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

The Independent Pricing Tribunal (IPART) has produced its usual bucketful of figures to justify rail and ferry fare increases next year, according to a transport consumer group.

Allan Miles, Secretary of Action for Public Transport (APT), said that IPART ignores the faces behind the figures, preferring spreadsheets and economic principles to guide its decisions.

“IPART wants fares to increase by a double-whammy”, Mr Miles said, “inflation plus a catch-up figure, every year for the next three or four years.”

“IPART says that groups with special needs should be funded separately by the government,” said Mr Miles, “rather than by general fare reductions or freezes.”

Mr Miles said that the Transport Minister, Ms Berejiklian, should stand by the new catchprase emblazoned across the foyer of TfNSW Head office. "the customer will be at the centre of everything we do",

“Driving to the city from Abbotsford for a quick purchase is quicker and preferable to using public transport,” according to a letter in the newspaper this week,” said Mr Miles. “The Minister should find out why.”

Mr Miles said that IPART has failed to recommend a cheap all-day all-modes ticket for the inner suburban area, one of the few failings of the MyZone system. “Persons wishing to make a few short trips in different directions must pay penalty single fares for each trip,” Mr Miles said. “This will not be moderated by the Opal card,” he said, “even if it was introduced tomorrow.”

‘Bus fares are not covered by this determination,” Mr Miles said, “because they still have a year to run under the previous four-year decision, and will increase automatically.