Opal fares look set to soar again – barely two weeks after they last increased in price.
The latest increase in fares was on July 1, when Sydney commuters were hit with a 2.2 per cent increase – meaning a one-way trip from the city’s west to the CBD now costs $6.76 during peak hour.
However, Transport Minister Andrew Constance has already started looking into the ‘maximum fares’ for public transport until 2024.
This was not received well by the public who have slammed Mr Constance for ‘overcharging’ commuters.
The latest increase in fares was on 1 July where Sydney commuters were hit with a 2.2 per cent increase
Mr Constance defended the fare increase indicating that the government had already kept fares low with a five year freeze
Mr Constance defended the fare increase earlier this month, indicating that the government had already kept fares low with a five-year freeze.
He announced on Thursday that fare prices will be capped at CPI and not increase by the 4.2 per cent recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
IPART is an independent regulatory responsible for setting maximum fares for metropolitan and outer metropolitan services in NSW.
‘The government adjusted fares by CPI only last year and again this coming financial year,’ he said in a statement.
‘As a government, we don’t support IPART’s recommended average annual increase of 4.2 per cent as we believe it’s more important to put commuters first and these changes show that we are continuing to do so.’
The Opal card was launched in 2012 by the now NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian who said, ‘the Opal card will transform the way people get around, making public transport more convenient’.
Following Opal’s launch in 2012, the government initially only increased the fares of paper tickets to encourage commuters to sign up to Opal.
Once paper tickets were eventually phased out, fare hikes were placed on hold from 2015 for trains and ferries till July 2017, and buses and light rail from 2014 to 2017.
In 2017, fares increased and again in the 2018 financial year.
Commuters travelling from Wynyard Station to Kingswood station during morning and afternoon peak hour would pay $6.76.
An adult travelling from Bankstown Station to Town Hall will pay $5.25 during morning and after peak hour.
Daily Mail Australia contacted NSW Transport for comment.
Once paper tickets eventually phased out fare hikes were placed on hold from 2015 for trains and ferries till July 2017