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

“The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has ruled that TravelTen prices can increase by three per cent from 2nd January,” Mr Miles said, “and TravelPasses without rail content can increase by $1 or $2.” Mr Miles said that both these popular tickets have no expiry date, so they can be bought now and used later.

“Lamentably, the benefits of these tickets are still denied to private bus users,” Mr Miles said, “because of continued dithering by the Iemma government over reform of the fares policy.” Mr Miles said that this benefit was to be provided with the Tcard. "However," said Mr Miles, "now that Tcard is still further away than the end of the rainbow, IPART has asked the Ministry to consider introducing interim measures to give private bus users access to discounted fares." (See page 26 of IPART Determination.) "This is to be applauded," he said, "but it will require some heat applied to the Minstry to make sure it happens."

“TravelTens already save time and money compared to cash fares from the driver,” Mr Miles said. “Each TravelTen trip saves twenty per cent on the cash fare. Now regular users have a chance to save more money.”

Mr Miles gave an example. “A two-section bus trip today costs $1.70, and will increase to $1.80,” he said. “A two-section Blue TravelTen now costs $13.60,” he said, “and will rise to $14.40. Therefore a TravelTen bought now and used after January will give a $1.80 ride still for $1.36, a saving of 44 cents or 24 per cent.” Mr Miles said that similar savings apply across the whole range of TravelTen tickets.

“Infrequent users can also stock up on pre-paid single tickets,” Mr Miles said. “Although these cost the same as cash fares from the driver, they save time at the bus stop, and allow holders to use the PrePay-only buses.” Mr Miles said that users can save money if they stock up now at the current prices. “The tickets come in the same colours (Blue, Brown, etc) as the TravelTens and in adult and concessions versions,” Mr Miles said. “If your newsagent doesn’t stock them, ask them to order some.”

“Blue and 2-Zone Weekly TravelPasses will increase by $1.00 and Orange and Pittwater TravelPasses will increase by $2.00,” Mr Miles said, “and these can also be bulk-purchased in advance.” Mr Miles warned that this only applies to TravelPasses bought from agents. Tickets bought from railway stations are dated on purchase and must be used immediately.

Mr Miles said that IPART's approval of an average increase of three per cent was less than the six per cent asked for by the Ministry of Transport.

See full details on the IPART web site http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/.

“It is disappointing that IPART did not take the bold step of making a policy decision to round all the new single cash fares to the nearest dollar,” Mr Miles said. "This would have considerable speeded up boarding times on buses. However, the decision to increase the fares by 3% rather than by 6% has avoided the absurdly precise fares of $3.10 and $4.10 sought by the Ministry. The new single cash fares will be $1.80, $3.00, $4.00, $4.80 and $5.80."

"There is also good news for most Outer Metroplitan bus users," Mr Miles said. "Following the harmonisation of all Sydney fares (government and private) two years ago, the standard fares have been extended to all regions from Newcastle to Wollongong and the Blue Mountains." Mr Miles said that in these areas, most fares will fall significantly, although the price of the shortest distance trips will increase by a small amount.

Mr Miles noted that the increase will commence from Wednesday 2nd January 2008. "In previous years," Mr Miles said, "the increases have started from the first Sunday in January. In 2008, the first Sunday is 6th January, and obviously, they can't wait that long!"

Mr Miles said that prices of TravelPass tickets that include train trips will not increase because their price changed when rail fares increased in November.

In a separate determination, IPART approved increases in Newcastle STA fares of three per cent. Mr Miles said this was a little surprising, given the scathing criticism of the Newcastle STA services given during the review by local users.

He also said that the price of the $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Ticket is not affected by any IPART ruling.

Contact: Allan Miles 9516-1906