I am a Singaporean living in London. Whenever I am back for a holiday, MRT trains and buses are my main modes of transport.

Recently, I forgot to carry my ez-link card with me.

At the SMRT card-purchase counter,the staff member indicated that I had to pay $15 for an ez-link card.

The card contained the following:

A stored value of $7; a refundable deposit of $3; and a non-refundable card cost of $5.

I do not have any issues with the stored value nor the refundable deposit.

I am, however, appalled by the non-refundable card cost.

In London, most commuters use Oyster cards to travel on the Tube and buses. It operates on a system similar to that of the ez-link card.

A person buying an Oyster card for 'pay-as-you-go usage will have to pay a £3 (S$8) deposit.

The top-up value of the Oyster card can be any amount.

At the end of the pay-as-you-go usage period, you can return the Oyster card to any Tube station office, and the £3 deposit will be refunded.

There are no additional charges.

The Octopus cards used for travel on public transport in Hong Kong require a deposit of HK$50 (S$9), which is refundable upon return of the card.

As seen from the examples above, the non-refundable card cost for an ez-link card is unusual.

In fact, the amount imposed seems disproportionate.

I did not purchase an ez-link card that day. The SMRT staff member advised me against it as I would be using the card for only two bus journeys, and recommended that I pay in cash instead.

The $5 card cost becomes a penalty when commuters need to purchase an additional ez-link card. Moreover, the ez-link card is most likely returned to the authorities at the end of its usage period because of the $3 deposit.

If the high card cost of $5 relates to the cost of production, why should commuters have to pay an additional deposit?

In the face of rising inflation and an uncertain economic outlook for Singapore, I suggest that the authorities reconsider the appropriateness of imposing a card cost on commuters who rely on public transport.

If the authorities are encouraging a 'cashless' and more advanced transport system like that which exists in many other countries, then the imposition of such a charge would only have the reverse effect.

Ms Corinne Tay
London, United Kingdom

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