The Andrews Labor Government has announced the implementation of a regional fare cap to make public transport fares fair for Victorians. The move is aimed at transforming the way people travel across the state and ensuring families living in rural and regional Victoria can access essential services and visit loved ones.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll joined the first passengers to benefit from the new regional fare cap, travelling by train from Southern Cross Station to Woodend Station. The cost of a daily ticket on the entire regional Victorian network is now capped at the same prices as metropolitan daily fares, which is currently $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession. On a weekend or public holiday, daily fares are capped at $6.70 and currently just $3.35 for concession.
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This move means more money in regional Victorians’ pockets, and more opportunities for families in Melbourne and visitors to the state to explore everything Victoria has to offer. For those who take long-distance V/Line journeys, the regional fare cap can save people more than $40 for each one-way journey on the regional public transport network.
The fare cap applies to all Public Transport Victoria regional buses, town buses, and V/Line trains and coaches. It also applies to interstate travel within 60km of the Victorian border, as well as Albury, Merimbula, Deniliquin, and Mt Gambier, to ensure those living in border communities in New South Wales and South Australia benefit as well.
The government continues to boost the public transport network across regional Victoria, running more trains, more often. Since 2014, they have invested nearly $1.5 billion in 59 new VLocity trains, creating around 500 jobs. An extra 800 V/Line train services have also been added since 2014, with a record 2,200 regional train services now operating weekly. Additionally, almost 200 extra weekend services are set to be added to the V/Line timetable in 2024 – with a further order of 23 VLocity trains to meet the demands of a growing network.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said, “We’re delivering for all Victorians – making public transport more affordable and accessible to passengers in every corner of our state to ensure they can get to where they need to go. The regional fare cap will transform the way Victorians travel – and will also provide a huge benefit to regional tourism and businesses.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit vline.com.au or ptv.vic.gov.au.
