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[VIC] Regional Fare Cap on Trains & Buses: Full Fare $10, Concession $5 on V/Line @ Public Transport Victoria

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What is the regional fare cap?

The new regional fare cap reduces the cost of a weekday daily ticket on the public transport network to $9.20 $10 for a full fare or $4.60 $5 concession. It also extends the Weekend Saver cap for travel on Victoria’s regional network, meaning that on weekends and public holidays, your daily myki Money fare is capped at $6.70 $7.20 ($3.35 $3.60 concession).
Regional commuters who use a myki Pass (either the 7-day pass or the 28–365-day pass) will also have their fares capped at the Melbourne Zone 1 + 2 rate (currently $46 per week for the 7-day pass, or $5.52 a day for the 28–365-day pass).

When will the regional fare cap start?

This regional fare cap will begin on 31 March 2023.

Update Aug 7: The daily capped fare has increased from $9.20 to $10 full fare, and from $4.60 to $5 for concession.

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closed Comments

  • +75

    Thanks Dan, election promise fulfilled

      • +36

        Funny how the majority disagree.

        • -1

          it is funny

            • +9

              @matttttt: I suppose the lobster with the mobster who also recently had lunch with a bunch of heavies would’ve been a better candidate even after the majority voted him out 2 elections ago?

        • Don't forget reality too.

        • -6

          36% voted for him. Hardly a majority.

      • +18

        Sir this is a ozbargain forum

          • +11

            @matttttt: It's not a fact though. The reason he got re-elected was because the majority agreed that he was the most suitable candidate, negating your claim of his incompetence

              • +1

                @matttttt: How about you prove your supposed facts first seems you were the one that trotted them out to start with

              • +5

                @matttttt:

                tweet

                You're on the wrong forum. Although since you're here, why not stay and get a different perspective rather than your usual sites?

              • @matttttt: This aint twitter

            • -8

              @nicholasv: Over 800 dead due his disastrous handling of hotel quarantine . At least 33 dead due to ambulance delays. A family member of mine died due to the neglected state of the health system. Keep believing the spin gullible fools.

              • +6

                @matttttt: I'm no Dan fan, particularly, but I love the personification of Govt policy like this: "Over 800 dead due his disastrous handling of hotel quarantine" - it's so primary school.

                • +4

                  @mickeyjuiceman:

                  I'm no Dan fan, particularly, but I love the personification of Govt policy like this: "Over 800 dead due his disastrous handling of hotel quarantine" - it's so primary school.

                  I'm no Dan hater, but honestly hotel quarantine was organized as though primary school kids were in charge.

                  How you can run such an important program with no one in charge boggles my mind.

                • @mickeyjuiceman: It's what was found in the hotel quarantine inquiry that the incompetent Premier organised himself. There's statements to that effect in findings.

                  • +2

                    @matttttt:

                    It's what was found in the hotel quarantine inquiry that the incompetent Premier organised himself

                    You said he was corrupt? How could a report he organised find fault in what he did?

                    • @cute as duck: The average person is really this unable to comprehend the reality? Apparently so given the election result. Were you asleep in 2020? The hotel quarantine debacle was more about the incompetence that led to over 800 Victorians dying, all linked to Andrews' pathetic hotel quarantine where unqualified hotel bouncers were put in charge - as well as the way he lied to the inquiry.

              • @matttttt:

                fools

                How could we engage with you when you choose to name calling? Unless you're not expecting any engagement - in which case, wrong forum.

              • -1

                @matttttt: Edit: and of course the deluded Andrews fans downvote verifiable facts about people DYING! Morons.

            • @nicholasv: most suitable and incompetence can both run in parallel.

          • @matttttt:

            "facts"

            according to Matttttt from the internet.

          • +1

            @matttttt: You can google words to discover what they actually mean, you know.

            • -1

              @mickeyjuiceman: You obviously can't handle facts.

              • +2

                @matttttt: Maybe, hear me out here, you should provide some instead of just giving uninformed opinion and labelling it as "facts," cooker-style.

                • @mickeyjuiceman: Read the findings of the hotel quarantine inquiry, or the inquiry into ESTA with 33 Victorians dying due to ambulance delays.

      • +8

        Matthew ("Matt") Guy, is that you?

        • Ad hominem attacks is the best you can do?

          • +1

            @matttttt: You called everyone gullible fools a moment ago. Bit rich to comment like you're above it.

          • @matttttt: Yeah, he should have called it a "fact"

          • +1

            @matttttt:

            matttttt 25 min ago

            No, it's truly pathetic. He's [Dan Andrews] a pathetically corrupt, mendacious individual.

            matttttt 13 min ago

            Ad hominem attacks is the best you can do?

            HMMMMM

            • @OZKap: I gave reasoning. Plenty more out their in more credible sources if you'd like to inform yourself.

          • @matttttt: ROFL at you of all people whining about ad homs …….. ffs.

      • Clearly bitter

        All politicians have a level of corruption

        Only that some actually deliver value for their constituents.

        Dan has delivered and I'd vote him in again and again over the self serving, fear mongering lnp alternatives.

        The greens are not realists, so they should never have full power. They'd shut down coal fired power plants and put the state into darkness based on their principals.

        • Maybe or maybe not. But I think you'd be too if you could attribute a family members death to poor government handling.

    • +1

      Why would Dan Andrews do this?

      • +14

        "by capping regional prices, we'll make it easier for families and commuters in regional Victoria to leave the car at home and get around by train and bus"

        66 per cent saving for a daily peak from Geelong, with the fare slashed from $27.60 to $9.20

      • +2

        Both parties promised V/Line fare cuts at the last Victorian election. The coalition plan was to halve the fares, so not as generous as the forthcoming fare cuts.

        • +1

          Parroting others policies when they get support, classic politics

          Would love to have seen lnp make some decent policies instead of just attacking Dan and co.

          The "woke" aka people who don't watch Sky News saw right through it and delivered a blow to Lnp

          Next up NSW

      • +7

        I live in Geelong and this reduces our rail cost by a third. It will definitely impact the city visits we have in a positive manner. This means more beers, more lunches, more show tickets…. more dollars.

  • +31

    Honestly, I have a real problem with a tram trip from the CBD to Fitzroy costing as much as a trip from Sale to Ararat. Makes no sense. The government should just make the system free if they want to distort value in such a perverse way.

    • +18

      Agree that it should be free, period. However I also see how a person in the regions might be discouraged to work in the city if so much of their pay is going to PT

        • +14

          Not sure if you’re trolling, but you make it sound so simple.

          It is not.

          • +1

            @SupeNintendoChalmers: I'm not trolling at all.

            I was born and raised in Adelaide, and moved to Melbourne for bigger and better job opportunities. That brought with it sacrifices such as being away from my family and incurring a much higher cost of living.

            The idea that someone should be entitled to live in a much cheaper regional area and get access to city job opportunities without even paying a higher rate for their train trip, that costs much more to deliver than a metro trip, seems very unfair and imbalanced to me.

            • +9

              @xyron: As someone who commutes to work in the regions, I can assure you that things aren’t necessarily cheaper there. For starters, fuel is more expensive, which then means everything else cost more. Also factor in since the lockdowns heaps of people moved from Melbourne to the regions, exacerbating home and rent prices.

            • +10

              @xyron: But….there's nothing stopping you doing the same thing?

              • +2

                @deva5610: Completely misses the point I am making - that it doesn't make sense for public transport trips that cost much more to provide, to cost the same.

                There is obviously a policy argument here - seems the neggers are quite happy for people who live in the metro area to subsidise the higher costs of regional trips by paying much more (on a relative, per km basis) for their own.

            • +9

              @xyron: I actually think it was meant the other way around.

              Strongly encourage people to visit regional areas because it's cheaper than driving and you can easily just jump on the train and have a get away.

              I've only been on one Vline in my life and I'm excited to try it out more frequently now.

        • +6

          This is massive levels of genius - we all know Melbourne needs as many more people as possible, right? Far too small currently.

          • +1

            @mickeyjuiceman: This is a totally separate and interesting argument in itself.

            Cities across the world have a far higher population than Melbourne but fit into a much smaller footprint. With that comes the benefits of higher urbanisation. Yes, it means fewer people can afford to own their own backyard (much like in New York and London, and even Sydney).

            If people want to move to the regions to enjoy a different lifestyle, great - but I still don't see why urban commuters should be required to subsidise that lifestyle choice.

            • @xyron:

              So they should move to the city, like the rest of us who wanted to work in the city had to do.

            • +3

              @xyron:

              different lifestyle, great - but I still don't see why urban commuters should be required to subsidise that lifestyle choice.

              I don’t think you get it mate.

              I’ll give you an example, two of my work colleagues want to pack up and move to the city for greater job and pay. Right now both are living with parents and saving.

              The cheapest , half decent housing options are around $600,000, and that’s in the outer suburbs, fairly close to the regions themselves!

              To get a shoebox townhouse in a place like Dandenong now costs $700,000

              Pretty challenging for any couple, let alone a young family with a combined income of around $120.000 per annum

              • +6

                @SupeNintendoChalmers: Sure, it was challenging for me and my partner to get into the housing market too, but we have. I'm sure even that admission will attract more neggers!

                The outer suburbs already got access to the metro cap. I don't have a problem with that.

                If you wanted to move to, say, Ballarat, now you spend $10 per day rather than the ~$50 it used to cost. I don't think that's fair in a context where someone may have spent more or sacrificed on the property size to ensure they stayed within the metro zone.

                The other thing this move will do is increase the cost of housing in those regional centres, because suddenly the cost of commuting has dropped, in some cases by 50% or more. Doing nothing to help those who thought they might move to the regions to save some money.

                • +7

                  @xyron:

                  The other thing this move will do is increase the cost of housing in those regional centres, because suddenly the cost of commuting has dropped, in some cases by 50% or more. Doing nothing to help those who thought they might move to the regions to save some money.

                  That last point is fair one, but will also have another effect- it may make housing in the metro area cheaper as people do the maths and realise that they might have better lifestyle and less transport costs. Conversely, people like my colleagues may see an opening to buy in the metro market

              • -1

                @SupeNintendoChalmers: But it is equally not fair for family like mine living in inner city who is already struggling for space in small apartment to subsidise the travel of those who are living in big space in regional. And we rent.

                Why don't the government implement policy to increase the supply of housing stock, improve the quality of apartments and start having higher tax for investors to keep the price of property lower? It is because capping regional fare is the easy way.

            • +1

              @xyron: So you believe in user pays? Hopefully you do not have children yet and will live by the same principles no subsidised childcare,no parenting allowance,no family tax benefit and even pay full cost for your childrens education.I am looking forward to the savings on my tax.

        • +6

          When anyone talks about the absurd price of house prices it's almost inevitable that the first reply is "move further from the city, you should expect to commute further to save money" and now you're here saying people should move close to the city, therefore being able to save less? Which way is this meant to go?

        • +6

          So they should move to the city, like the rest of us who wanted to work in the city had to do.

          What kind of nonsensical logic is this? I work in Melbourne CBD and I live nowhere near the city.

          Please don’t speak on my behalf, nor for the majority of workers in the CBD who train it out after clocking off for the day.

      • However I also see how a person in the regions might be discouraged to work in the city if so much of their pay is going to PT

        how much more of their pay do you think would divert? $10, $50 pa…Honestly, it'll be something relatively trivial when considering ones career choice surely.

      • Making public transport free would starve the system of a significant source of revenue and reduce quality. Daniel Bowen has written extensively on this.

        There’s a very good reason no major city on the planet has introduced free public transport.

      • +2

        I lived in Melbourne then moved to Geelong during the pandemic. Current daily ticket rate is about $24, this will be a significant difference for me. I am working a Melbourne CBD job remotely. Right now I only need to travel to the office about one or twice a month. If I had to go back to full time office, not only would the time of travel be restrictive but the cost also. This at least removes one of those burdens. It's a good thing to bring Regional closer and potentially top up the commerce and activity in town at a time when major cities are struggling to get back in action after the pandemic.

    • +12

      I have a real problem with the current price. The cost for a family to travel from the country to the city for something as simple as going to see a game at the MCG costs $100's in travel costs alone.
      Now that family might have more money to spend at your business now that they can afford to travel.

      • +7

        Yep, like anything there’s a reaction to an action.

        I live in metro but work in the regions, can’t wait to take the family on the Vline to Bendigo for a couple of nights there. I’d rather spend my money on locals and their businesses than sending my money to Saudi sheiks

    • +3

      money is better spent on improving level of service rather than making pt free. bus headway improvements in the suburbs and better coverage is needed more than subsidising comparatively wealthier inner city commuters who already have access to decent pt. also free tram zone needs to be abolished already. daniel bowen, ptua, peter parker etc those guys have good write ups on why free public transport is misguided

    • +1

      A true Ozbarginer would packup and move to Ararat, although the coffee is better in Fitzroy so that might be a clincher

  • +6

    Worst public transportation got slightly less worse

    • +5

      Aw vline ain’t that bad is it?

      • +2

        I take it every day. Love it. Much more comfy. In saying that the services are not as frequent and it can get packed in peak times

      • +1

        V Line is actually really good!

      • Depends on your line. My one had the old red rattlers with malfunctioning air-con. Obviously a delight in summer. Leaving the city people would stand for the 1st 60mins because there were only 3 carriages but enough passengers for 5. Then when you're going into the city they will stop the Vline train for any metro one, so you'd be on the train for 2hrs and 5mins from arriving you'd then sit for 10-15mins as city trains went past. Good times. I moved interstate.

  • Who pays for this? Are they increasing the cost for everyday commuters like they did for the 'free' tram zone?

    • +16

      Like who pays for Joe Bloggs heart surgery? Everyone of course.

      • +5

        I never voted for Joe Bloggs to have heart surgery!!!!!one1

    • +5

      do you ask them same thing when taxes are cut?

  • +3

    Idk why everyone's shitting on Melbourne and the regions it looks pretty damn good from the view of Sydney and regions rn lol

    • +1

      Yeah it's not the most exorbitant thing ever as people are making out? Each system has its perks?

      I'm in SA and pension card holders have free transit on and off peak on Adelaide Metro. Used to only be off peak till a year or so ago.

      Personally, in the Ozbargain spirit, I often just shorten my trips to get within the 2 hour transfer window and can go across the metro area and back (with transfers) on one ticket (our system doesn't measure distance, it had zones but I don't think they are relevant now).

    • What’s Sydney?

      • +2

        What’s Sydney?

        Whatever it is, I'm more interested on how this impacts the fare to get there. It's going to be $9.20 to travel to Wodonga and I'm guessing you'll walk/bus across to Albury and onto Sydney via the train.

        Canberra is a route that I've done via this approach and it'll be also interesting to see how that price is impacted. I'm not holding my breath, but it's why I read the comments (which, not including this specific thread, have been pretty disappointing).

    • Because they watch too much Sky News.

  • +3

    https://adepteconomics.com.au/australian-state-debt-ever-inc…

    I wonder how all those budget forecasts are faring in the current economic environment

  • any good suburbs to buy a house in the regions closer to Melbourne ?

  • +11

    Anyone ever thought that people who moved to Regional areas and commuted to the CBD each day may have had to pay twice. Once with high commute fairs then the second with ‘TIME’ itself.

    Imagine 3-4 hours of the 24 you get spent on a Train plus the 8-10 hour work day.
    This 3-4 hours commute means less time with loved ones or friends. Or even just doing your own things in or around your home (hobbies/cooking/cleaning/unwinding etc)
    Even though they may have saved some money to put a roof over their heads.
    Time as a commodity can never be bought back.

    Capping the transport fares is a great idea and if it makes less traffic on major roads (Freeways or as we know a few of them ‘Not so Freeways’, you know the ones with ridiculous Tolls) in Melbourne the better.

    Now if Melbourne could only set up High Speed train links from regional centres with only 3-4 maximum stops once in the Greater City Boundaries to the CBD. One of them being the Ring Train ( or what ever its name is now, I think it is called the ‘Suburban Rail Loop’ ). Also continue to remove all level train crossings.

    High speed trains like every other developed countries seem have yet we in Oz seem to have trouble coming to the party.

    We may be on our way into the 21st century.

    • Trains are awesome way to commute but only if you can guarantee they run

      The moment they become unreliable, people stop using them.

      Imagine catching a train in from Bendigo and being stuck here with your kids needing pick up at 6pm from childcare because "insert X reason"

      Need to make them 99.9% reliable. So 1 train in 1000 is cancelled.

    • Rail infrastructure is exorbitant in this country. The opportunity cost of building truly high-speed rail to dusty country towns like Maryborough, Orbost and Bendigo would be outrageous.

      • +1

        Late to this thread, but I think putting Bendigo in the same category as Maryborough and Orbost is a bit ridiculous. It’s the third largest city in the state, vs. one with a population of 19,000, and one with a population of 4,000.

    • There’s just way too much whataboutism here for it to work, and they’d need to build additional lines to avoid metro congestion (as is proven every day on the Pakenham line given we were too cheap to build the sky rail properly). You do a high speed service to Geelong, stop maybe Lara then hit the city and every one of the individual suburbs in between whinge that the train doesn’t stop for them. So then they say oh well it’s only another 3 mins to stop at Wyndham Vale, then they add another and another and before you know it it’s stopping everywhere. Add in a train station in a marginal political seat on the way and the problem blows out further.

      Then you have the fact it would be impossible to plan and build a line in one election cycle and you’re almost guaranteed it isn’t going to happen.

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