Article: Opposition attacks fare freeze on Victorian public transport ...

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Opposition attacks fare freeze on Victorian public transport until the end of 2010

Opposition attacks fare freeze on Victorian public transport until the end of 2010

    * Staff reporters
    * From: Herald Sun
    * October 19, 2009 1:26PM

A PUBLIC transport fare freeze is a "cynical election ploy" hiding massive back door increases through penalties, the Opposition says.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said today the fare freeze until the end of the 2010 was an attempt to smooth over the state?s ?myki mess?.

The State's decision coincides with the roll out the troubled myki ticketing system.

Premier John Brumby announced the fare freeze today as he unveiled Melbourne?s new Xtrapolis train.

?The fare freeze means passengers can rely on paying the same fares until the end of next year, and buying trips in bulk means fares are even cheaper.?

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said fares would be frozen on the state?s train, tram and bus networks because of a very low inflation rate.

?This is great news for passengers, with fares to remain the same at a time of tough global financial circumstances and fluctuating petrol prices,? Ms Kosky said.

?We understand people want a better transport system, and that is why we?re investing in new trains as part of our $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan.?

But Mr Mulder said the State had already hiked tickets at nearly double the inflation rate at the start of the year, enabling the Government to ?engage in a cynical (pre)-election ploy?

He said increases included a 5.7 per cent rise for zone one two-hour adult tickets, a 6.9 per cent rise for Sunday Saver titckets and 5.5 per cent rises for zone one and two adult tickets.

And the Opposition says the new system will have a sting in the tail, tipping a ?massive hidden fare rise? when myki is introduced.

Penalty fares will be introduced for passengers who fail to ?touch off? their myki cards when alighting public transport.

Passengers will be charged the full zone two fare, even if they have only travelled in zone one, Mr Mulder said.

While the government has not revealed the cost of penalty fares, the Opposition claimed it was an attempt ?to recoup myki's $350 million budget blowout?.

He said rural city bus passengers had already been ?ripped off? more than 10,000 times by the myki system, which it claimed was still riddled with software problems.

The myki system is also three years late.

Contractor Kamco will begin another round of tests this week, and if successful, myki is tipped to start in Melbourne on November 15.

The new Xtrapolis train, unveiled by the government at Newport today, is expected to be operating on Melbourne?s rail network by December.

The government has bought 38 of the new trains, which feature a different seating layout, wider doors and extra grab handles.

?What this means is passengers can get on and off the train much easier and more quickly, reducing dwell times at stations, which are a major cause of train delays,? Ms Kosky said.

?No other Xtrapolis train in the world features this unique carriage layout and we expect it to greatly enhance the travelling experience for Melburnians.

[dwb]

What I find most interesting in this article is the new seating and door design on the new trains. Can we have some for Brisbane please?