[Melb] Fare evasion being neglected: Batchelor

["DL" <D_Lindstrom@Bigpond.com>]

Fare evasion being neglected: Batchelor

http://www.theage.com.au/news/2001/04/03/FFXMUE6J1LC.html

By SUSHI DAS
TRANSPORT REPORTER
Tuesday 3 April 2001

Melbourne's private transport operators were criticised by the State
Government yesterday for failing to deal with "chronic" fare evasion.

Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said the government was having to
"encourage" the transport operators to deal with fare evasion.

Since privatisation of the public transport system in August, 1999, the
private operators had not come up with any initiatives to deal with the
problem, he said.

Mr Batchelor said the private companies, which are subsidised by the
government, were more likely to take an interest in reducing fare evasion
once their subsidies began falling in years to come.

Fare evasion is believed to be higher on trams than trains.

Yarra Trams said about 12 per cent of passengers evaded fares, although on
some routes up to 25 per cent of passengers were not buying a ticket.

M>Trams (formerly Swanston Trams) said between 12 and 15 per cent of
passengers evaded fares.

Mr Batchelor said: "I think it (evasion) is far too high and we think the
private companies ought to be doing something about it ... they ought to be
going out there chasing that revenue.

"Their subsidies are going to reduce over time, so on the issue of fare
evasion they will become more focused, being driven by subsidy reductions.

"But I would have thought that right from the beginning they would try to
get on top of the fare evasion issue and we are trying to help them."

Since 1999, National Express, which runs M>Trams, has received $139.4
million in government subsidies. In 2011 government support will fall to
nearly $20 million.

Metrolink, which runs Yarra Trams, has received $114.7 million since 1999.
In the last two years of its 12-year franchise deal, it is expected to be
profitable enough to return up to $5 million to the government.

The government has indicated it would consider any strategy put forward by
private operators to deal with fare evasion.

Mr Batchelor rejected an informal suggestion by one of the private operators
to offer fare dodgers the option of buying $80 worth of tickets instead of a
fine.

"We don't believe they (evaders) should be lightly let off ... There will
always be a system of fines operating here in Melbourne, and if you don't
have a ticket you could render yourself liable for a fine," he said.

Yarra Trams and M>Trams both said yesterday that they had not formally
raised the prospect of scrapping fines with the government.

A move to scrap fines would require an amendment to the Transport Act.

Both companies denied fare evasion was a low priority because their
government subsidies were still high.

So far the companies have tried to discourage fare evasion by "working on"
plans to increase the number of outlets selling tickets.

Yarra Trams is also believed to be considering asking for increased fines
for repeat offenders.

Since privatisation, the government has funded "roving conductors" in a bid
to reduce fare evasion by having a human presence on trams.



--
Regards,
David Lindstrom