More than 10,000 commuters now travelling during off-peak periods

Commuters at City Hall MRT. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

SINGAPORE - About 10,000 commuters have changed their travel plans, choosing to travel outside the morning peak hour.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said that this shift was due to schemes which encourage off-peak travel.

Currently there are more than 60 organizations with over 160,000 employees under the Travel Smart Network, which provides options for employees to travel outside of peak hour, such as telecommuting and flexi-work arrangements.

These organizations get grants and funding from the government to implement such schemes.

This shift of commuters is equivalent to about six to seven train loads of passengers shifting out of the 8am to 9am morning peak.

"Even for commuters who are unable to shift out of the peak travel in the morning, they are benefiting from less crowded trains during the morning peak," said Mrs Teo, who was speaking during on Tuesday morning during the Land Transport Authority's Travel Smart Network event.

This is the third year the event is being held. Mrs Teo kicked off a morning workout for almost 150 Travel Smart Network commuters shortly after her comments.

"We believe that offering such work arrangements will drive greater productivity, better employee engagement and staff retention for the bank," said Ms Theresa Phua, head of human resource for DBS Bank which is part of the scheme.

dansonc@sph.com.sg

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