Sydney peak hour pricing window extended despite new Opal discount
Sydneysiders will be able to travel for half price on public transport during off-peak periods for the next three months, but the government has also extended the peak hour window by several hours, meaning thousands of commuters could soon pay more.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced the 50 per cent off-peak Opal fare discount on Friday as the government attempts to spread out commuters and maintain social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NSW government has introduced discounts for off-peak travel, but increased the peak hour window.Credit:Louise Kennerley
The government has also maintained most of its peak travel fares despite the independent pricing regulator recommending a five per cent increase each year for the next four years.
However, the peak hour window has been widened by an hour and a half both in the morning and at night, meaning more people will soon have to pay higher rates. The current peak time is 7am to 9am, and 4pm to 6.30pm. From July 6, this will change to 6.30am to 10am, and 3pm to 7pm.
Mr Constance said the increase to peak hour was to encourage more commuters to re-time their trip during the coronavirus crisis.
“The challenge we’ve had there is we’ve had a high concentration of commuters on the shoulder of the peak, so if we’re really going to see a step change in terms of...timing of the day, that’s why we’re putting it in,” Mr Constance said.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance announces the Opal price changes on Friday morning.Credit:AAP
“I think that’s fair, we’re trying to keep people safe, keep people apart.”
He said the fare restructure would be “good news” for 85 per cent of the state’s commuters, with the discount in place between 10am and 3pm.
The Transport Minister said the government had lost hundreds of millions in revenue during the coronavirus lockdown due to massive drops in patronage.
He said any increase to revenue off the back of the Opal fare change would be minor.
“I expect that if we see any increase it will be very much a rounding error, we’ve seen such an enormous drop in revenue,” Mr Constance said.
The new pricing scheme will come into effect on July 6 and run for three months. After that, the government says a permanent 30 per cent discount for off-peak travel will be introduced on buses and light rail, in line with what is already in place for trains and metro services.
A new $8.05 cap will also be introduced on weekends to encourage the spread of weekend commuter loading.
While most fares are either being discounted or staying the same, the government will increase the cost of shorter bus and light rail trips in a bid to keep people off public transport if they can walk or cycle.
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