Two newcomers - Premier Taxi and Smart Automobile - have been given a licence to operate taxis here, bringing the total number of operators to seven. They plan to start with 50 cabs each in 2004. (Straits Times 1 Oct 2003 H1)

Taxi operator Comfort yesterday launched an automated booking service for tourists using HP Jornada personal assistants (PDAs) enabled with special software. About 40 per cent of Comfort's daily bookings are now done using automated means, up from 10 per cent in 2002. Its total daily bookings, from its more than 11,300 taxis making about 400,000 trips a day, number between 25,000 and 30,000. (Straits Times 17 Sep 2003 H8)

The Land Transport Authority has issued a new taxi operating licence - the first since SMRT's Tibs Taxis received the licence in 1990 - to Trans-Cab Services. Trans-Cab Services's taxis, which will have a white top and red body, will start with a fleet of 150 taxis and by the fourth year will have 1,000 taxis. (Straits Times 1 Aug 2003 3)

  The Land and Transport Authority (LTA) is introducing eight new service standards for taxi operators in June 2003. Operators who do not meet the new standards will be fined up to S$100,000 for each contravention. They could even lose their licences. In 2002, LTA disciplined about 2,200 cabbies. NTUC Comfort sacked more than 200 drivers in 2002. There are already about 19,000 cabs on the roads providing a ratio of 4.8 taxis per 1,000 people. (Straits Times Monday 3 Feb 2003) (H9)

  Tough new rules to crack down on limousine-taxi touts at Changi Airport start this month. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) bans drivers at Terminal 1 from waiting near the limousine counter. They must now wait for business at the west end of the arrival hall near the Delifrance outlet. (Straits Times 7 Dec 2002)

  Upset by what he viewed as a "vicous and personal attack" on him in two media articles, Comfort managing director GOH Chee Wee has directed that Business Times (BT) journalist Christopher TAN be barred from all company events. (Straits Times 3 Oct 2002) (3)

  For 50 cents a call, SingTel cell-phone users can now book a Comfort cab through an automated system that can detect the caller's location. Callers do not need to speak to an operator. To make a booking, the user dials *654 on his cell phone. SingTel sends him an SMS message listing up to 10 pick-up points and upon his confirmation of choice of pickup point, the system will send him an SMS detailing the cab's number and estimated arrival time.  The usual booking fee of S$3.20 also applies. (Straits Times 20 Jun 2002) (3)

  The Comfort Group, Singapore's largest taxi operator, launched Comfort Bus - a new bus company - yesterday. Comfort Bus, with a fleet of more than 300 buses, provides private transpor, ferrying students and factory and office workers. It also runs charter services. But the company says it is ready to take on SBSTransit and Tibs. (Straits Times 3 Apr 2002) (4)

  Small taxis are on their way out, though it will be another five years before they are all gone. Over the years, more big taxis - up to 3,000 cc - have been put on the roads. Both Comfort and CityCab have decided not to buy any more of the small 2,000 cc cabs. (Straits Times 9 Mar 2002) (H1) 

  From Jan 1, TIBS taxis will be reducing its flagdown fare by 10 cents to S$2.10 for non-peak hours. Its rivals, Comfort Group and CityCab now charge S$2.40 for the same period. TIBS will also do away with its booking fee of S$2 between midnight and 6am and shorten its Saturday peak period by 3½ hours. The new peak hours will be from 5pm to 8pm. (Straits Times 24 Nov 2001)(H3)

  Four hundred more taxis will soon ply the roads here. Yesterday, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and National Development Dr John CHEN said 100 new licences had been issued to each of the four taxi companies here, adding to the 18,000 cabs currently on the roads. He said the move followed requests from taxi companies. According to industry sources, the government has not been issuing licences to taxi companies since 1995. (Straits Times 5 Oct 2001)(3)

  CityCab has introduced 20 new minibus-type taxis.  The new MaxiTaxi is also Singapore's largest cab by far. It seats 12 passengers and is fitted with reclining seats and piped music. The taxis must be booked at least two hours in advance on Tel: (65) 4521212. The booking fee is S$20. Meter rates are slightly higher than those for normal taxis. (Straits Times 25 May 2001)