KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) could help frugal travellers on their daily commute across the Tebrau Strait by upping its train service to hourly, a Johor state executive councillor said today after Singapore moved to hike toll rates on the Causeway.

Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the idea may prompt more Malaysians to switch to public transport in their daily commute to work on the island republic, The Star Online reported.

“This could also have a positive impact on the traffic congestion at the Causeway as there will be fewer cars on the road,” he was quoted as saying at a news conference in Johor Baru.

The Malaysian railway company currently runs a thrice daily service from Johor Baru Sentral to the island republic and back again, with the journey taking five minutes from the Malaysian side and 20 minutes from Singapore, according to KTMB's website.

The fare for the intercity journey is priced at RM5 each way for an adult and RM3 for a child.

In comparison, four-wheeled charges for a round-trip from the Malaysian side range from RM8.20 for taxis to RM33.30 for heavy goods vehicles. Motorcycles are exempt from the toll.

The Singaporean Land Transport Authority announced yesterday it would raise the toll fares on the Causeway from October 1 to match Malaysia prices on the oldest bridge linking the two countries.

The two countries are also connected by another bridge known as the Second Link, and rates there remain unchanged.