19 April 2010

The new MyZone public transport tickets are a great step forward for integrated tickets and lower costs for many commuters. NCOSS has welcomed the creation of the MyZone fare structure because it has resulted in a simpler fare structure across modes of transport and capped transport costs for regular commuters travelling longer distances.

However, there are still a number of steps to go before MyZone can be considered a fully integrated ticketing system. A fully integrated ticketing system would allow a passenger to use one ticket to get to their destination regardless of how many modes of transport are used in the journey. Such a system is also based on an integrated fare structure which applies one “flag fall” and a consistent fare rate for all modes of transport.

Fragmented ticketing and fares systems create a barrier for people using the public transport system by making the fares for multiple-mode and multiple-stop trips higher. MyZone reduces this fragmentation but doesn’t eliminate it altogether.

At the moment MyZone

• Does not include the monorail, light rail or private ferries
• Has some tickets and fares limited to particular modes of transport or to particular zones
• Is still geared to journeys to and from the CBD
• Does not provide for zone/time ticketing to allow use of the system for set time periods within set zones
• Does not extend to regional and rural NSW

Cost is a major barrier to using public transport across NSW. NCOSS is arguing for integrated fares plus integrated ticketing. Overseas studies indicate that there is a surge in the take-up of public transport when integrated fares and ticketing are introduced.

The result of a truly integrated fare/ticket system will be an increase in the use of public transport and a decrease in the proportion of income that low income and disadvantaged people use on public transport fares.

NCOSS calls on the NSW Government and the Liberal/National Opposition to support full integrated ticketing for all public transport users in NSW.

For further information please refer to Vote 1 Fairness in NSW at www.ncoss.org.au/vote1fairness