Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

NEWS RELEASE: Bus and Ferry Fare Rises Inappropriate

posted Wednesday 13 December 2006

Even the "modest" fare rises are bad news for the average worker and low-income person, according to the consumer group Action for Public Transport (APT). Allan Miles, a spokesman for APT, was commenting on the fare increases announced today by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Mr Miles said that motorists who had converted to public transport because of the recent high petrol prices will go back to their cars. "This will be a blow to the Premier's aim of getting more people into public transport," he said. "Now that petrol prices are dropping again, fares need to remain low to match."

While the increases may be relatively minor, Mr Miles said he suspected that the low figure has more to do with the looming state election than any benevolence towards farepayers.

Mr Miles said he was pleased that IPART had not bowed to the devious attempt by the Ministry of Transport to grab unjustified increases. "The Ministry requested a rounding up again of fares that were rounded up last year," he said. "After protests from commuters, fares for the high-usage 1 and 2 section rides will remain the same," he said.

But Mr Miles said that some good news can be salvaged from the increase. "Regular bus and ferry users can still save by stocking up on tickets now at the current price," Mr Miles said. "TravelTens, FerryTens and some TravelPasses bought now can be used at any time in the future," he said. Mr Miles said that these prepaid tickets also save time for the user, and for everyone else on the bus.

Mr Miles said it was disappointing that IPART had not taken the opportunity to recommend scrapping the archaic distance based fare system in favour of a zone or timed based fare system. "The current complex ticketing system is hindering the development of Tcard, the smart card proposed for paying fares," Mr Miles said. "Ticket reforms must no longer be deferred waiting for Tcard. A fares policy must come first, then the technology."

Action for Public Transport has called for a halt to further development of the Tcard while the government reviews the project and decides whether to "continue or kill".

"The price of the DayTripper ticket should also have been reduced," Mr Miles said. "The current silly price of $15.40 should be reduced to $10 for convenience and simplicity." Mr Miles said that while this would be cheaper than many day-return fares, regular commuters would still use weeklies, etc

Contact: Allan Miles 9516-1906

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