Geelong rail fares to be more than halved under re-elected Labor government
Geelong daily rail fares will be capped under a re-elected Labor Government, with daily peak tickets between Geelong and Melbourne slashed from $27.60 to $9.20
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Geelong daily rail fares will be capped under a re-elected Labor government, with Daniel Andrews promising to slash daily peak tickets between Geelong and Melbourne from $27.60 to $9.20.
The premier on Wednesday announced a $1b package to improve regional rail services with cheaper fares, extra weekend services and a 23 new VLocity trains to replace older trains.
The Premier promised his re-elected government would cap the cost of a daily ticket on the regional network at $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession – the same price as a metro daily fare, and a 66 per cent saving for Geelong commuters.
Regional commuters who use a myki pass to travel between 28 and 365 days a year, will also be capped at the Melbourne rate – currently $5.52 per day.
The $1b package would also boost weekend services in Geelong to every 20-minutes between 8am and 9pm on weekends, and see some of the 23 new Victorian-built VLocity trains replacing older trains on the Geelong line.
The VLocity trains include mobile phone signal-boosting technology, more comfortable seats, room for bicycles, luggage racks and overhead luggage storage, a toilet, drinking fountain and six wheelchair spaces with companion seats close by.
“Cheaper fares, comfortable trains and more frequent services – that’s what matters to commuters across regional Victoria, and that’s what Labor will deliver,” Mr Andrews said on Wednesday.
The announcement comes after the Liberal Party announced it would deliver a “Geelong Metro” metropolitan rail service providing frequent rail trips between Geelong and Colac, Bannockburn and Werribee. Services on the Geelong Metro would be capped at $2 per day, while VLine fares would be halved – taking a current $27.60 fare to $13.80.
The Geelong Metro would also include a new rail station at Bell Post Hill and Bannockburn, reopening the rail platform at Moriac, a new siding and turn out track at Bannockburn to alleviate any main line interference and a move to ensure rail and bus timetabling is sequenced.
Shadow Treasurer David Davis argued Labor’s announcement was an imitation of their earlier announcement.
“After weeks of talking down the Liberals and Nationals’ plan for cheaper public transport across Victoria, Labor has kicked off their by campaign copying it,” Mr Davis said.
“Daniel Andrews has had eight years to introduce cheaper country fares but has chosen not to do so.”
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