It seems IPART is not happy with the current way Opal fares are set (and I'm sure that they were involved in original fares approval before Opal had initially introduced the fares that we are now paying). They want to streamline the way fares are charged offer discounts and raise other fares by at least 20%.
As suggested to today, by State Member for Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla, that Mount Druitt commuters may be seeking rise of fares from 23% to 48%, where pensioners will be from $2.50 per day to $9.00.
Click here for the actual submission
Click here for IPART's suggestions on public transport prices video
Here is my summary of IPART's video, their proposal is:
- charging costs on a Straight line destination as opposed to traveling on actual different modes of public transports trip destinations.
- Instead of unlimited trips after 8 journey as per now, charges on the 10 longest trips per week and then free unlimited multiple trips and caped from $60 per week to $65 per week
- All cap on weekends is currently $2.50 to increase to $7.20 for Adult, $5.40 for Concession and $3.50 for Child.
- Off Peak discount 30%-40% discount
- Paper tickets 40% more then Opal tickets
- Gold Opal Cap by 1/7/2018 $4.00
- In 2016-17 cost increases of single mode travelers cost increase of more than 20%
So my review of the submission is leave the Opal Card ticketing system as it is for price charging in relation to capping. I also think that IPART should be released on the year of election year (every 4 years)- keeping politicians alert!
Pensioners and Gold card pricing as it stands, fares can rise as per below inflation rates and that is it! If providing discounts, provide discounts across the board, so that all commuters gain an advantage. Off Peak discounts could be lowered and then this surplus of discounts off and spread across other commuters prices This would result to commuters using and enjoying traveling on public transport, if fares are discounted across the board. Do not disadvantage any commuter whether they are single journey or long distance commuters!
If IPART wants to set price charges on a direct line destination charge - that will be good for all commuter in Mount Druitt as that will place Mount Druitt distance to 20 kms or under - lower price band. As we are being charged the higher band as previous blo click here.
Increasing the current capping of current weekend charges to substantial weekend charges, does not promote families to get public transport on weekends as the video explained, in Mount Druitt it would be a discourage commuters to use public transport on weekends.
Public transport services on weekends do not compliment these price proposed price hikes within Mount Druitt, with limited proper early morning services. IPART is comparing proposed weekend caps to weekday caps and present a glossy picture, when it isn't. I do think as a strong public transport Community advocate for Mount Druitt this will hit commuters in the pockets. We don't have enough early bus services on Sunday mornings to cater for our commuters!
My strongest objection here is that the former NSW Minister for Transport , Gladys Berejiklian, promoted and got the electronic Opal card into onto Sydney public transport network. So far it has generally been a great success and the promotion on enticing commuters that use 8 trips or more 'and the rest is free' is a much better avenue on enticing non-public transport users to use public transport.
Charging for the most expensive 10 trips during the week is above board for daily workers places further cost on the majority of weekly regular commuters, who rely on public transport to reach on getting to daily destinations.
The understanding I have of IPART is saying, 'Now OPAL is in, we can change the goal posts in thew ay they operate fare pricing. Fares must be fair not unfair. NSW Transport will gain 2 trips extra per person price and lose the idea of promotion of public transport to non commuters. More cars will be left on the road.
We have to accept fare increases below the predicted inflation rate. That is fine, but when there is substantial cost increases to a majority of commuters who are disadvantaged, then this is ridiculous. Promotion of public transport doesn't mean that you have to change suddenly the way you price public transport and substantially increase public transport prices in certain areas. Especially, after you have introduced and implemented a new electronic ticketing that took time for commuters to get used to, with the current range of ticketing Opal presented, approved by NSW Transport.
As a strong Mount Druitt community representative, I can tell you that Mount Druitt commuters will be hit hard in the pocket as at least approximately 80% of weekly commuter will be paying higher fares, by charging 2 extra 2 trips per week. Where is the fairness? Weekend commuters being caped at a higher rate, will effect of 100% of weekend commuters, where services do not compliment any weekend price rise with limited early/late night bus services?
We also need to include that we are not up to standard with accessible buses compared to other bus regions click here for blog.
I'm sure both State Members for Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla and Londonderry, Prue Car (which have suburbs in Mount Druitt) will not support this as well!
The IPART proposal as it stands should not go through!
This will be my feedback on behalf of our community!
So NSW IPART needs feed back by 6th February 2016 so pleas have your say by then.
Click here to have your say
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