The Opal Card fare increases proposed by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) will hit many Macarthur families harder than a 0.25 per cent interest rate rise on a $400,000 mortgage, according to the NRMA.
According to the national motoring organisation’s submission to the review, the increase would hurt some families more than an interest rate rise of 0.25 per cent on a $400,000 mortgage, which would be $13 a week.
Under the IPART proposal, Campbelltown commuters would have to pay $23 more (44.5 per cent) on their weekly fare to the Sydney CBD by July 2018.
Local commuters would also face an increase of:
♦ 45 per cent from Menangle Park, Menangle
♦ 44.5 per cent from Minto, Leumeah, Macarthur
♦ 25 per cent from Tahmoor, Bargo, Picton
♦ 24 per cent from Glenfield, Macquarie Fields, Edmondson Park and Ingleburn
The NRMA has submitted a raft of recommendations to IPART in response to its report released in December.
IPART’s proposals included changes to the current Opal fare structure that would abolish free travel after eight journeys, increase the weekly fare cap and abolish the $2.50 Family Funday Sunday fare offer.
When first introduced, the Opal system promoted cheaper fares for regular commuters.
However, the NRMA says that if the changes are implemented, commuters will be hit with fare increases well above inflation for three consecutive years from July this year.
NRMA local director Marisa Mastroianni says IPART’s proposed changes would be more expensive than a dreaded interest rate hike.
“Local commuters already spend more than two hours a day sitting on public transport between home in the Macarthur region and the city.
“Hiking up their public transport fares would only discourage them from using the train system and encourage them to join the already congested roads like Appin Road and the M5,” Ms Mastroianni said.
“This proposal isn’t an effective long term solution to the troubled public transport system connecting Sydney with nearby regions.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“A robust, public discussion about alternatives is what needs to be done before fines are hiked, for some commuters by more than 25 per cent overnight,” Ms Mastroianni said.[/social_quote]
Under the current system, commuters receive free travel after their first eight journeys, allowing some users to take short trips early in the week to take advantage of free travel sooner.
IPART has suggested closing this loophole by charging commuters for their most expensive 10 trips during the week, removing the free travel incentive many commuters enjoy on Fridays and weekends.
Seniors fare is also going up
Other IPART proposed changes will see the $2.50 seniors’ Gold Opal daily fare increase to $3.60 in July and to $4 by July 2018.
The NRMA is calling on the NSW Government to consider free off-peak fares for Gold Opal users.
“Our older Members told us at the Wollongong Fit to Drive Forum last year that the trains to Sydney and around the region can be complicated and confusing,’’ Ms Mastroianni said.
“Introducing these knee-jerk reactions would only make the situation worse.’’
The NRMA has also proposed fare refunds for avoidable delays and disruptions throughout the public transport network.
This has proven effective in the United Kingdom, where Transport for London has introduced refunds for commuters who experience delays at the fault of the operator; and National Express has launched “automatic delay repay’’ for delayed trains.
IPART will release its final report to the NSW Government in March.
NRMA’s submission is available online here.
