Most public transport users unaffected by fare increase

15/06/2009

A State Government freeze on concession fares means the majority of Perth’s public transport users will be unaffected by a CPI-based fare increase next month.
 
About 60 per cent of Transperth users travel on concession fares, which are available to a wide cross-section of people, including students, low-income earners with Health Care cards, seniors and aged pensioners.
 
The concession rate is currently about 40 per cent of the standard fare, though seniors as well as aged and disability support pensioners travel free all weekend and between 9am and 3.30pm on weekdays, and primary and secondary school students pay a flat 50 cents.
 
Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said today that the new fares still represented outstanding value.
 
“All public transport fares continue to be heavily subsidised - less than 30 per cent of the cost of providing the service is recovered through fares,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“The increase in standard fares is based on the CPI figure of 4.2 per cent. The adjustment varies for each fare type and zone because they are rounded to achieve a ‘workable’ cash fare, which then serves as the basis for SmartRider fares.
 
“Regular public transport users would also be well aware that using SmartRider cards provides discounts of either 15 per cent or 25 per cent depending on how they are reloaded, further reducing the impact of any fare increase.  More than 63 per cent of travel is by SmartRider.
 
“The most common fare, for two zones, goes up 10 cents (2.86 per cent) to $3.60 cash, or seven cents (2.66 per cent) to $2.70 with the maximum SmartRider discount. 
 
“The cost of the seven-zone, 73km trip between Mandurah and Perth - a fare which remains valid for three hours - goes up 30 cents (3.66 per cent) to $8.50 cash or 23 cents (3.74 per cent) to $6.38 by SmartRider.”