SINGAPORE, 10 Feb 2018:
Singapore today announced reduced toll rates to match Malaysia’s revised toll rates at the Second Link (Linkedua).
It said the toll charges for all vehicles (except motorcycles) leaving and entering Singapore through the Tuas Checkpoint will be reduced by more than 85% during the off-peak hours of 10am to 3pm and 11pm to 5am daily.
Cars leaving and entering Singapore through the checkpoint will only need to pay a toll charge of S$1.30 during off-peak hours – while light goods vehicles, heavy good vehicles, taxis and buses will need to pay S$1.50, S$2.00, S$1.00 and S$1.50 respectively.
During peak hours of 5am to 10am and 3pm to 11pm, tolls for cars, light goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, taxis and buses have been set respectively at S$2.50, S$5.60, S$11.30, S$1.90 and S$3.
The republic’s toll rates will take effect on 1 April 2018, said the Singapore Land Transport Authority.
The Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement yesterday the commercial vehicle levy at Linkedua will be reduced to RM50 for vehicles entering and leaving Malaysia beginning Feb 13, down from the current rate of RM100 to RM200.
The toll rate outside peak hours at Linkedua – from 10am to 3pm and 11pm to 5am – for all vehicles except motorcycles will be reduced by between 47% and 82% according to the class of vehicles, it said.
Singapore Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan, in a Facebook post late yesterday, said the reduced toll rates would hopefully encourage some road users to shift out of the peak-hours period.
Khaw noted that reducing the Causeway congestion was discussed between the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore at the Leaders’ Retreat last month.
“Reducing the toll at the Second Link was one suggestion. Implementation has been swift. Malaysia has just announced that toll at the Second Link will be reduced during the off-peak periods.”
He also noted that to ease the congestion at the Causeway, both countries were also working with KTM Bhd to increase the frequency of its Tebrau Shuttle from 26 trips to 31 trips daily starting Feb 13, in time for the Chinese New Year.
“With these measures, we can confidently wish for a smoother flow of traffic,” he wrote.
Toll charges at the Woodlands Checkpoint remain unchanged.
– Bernama