JOHOR BARU: Newly enhanced cross-border taxi services between Malaysia and Singapore have allowed travellers to enjoy flexible drop-offs.
This convenience is welcomed by travellers who no longer have to switch cabs after crossing the Causeway.
Tourist Amanda Jin, 37, from Liaoning, China, said the new policy made her trip significantly easier as she and her friend were travelling with heavy luggage.
“I was delighted to learn that the enhanced policy has started, so we could travel from the Larkin Sentral taxi terminal directly to our hotel in Orchard Road for RM240.
“Initially, we thought that we would have to drag our luggage through another transfer after crossing the Causeway into Singapore,” she said when asked about the policy which started yesterday.
Jin said they were on their Labour Day holiday to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Singapore, and would consider returning again because of the travel convenience.
Under the enhanced policy announced by the Transport Ministry and its Singapore counterpart, cross-border taxis are now allowed more flexible drop-off and pick-up locations to improve convenience for travellers.
While some passengers welcomed the flexible drop-off option, others were unhappy over the higher fares under the new policy.
Malaysian Goh Mee Yong, 55, said she was surprised that the fare for a standard four-seater taxi from Larkin Sentral to Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore had doubled to RM240.
“It is expensive but I have no choice because I need to travel to Singapore to treat my injured wrist,” she said, adding that taking the bus with luggage would be difficult.
Cross-border taxi driver Jamain Rahaman, 48, who has been plying the Johor-Singapore route for over 20 years, said the fare revision was long overdue.
“The flexible drop-off arrangement benefits both passengers and drivers.
“People do not realise how much wear and tear our vehicles go through, especially when we are stuck in Causeway traffic for hours.
“Maintenance costs, spare parts and labour charges have all gone up,” he said.
Under the revised fare structure, trips from Larkin Sentral are capped at RM240 for standard four-seater taxis, RM360 for six-seater taxis and RM540 for premium six-seaters.
According to the bilateral statement, licensed taxis will be allowed to drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore and within designated areas in Johor, namely, Johor Baru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai and Senai.
