice yet to use the coach service instead, ” he added.
Another Malaysian who wanted to end up being known only as Mr Abdul Hamid told CNA the fact that fare hike will probably mean that he will use cross-border taxi solutions less regularly.
He works in the shipping sector in Singapore and typically commutes throughout odd hours, during which public bus services may not be available.
“I feel affected (by the hike). It will not take long before I am going to feel the pinch, ” said Mr Abdul Hamid.
“The price (increase) through S$48 to S$60 (for fares through Ban San Street to Larkin) is really a 25 per cent raise. It’s a little difficult to swallow, especially when there is certainly inflation all around, ” he added.
An additional commuter, Chng Wen Xin, echoed comparable sentiments.
The 32-year-old Malaysian works in the food and beverage industry in Singapore and sometimes shares a taxi with her colleagues during her day-to-day commute.
Read more on: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/johor-bahru-larkin-rochor-taxi-fares-hike-commuters-2790321