Passengers welcome free rail rides, but want more done to ease NEL congestion

Three days a week, software architect Kumar, who goes by a single name, takes a bus from his home in Kovan to Serangoon MRT station so that he can travel to his office near the Expo via the Circle and Downtown MRT lines.

- Christine Tan

But the 43-year-old said he will soon change his travel plans and start instead from Kovan MRT station on the North East Line (NEL), after learning about a new scheme that will offer free off-peak rail rides to ease the morning rush-hour congestion.

Starting from Dec 27, passengers who tap in before 7.30am, or between 9am and 9.45am, on weekdays at any Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) station or six NEL stations will get to take their first rail ride at no charge.

The six NEL stations are Punggol Coast, Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkook, Hougang and Kovan.

Announced on Oct 18, the scheme is part of the Government’s latest push to reduce train congestion in northeastern Singapore, especially on the crowded NEL.

Mr Kumar already boards the train at Serangoon just after 9am. With the new incentive, he said he would switch his boarding station to Kovan so he can benefit from the scheme.

“I can save about $24 every month. That’s a good deal,” he said.