Article: Public transport fares to rise by 5 per cent in 2009

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Public transport fares to rise by 5 per cent in 2009

Public transport fares to rise by 5 per cent in 2009
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner, Kate Rose

December 12, 2008 07:30am

COMMUTERS faced another frustrating trip to work this morning, with more than a dozen trains cancelled.

Connex spokesman John Rees said about 13 trains were cancelled across the network through the morning peak.

He said the cancellations were due to "a higher than normal number of reported faults", and had nothing to do with the ongoing threat of industrial action by Connex staff over Christmas bonuses.

Mr Rees said nothing could be done about the increased number of faults. "It was just one of those things."

The cancellations come at the end of a nightmare week for commuters, but insult has been added to injury with the news public transport fares will rise by 5 per cent next year. It will be the biggest increase for Melbourne commuters in five years.

Some commuters will have to find more than another $100 a year.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has approved the rise, which will add 30cents to the cost of a daily zone 1 ticket, to $6.80 next year.

But the Herald Sun believes Ms Kosky overruled a bid by bureaucrats to impose increases of up to 12.5 per cent on concession card holders.

The fare increases, which will take effect from January 1, are separate from those announced this week to help finance the state's $38 billion transport blueprint.

Two 5 per cent increases, on top of the consumer price index, will be imposed in 2012 and 2013 to pay for infrastructure projects.

This adjustment is the annual increase linked to inflation. Since inflation is at a seven-year high at 5 per cent, fares will be marked up accordingly.

Recent annual fare increases have been between 2 and 3 per cent.

An earlier decision to axe weekend travel benefits attached to weekly, monthly and yearly tickets has been reversed.

Commuters with these tickets will be able to continue to use them across the system on weekends, regardless of which zone they are for.

A move to force pensioners to buy five tickets at once has already been overturned. Public transport will also be free on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve after 6pm.

Train travellers were hit by more cancellations last night, and the Christmas bonus dispute at Connex remained unresolved.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Trevor Dobbyn said he hoped the row would be resolved "before there (was) any disruption".

Ms Kosky said yesterday she had been briefed on the dispute on Wednesday night, and she hoped it would be resolved by last night.

The union has set a deadline of 5pm today; widespread industrial action is possible next week if it's not resolved.