Clause 15

by deleting the words “any bus, taxi or rapid transit system fare shall” in subsection (1) and substituting the words “the price of, or the pricing policy for, any bus fare or train fare, must”;

by deleting subsections (2) and (3) and substituting the following subsections:“(2) In considering any application for approval of the price of, or the pricing policy for, any bus fare or train fare, the Council must take into account —

the need for the applicant to remain financially viable;

the requirements imposed by or under section 24AB;

the need for fare concessions to address the interests of certain passengers like the elderly and students;

facilitating integrated and seamless travel by passengers making journeys which involve the use of —

the bus services and train services of more than one bus operator (whether or not a public bus operator) or rapid transit system operator;

more than one bus service or train service (whether or not operated by the same person); or

both bus services and train services (whether or not operated by the same person);

facilitating the integration of bus fares and train fares;

the need to optimise the bus and rapid transit system network capacity of buses and trains and to ensure economic, financial and technical viability of the public bus system and the rapid transit system;

whether increases in bus fares or train fares could cause financial hardship to commuters because there is, or is imminent, a severe economic recession in Singapore or other extenuating circumstances; and

the need for public interest to be safeguarded.(3) On receipt of an application under subsection (1), the Council may —

refuse the application; or

approve the application subject to such conditions as the Council thinks fit, such as any requirement in section 24AA(5)(b), (c) or (d).(3A) The Council’s approval under subsection (3) or decision on review under section 24AA may be expressed in one or more of the following terms:

fixing the price or the rate of increase or decrease in the price of bus fares or train fares;

fixing a maximum or minimum price, or a maximum rate of increase in the maximum price, of bus fares or train fares;

fixing an average price for specified bus services or train services, or an average rate of increase or decrease in the average price of bus fares or train fares;

specifying pricing policies or principles for bus fares or train fares, including a policy or principle requiring prospective passengers to be informed in advance of any change in bus fares or train fares;

specifying an amount determined by reference to a general price index, the cost of production, a rate of return on assets employed or any other specified factor;

specifying an amount determined by reference to quantity (such as number of journeys or passengers), location, period or other specified factor relevant to the supply of the bus services or train services;

any other terms the Council considers appropriate.”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “granted under subsection (3)(b)” in subsection (4), the words “or section 24AA”;

by deleting the words “section 24AA(2)” in subsection (4)(a) and substituting the words “requirements in section 24AA(5)”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “subsection (5)(b)” in subsection (4)(e), the words “or subsection (3)(b) or with section 24AC”; and

by inserting, immediately after subsection (8), the following subsection:“(9) Nothing in this section requires —

the LTA to apply to the Council for approval of bus fares —

for bus services provided under a public bus services contract (within the meaning of the Bus Services Industry Act 2015) to which the LTA is a party; or

for bus services provided by the LTA when LTA operates the bus services; or

a public bus operator which provides a bus service according to the provisions of a public bus services contract to apply to the Council for approval of bus fares for the bus service specified in that contract.”.