Public transport operators to get up to $50m for loss of fares
The full scale of the impact of COVID-19 on Melbourne’s public transport network has been exposed, with passenger numbers plummeting. The state government reveals how it will keep operators from “handing back the keys” and what passenger limits could mean for commuters.
VIC News
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Public transport operators will be paid up to $50 million to stop them abandoning Victoria, with new data showing patronage has risen above the safe level for social distancing.
The Herald Sun can reveal an agreement between Metro Trains, Yarra Trams and the State Government will see the companies paid to offset the financial hit of running regular services with plummeting patronage.
The Andrews Government will also on Friday urge all Victorians to continue working from home as new figures show passenger numbers are making social distancing increasingly difficult.
The final steps of the stimulus are yet to be signed off but the Herald Sun expects the total figure for both operators to be between $30 and $50 million.
Negotiations ramped up in early April as Metro and Yarra Trams warned they needed help to offset millions of dollars lost in farebox revenue, with 92 per cent of trips disappearing under strict lockdowns.
Sources close to the discussions said at least one operator was bracing to “hand back the keys” if a solution was not found.
It’s understood the operators also said they were facing new cost pressures from unexpected maintenance and safety procedures such as regular cleaning.
“We’re playing our part to keep Melbourne moving during this challenging time and support those who rely on our network for essential travel,” Metro chief executive Raymond O’Flaherty said.
A government spokeswoman said public transport would continue to support essential workers and school trips.
“Thousands of Victorians work across our public transport network — we’re continuing to support those jobs and helping people get where they need to go,” she said.
On Wednesday, there were about 389,000 trips on Victoria’s public transport and current patronage is at about 18 per cent of normal levels.
But government modelling shows physical distancing of one person per 4 sqm is difficult to maintain from 15 per cent onwards.
The road network also recorded an extra 600,000 trips in the last week and authorities have warned traffic will grind to a halt if commuters keep moving from rail to road.
If 50 per cent of the city’s public transport passengers started travelling by car, morning travel times would nearly double.
A trip from Werribee to the CBD would take up to two hours under new nightmare peak hours.
Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan urged all Victorians to stay at home unless they had to go outside.
“By doing this, we can all keep seeing our friends and family, cafes can stay open, our kids can keep learning face-to-face,” she said.
“By working from home, we’re helping our whole community stay safe.”
Passengers limits on trains, trams and buses will be considered by the National Cabinet on Friday in an effort to get workers safely travelling to and from their offices again.
The Herald Sun understands the national medical expert panel has been developing guidelines for public transport, which will be considered by the National Cabinet on Friday in its first meeting for a fortnight.
Passenger limits — which Victoria has so far rejected — are expected to be on the agenda, following the New South Wales model where only 32 passengers are allowed on train carriages and 12 on buses.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said on Thursday he was working closely with the Department of Transport to manage commuter movement, and flagged the public servant workforce would be used as a model for return-to-work procedures.
“The main way that we are approaching mitigating risk on public transport is not to have so many people on trains, trams and buses,” Prof Sutton said.
“That policy or direction advice to work from home … is going to be the most critical one especially for trains into the CBD.
“If numbers really increase on public transport we will continue to look at strategies to help protect people.”
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