Singapore Causeway toll charges to be raised from Oct 1

Singapore

GET ready to pay more when driving to Malaysia and back via the Causeway from Oct 1.

Just three days after the government had said that Singapore's Causeway toll charges would be revised to match those set by Malaysia in due course, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday released details of the new fee structure.

Singapore's toll charges for all vehicles leaving Singapore through the Causeway, with the exception of motorcycles, will be increased to match the new rates set by Malaysia.

A new matching Causeway toll will also be implemented for all vehicles, except motorcycles, entering Singapore. There are no changes to the existing toll charges at the Second Link in Tuas.

The toll for cars leaving Singapore will be S$3.80, more than triple the current rate of S$1.20. Motorists will also need to fork out a new fee of S$2.70 imposed on cars entering Singapore.

Vans and light goods vehicles will also see a sharp increase in the Causeway toll to S$5.80 when leaving Singapore, up from S$1.90 today, plus a new S$4 fee when entering Singapore.

Drivers of taxis and buses, meanwhile, must brace themselves to pay about five times more in toll charges in total when leaving and entering Singapore.

For foreign-registered cars, Singapore's Causeway entry toll will be recorded in the LTA's toll system and displayed to motorists when they enter Singapore.

Payment, however, will be deducted only when they leave Singapore either via the Causeway or Second Link, together with the exit toll, Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee and any applicable Electronic Road Pricing charges. This is the same as the existing practice for the Second Link entry toll.

For all other vehicles not subjected to VEP fees, the Causeway entry toll will be paid at the point of entry into Singapore and the exit toll when leaving Singapore.

On Aug 1, Singapore had raised the VEP fees for foreign-registered cars from S$20 to S$35 per day, and the Goods Vehicle Permit from S$10 to S$40 per calendar month. This is the first time the VEP has been increased since 1994.

On that same day, Malaysia's government raised their toll charges significantly. Drivers of cars entering Malaysia used to pay just RM2.90 (S$1.15) but now pay RM9.70, while those leaving Malaysia must pay RM6.80.

Echoing a point made by Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo on Tuesday, the LTA said in its statement that Singapore "will follow suit" should Malaysia reduce or do away with their toll charges.

Singapore has a long-standing policy of matching its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia.

This policy reflects the shared nature of the two crossings, where charges imposed by any one party will have an impact on both countries, said Mrs Teo in parliament.

"Without a matching policy, lower toll charges by one side may simply be offset by higher tolls levied by the other side. There is no assurance that toll charges foregone by one side will be translated into lower total charges which benefit motorists," she said.

More information on Singapore's new toll charges can be found at www.lta.gov.sg.