Government under pressure to bring back discount for off-peak fare public transport

Experts say discounts on off-peak public transport fare could revive the CBD, but the state government won’t commit to the plan.

Pressure is mounting on the state government to bring back the off-peak fare discount for public transport in a bid to help kick start the city’s recovery.

Cheaper fares were trialled between February and August this year, giving commuters a 30 per cent discount when touching on between 9.30am and 4pm and after 7pm.

The aim was to ease overcrowding on metropolitan peak-hour services and encourage social distancing.

Almost two million passengers travelled off-peak through the period.

But despite the uptake, the state government said on Thursday it was only a temporary measure.

In the trial, a two-hour full fare for zone 1 and 2 was reduced from $4.50 to $3.15.

Infrastructure Victoria – the state government’s independent advisory body – is calling for off-peak fares to be reintroduced.

The discount is also welcomed by public transport advocates and the Australian Retailers Association.

Masks are mandatory on public transport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

It comes after the City of Melbourne endorsed a transport review, which recommends the cheaper tickets to entice people back.

Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Michel Masson said off-peak fares slashed by 50 per cent would mean more than 70 per cent of Melburnians would pay less than they did pre-Covid.

“Encouraging people safely back on to public transport through off-peak discounts is key to getting the city and Victoria’s economy moving again, as it creates an incentive for people to consider public transport instead of hopping in the car and adding to congestion,” Mr Masson said.

The body’s modelling showed low-income households would benefit the most, saving up to 26 per cent on public transport costs.

In Sydney, passengers can pocket a 30 per cent discount when travelling off-peak, on weekends and public holidays all year round.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said if the Victorian trial was deemed successful, it should be brought back permanently.

“Public transport patronage has been very much affected by Covid and they should be looking at every measure possible to help encourage people back onto the system,” he said.

A government spokeswoman said it would review travel patterns before reintroducing any discount.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Steph Ryan said “perceptions about the safety of catching public transport has seen patronage plummet”.