SINGAPORE - Transport fares will be reduced by up to 1.9 per cent from December, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Monday (Aug 3).

Mr Lui, who spoke to the media at One-North MRT station, said fares were being lowered following reduced fuel costs.

He added that he would leave it to the Public Transport Council to work out the specific reductions, but expects "every commuter group" to pay lower fares.

These fares will kick in in December, coinciding with the opening of the second phase of the Downtown Line.

In addition, Mr Lui also said commuters would soon have shorter wait times while riding on the Circle Line.

Seven new trains have been put into service since June 24 this year, and another three to five will be deployed by the end of this year, the Land Transport Authority said in a media statement on Monday.

The new trains are part of a plan to roll out 24 new trains on the Circle Line, boosting capacity by 60 per cent. There are currently 47 trains on the Circle Line.

At the moment, commuters wait an average of 3.5 minutes during peak hour for a ride. This will be cut to 2.7 minutes.

During off-peak periods, commuters will only have to wait five minutes, down from an average of seven minutes.