General News
7 November, 2022
Lower train fares on track post-election
Cheaper public transport fares, more trains and additional weekend services on the regional rail network will be delivered under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government, with a return service to Maryborough launching next month. As part of a $1...
Cheaper public transport fares, more trains and additional weekend services on the regional rail network will be delivered under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government, with a return service to Maryborough launching next month.
As part of a $1 billion regional rail package, the Victorian Government would cap the cost of a daily ticket on the regional network at $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession, the same as a metro daily fare, with almost 200 additional services on major regional train lines also to be introduced.
Regional fares are currently based on the distance travelled, so a daily return fare from Maryborough to Melbourne costs up to $50.80 and from Ararat to Maryborough it costs up to $62.
According to the government, capping this fare will save Maryborough commuters up to 82 percent of that fare every day they travel, helping to drive down cost of living pressures.
Next month will mark the launch of a return rail service to Maryborough from Ballarat, connecting with existing Ballarat line services to and from Melbourne.
The services will stop at all stations along the line with residents and businesses in Talbot, Clunes and Creswick also benefitting.
The $1 billion package would also see the government order an additional 23 VLocity trains, helping support additional rail upgrades across the state, while also supporting local jobs.
The frequency of weekend services on major train lines in regional Victoria will also be boosted as part of the package, with trains running every 40 minutes on the Ballarat line between 8 am and 9 am on weekends, if the government is re-elected.
This will see five return services on Saturday and Sunday on the Ararat, Shepparton and Warrnambool lines.
This is in addition to the more than 30 additional services along the Ararat and Maryborough lines the government have introduced since 2014.
Earlier last month, the Liberal/National opposition pledged to halve fares for V/Line services and would commit to $2 flat fares for train, tram and bus travel in Melbourne and local buses in regional Victoria.
This would mean a one-way trip to Melbourne from Maryborough would cost $12.70, reduced from $25.40, while concession fares would come down to $6.35.