[Melb] Cheap train fares dumped

["David Lindstrom" <D_Lindstrom@Bigpond.com>]

Cheap train fares dumped
http://www.theage.com.au/news/2001/01/03/FFXD0Z0GGHC.html
By SUSHI DAS
TRANSPORT REPORTER
Wednesday 3 January 2001

The operators of Melbourne's suburban train network have scrapped some of
their cheapest concession fares, resulting in price increases of up to 50
per cent for some passengers.

Coinciding with a general 8.3 per cent jump in fares from January 1, the
city's two private train companies, Connex and Bayside, have abolished
family tickets, off-peak savers and group tickets.

The concession tickets were dumped without any public announcement or
advertising prompting questions yesterday from the State Government and
condemnation from the Public Transport Users Association.

The government said it would seek talks with the companies to find out why
they failed to inform the public and what replacement tickets might
eventually be made available.

Connex and Bayside said the tickets were unpopular and were cut for reasons
of efficiency.

The companies said alternative tickets might be available later in the year
when train and tram operators planed to revamp ticketing.

A Connex spokeswoman said
replacement tickets for families and groups would be a priority, but she did
not know when they would be available.

It could not be established yesterday whether Transport Minister Peter
Batchelor, who is on leave, had known about the scrapping of the concession
tickets.

But a spokesman for Mr Batchelor, Paul Conroy, criticised the companies for
not advertising their move. “If the private operators are going to make
changes like this to the ticketing arrangements, they need to inform the
public well in advance and they should not be springing these arrangements
on the public without proper notice,” he said.

Family tickets previously allowed all-day travel for two adults and up to
six children for $19.90. For the same service, a family would now have to
buy two standard daily tickets and six concession tickets costing a total of
$40.

The group-get-about ticket, which allowed discount travel through three
zones for a group of six with a maximum of two adults, will also now cost a
minimum of $40.

Passengers using off-peak saver tickets, previously available on weekdays
for $7.20, must now buy a daily ticket costing $10.80.

Tickets priced specifically for excursions or conference delegates are also
no longer generally available. However, they can be bought by excursion and
conference organisers by negotiation with the train companies.

Connex spokeswoman Felecia Marianai said: “There are too many different
types of tickets. As a user you wouldn't know which one was most effective
for you. So what we've decided to do is rationalise the tickets.

“If you look at it from the perspective of any retailer, you cannot continue
to keep products on your shelf that aren't moving,” she said.

A spokesman for Bayside Trains and Swanston Trams, Daniel Maloney, said new
tickets were planned as part of a major revamp for this year. He said some
of the new fares could be used on all modes of transport, and others would
be exclusive to a particular train or tram operator.

Paul Mees, president of the Public Transport Users Association, said the
abolition of concession tickets amounted to a dramatic fare rise above the
inflation rate for people who travelled off-peak or in groups.

“In general the sorts of people who take advantage of family tickets and
group tickets are the least well-off members of the community,” he said.