Drivers from Prime Taxis, the island's smallest cab firm, will vote next Tuesday on whether to raise flag-down fares and after-hours rates, said its managing director Neo Nam Heng.

The company's 100 cabbies saw their take-home pay drop by 50 per cent after five of Singapore's six companies raised fares last month, a move that drove many commuters away from taxis.

'For the first two weeks, there was a fall in their income because people saw the other companies increase price and stopped taking cabs,' said Mr Neo.

The situation, though, has improved recently. Drivers are seeing their income inch back up to the pre-hike rate of $100 to $120 a day, said Mr Neo.

It has been a roller-coaster ride for Singapore's taxi companies, some of whom, like Prime Taxis, are starting to see business rebound.

Drivers from the island's biggest firm, ComfortDelGro, have seen their take-home pay creep upwards over the last few weeks.

The average ComfortDelGro cabby earned $159 per shift, up from $153 before the fare increase, according to a company survey of 5,000 drivers. This is before deducting expenses like rent and diesel costs.

Premier Taxis' managing director Lim Chong Boo said the firm's numbers are 'consistent' with those at ComfortDelGro.

Together, the two companies have about 18,000 cars, or about 80 per cent of the taxis on Singapore roads.

All operators agree, though, that it is still too early to judge the effect of the fare hike, which was greeted with groans by passengers. Many said they would opt for public transit instead of paying more for a taxi ride.

Demand has cooled since the fare increase. Trans-Cab has seen bookings dip by some 20 per cent and

SMRT Taxis said that since Dec 21, it has been receiving 85 fewer calls per hour.

Although a key reason for the fare hike was to raise cabbies' earnings, Trans-Cab, SMRT and Smart Taxis say they are getting varied response from their drivers.

In Parliament this week, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said that he expects the market to take three to four months to stabilise.

A Straits Times check at five taxi stands yesterday in the city showed more taxis in the queue than customers. In places like Ngee Ann City, where commuters used to have to wait a long time for cabs, there was a steady stream of taxis yesterday.

SMRT cabby Seah Yong Kok, 51, said customers are shying away because of the 35-per-cent peak-hour surcharge.

He used to take home $230 to $250 driving 12-hour shifts, but now takes home $170 to $180. To get back what he used to earn, he has to drive 14 to 15 hours.

He said: 'I am thinking of giving up after Chinese New Year.'

weichean@sph.com.sg