Public transport fare rise half IPART's recommendation

Public transport fare increases will be considerably less than recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in 2012, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said today.

Ms Berejiklian said CityRail, metropolitan and outer-metropolitan bus and Sydney Ferries fares would rise in line with cost of living increases for 2010 and 2011 on January 2.

"We have always said that fares would only increase in line with the Consumer Price index (CPI) unless there are improvements in our public transport system, and that is what we are doing," Ms Berejiklian said.

She said the NSW Government had decided to give public transport customers a break by rejecting IPART’s submission that train fares should rise by 10.6 per cent in 2012, instead opting for an average 5.4 per cent increase. Passing on this smaller increase will cost the government $132 million over four years.

The $2.50 Family Funday Sunday and Pensioner Excursion Tickets will not increase.

"The fares for trains, metropolitan and outer-metropolitan buses and Sydney Ferries fares have not increased since early 2010 and because we have chosen the CPI as our guide there is no increase in real terms," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We know times are tough and we are determined to keep the impact on the travelling public to a minimum.

"By passing on only the cost of the CPI - rather than the full increase recommended by IPART – the government will carry a $132 million funding shortfall through to the end of June 2015.

"We are doing this because we want to keep the impact on public transport customers as minimal as possible."

A pre-election fare freeze by the previous irresponsible government means the 2012 increase will take in the CPI increase for 2010 and 2011.

Ms Berejiklian encouraged commuters to consider buying longer-term tickets before the New Year to take advantage of cheaper fares.

"Monthly, quarterly and yearly tickets can all be purchased online – they’re extremely good value and if you’re a regular commuter they can make travel much easier, as well as cheaper," she said.

"In the case of train periodicals, the cost from 2 January will still be less than it was at the start of this year under a Labor Government, still making them great value."

The fare increase announced today means an adult single rail ticket will rise by between 20 and 40 cents; a weekly rail ticket will rise by between $1 and $3; a single adult bus ticket will increase by between 10 and 20 cents; and a bus TravelTen will rise by between 80 cents and $1.60.

Fares for private ferries and Newcastle’s Stockton Ferry will also rise by between 30 and 40 cents.

Examples of current and future train, bus and ferry fares

Examples of current and future rail periodicals