Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Spokesman for APTNSW, Allan Miles said "Any new fares must first be reviewed by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), as well as bear the scrutiny of consumer groups."

However, Mr Miles said that at first glance the proposals seemed reasonable, and APTNSW would probably not mount any strong opposition.

"The government has quoted an average increase of six percent," Mr Miles said. "They are fond of quoting an 'average increase', which means nothing to the average commuter." "However, in this case," he said," the increases in most ticket prices are around that figure, given that the price has to be rounded to ten cents."

Mr Miles said that the Government had mentioned the need to finance new buses and infrastructure in all areas of Sydney. "They have had a good record on this in recent years," Mr Miles said, "and we would like to see progress continue. This is in contrast to CityRail's improvements, which are ever promised and ever delayed."

“Fares will fall for many bus trips in regions outside Sydney,” Mr Miles said. “The fare harmonisation process, begun in Sydney in 2005, will be extended to private buses in the Outer Metropolitan areas such as the Illawarra, Central Coast, Newcastle and Blue Mountains.” Mr Miles said that lower fares for all but the shortest trips will result. State Transit services in Newcastle are time-based, rather than section-based, and the fares will increase slightly.

"APTNSW is disappointed that there has been no move towards introducing a zone fare structure to Sydney's transport," he said, "so we will see several more years of the antiquated pay-for-distance fares which all other capitals have abandoned."

"Passenger convenience would be increased." he said, "and probably patronage figures also, if the one ticket covered all forms of transport - rail, road and rudder."

"The popular multi-mode zonal TravelPass tickets have been retained," Mr Miles said, "and the Government should be looking at ways to cover all of Sydney with similar types of zoned tickets." "If this was done," Mr Miles said, "we would not suffer three separate hits for rail, bus and ferry fare rises in the same year."

Mr Miles also said that more effort must be made to extend TravelTen type tickets into the private buses to give equity with the State transit buses.

Contact: Allan Miles 9516-1906