Rail win for commuters

By Callan Date
CASEY public transport users are the big winners from an announcement to abolish zone three fares from buses and trains.
Both the Labor and Liberal parties announced the pre-election pledge within hours of each other last Thursday to the delight of many public transport commuters. The ticketing changes will result in zone two being extended into the former zone three areas – a change that will save several dollars on certain trips.
Should Labor win the state election later this month the changes will come into force from 4 March next year while the Liberal Party hope to introduce the changes from 1 July next year.
An adult return train trip to the city will save $2.90 under the changes and a two-hour ticket will be $2 cheaper.
Liberal leader Ted Baillieu said the changes would make it a much fairer public-transport system for people in the outer suburbs.
“A Liberal Government will introduce this simpler two-zone fare system so that public transport is easier to understand and fairer for both regular and occasional users,” Mr Baillieu said.
The Liberal Party also hope to make several other changes to the public-transport system.
“We’ve already announced plans for full-time students to travel for free – this is a further $84.3 million commitment to boost public transport patronage.
“These initiatives in turn have flow-on effects for the environment, limiting greenhouse emissions,” Mr Baillieu said.
Premier Steve Bracks said changes made under a Labor government would result in a $94.1 million cut in public transport fares.
“Cheaper public transport fares respond to the challenge of increasing petrol prices and traffic congestion,” Mr Bracks said.