The Costs of Late-Night Transport

This transport gap doesn't just penalise party-goers; it places an immense strain on the very individuals powering this revitalised sector. Bartenders, service staff, and security personnel finishing their shifts in the early morning hours face the same punishing transport costs. For a service worker earning a wage under the Progressive Wage Model, which can be around SGD 12 to SGD 15 per hour, a single SGD 40 ride home can consume nearly three hours of their pre-tax earnings. This financial penalty makes late-night hospitality jobs less tenable, contributing to the persistent manpower shortages that plague the industry and ultimately creating a self-defeating cycle where the cost of participation in the late-night economy becomes prohibitively high for its key players.

Furthermore, Singapore's highly-lauded MRT system reliability, which boasts a Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF) of over 1 million train-km, is predicated on a critical overnight engineering window. These few precious hours between midnight and 6 am are essential for the maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to the tracks, trains, and signalling systems that prevent disruptions during peak hours. Sacrificing this window for 24/7 operations could compromise the safety and efficiency of the entire network, a risk that authorities are unwilling to take.

This pragmatic stance, however, contrasts sharply with the practices of other global hubs like London and New York, where 24-hour transport is considered essential infrastructure, not a luxury. In those cities, the economic and social benefits of a continuously connected population are deemed to outweigh the operational costs. The absence of a similar solution in Singapore suggests a policy disconnect, where the ambition to create a world-class nightlife scene is not yet matched by the foundational infrastructure required to make it accessible and sustainable for ordinary citizens.

The repercussions extend beyond local sentiment and impact Singapore's meticulously crafted international brand. Tourists and expatriates arriving from cities with robust 24-hour transport networks often express surprise at this logistical gap. It stands out as an uncharacteristic friction point in an ecosystem otherwise celebrated for its seamless efficiency. With tourism receipts projected to climb well past SGD 20 billion, negative visitor experiences related to fundamental issues like transport accessibility can detract from the overall appeal, suggesting that while the city is open for business late, it isn't fully equipped for the people who support it.

This financial pressure subtly reshapes social behaviour. The prospect of a costly ride home forces individuals to make economically-driven decisions about their social lives. Many choose to cut their evenings short to catch the last train just before midnight, dampening the very vibrancy the extended hours were meant to foster. Others may opt out of late-night gatherings altogether, leading to less spending at food and beverage establishments. While operator-driven promotions, like discounted Grab rides from a specific venue, offer temporary relief, they are merely a bandage on a systemic issue, privatising a solution that many argue should be a public utility.

​Looking ahead, the long-term solution cannot solely rest on individual budgeting or temporary corporate discounts. While fully autonomous vehicles may one day solve the manpower cost equation, a more immediate and viable middle ground is necessary. A data-driven reintroduction of limited NightRider bus services on weekends, routed through key entertainment hubs and residential corridors, could be a starting point. Even if operated on a full cost-recovery basis with higher fares, these services would provide a crucial, more affordable alternative to private-hire vehicles, bridging the gap between a world-class nightlife and a budget-conscious populace. Ultimately, for Singapore's after-dark economy to truly thrive, the journey home must be as accessible as the entertainment itself.