Article: Commuters hit with fare hikes of nearly 120 per cent

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Commuters hit with fare hikes of nearly 120 per cent

Commuters hit with fare hikes of nearly 120 per cent

   by: Greg Thom
   From: Herald Sun
   March 06, 2012 12:00AM

PUBLIC transport fares have risen at almost double the rate of inflation over the past 20 years.

A study has revealed while the Consumer Price Index averaged 66.7 per cent since 1992, long-suffering commuters were hit with ticket price increases of about 120 per cent.

The cost of travelling by car over the same period increased 52 per cent - less than half that of catching a train, tram or bus.

The research by the Public Transport Users Association comes after the Baillieu Government's 8.6 per cent leap in public transport fares - the biggest rise in eight years.

PTUA president Daniel Bowen, called for the State Government to at least slash monthly fares - which have jumped 90 per cent in the past 20 years - to help ease commuters' financial pain.

He said this would also encourage more people to use public transport, along with easing the transition to the $1.3 billion myki ticketing system.

The PTUA warned fares would jump ahead of inflation again in 2013 if Spring St went ahead with the former Labor government plan of a second fare rise.

"Public transport is getting less affordable for many Melburnians, even as the costs of motoring have reduced in real terms," Mr Bowen said.

The study revealed between 1992 and 2012:

ZONE 1 fares more than doubled, with the price of a two-hour ticket increasing from $1.90 to $4.00.

COMMUTERS relying on Zone 1+2 fares saw ticket prices surge 117 per cent.

SINGLE-ZONE, outer-suburban fares (zone 2 or former zone 3) rose 135 per cent.

MONTHLY fares not only cost an average 94 per cent more today that 20 years ago, but represent poorer value.

Mr Bowen said with fast-growing patronage, revenue was rising fast and the Government should structure fares to encourage people to use public transport more often.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder defended the fare increases, saying factors such as an annual $80 million fare evasion bill, $225 million spent on rail maintenance and more passengers, all played a part.

[#Metro]

The PTUA warned fares would jump ahead of inflation again in 2013 if Spring St went ahead with the former Labor government plan of a second fare rise.

"Public transport is getting less affordable for many Melburnians, even as the costs of motoring have reduced in real terms," Mr Bowen said.

These comment's don't make sense.
Here's why.

1. Why must the cost of this track CPI? CPI is an averaged index - so some things will track above, some below. Does the rate of demand for PT track CPI as well? Australian systems are the most heavily subsidized and expensive systems to run on Earth. A system that only allows increases by CPI is saying "I only want the current services and the network to stay like that".

2. If PT is getting less and less affordable, you would expect less people to be catching it. Right?
So what is this then with patronage going through the roof that it is reaching crisis proportions? How is that consistent with the fares scaring everyone away. It isn't.

Ultimately I think the separation of lines is important, this will allow metro frequencies (2-5 minutes) to be run all day on train lines. Some branches need to be cut off IMHO as well to permit increased frequency. Lines could also be automated eventually.

[ozbob]

PTUA --> Fares rising at almost double rate of inflation – Monthly fare cuts could ease myki pain

[SurfRail]

The PTUA warned fares would jump ahead of inflation again in 2013 if Spring St went ahead with the former Labor government plan of a second fare rise.

"Public transport is getting less affordable for many Melburnians, even as the costs of motoring have reduced in real terms," Mr Bowen said.

These comment's don't make sense.
Here's why.

1. Why must the cost of this track CPI? CPI is an averaged index - so some things will track above, some below. Does the rate of demand for PT track CPI as well? Australian systems are the most heavily subsidized and expensive systems to run on Earth. A system that only allows increases by CPI is saying "I only want the current services and the network to stay like that".

2. If PT is getting less and less affordable, you would expect less people to be catching it. Right?
So what is this then with patronage going through the roof that it is reaching crisis proportions? How is that consistent with the fares scaring everyone away. It isn't.

Ultimately I think the separation of lines is important, this will allow metro frequencies (2-5 minutes) to be run all day on train lines. Some branches need to be cut off IMHO as well to permit increased frequency. Lines could also be automated eventually.

This is yet another reason why I think the PTUA has no credibility, which is a situation we have been very fortunate to avoid.

[Jonas Jade]

Ultimately I think the separation of lines is important, this will allow metro frequencies (2-5 minutes) to be run all day on train lines. Some branches need to be cut off IMHO as well to permit increased frequency. Lines could also be automated eventually.

If you're referring to the Melbourne network, the beginnings of this are already in progress (except the automation)

eg: Laverton - Altona shuttles, Frankston/Werribee routed out of the city loop, Melbourne Metro progress & IA submission (continued even after a change in government, Labor -> Liberal, hint hint Campbell......), upcoming signalling trials on the Sandringham line, stated intentions for 10 min offpeak frequencies on major lines.