V/Line commuter Nikki Parker said she supported halving fares because she wanted to encourage people to use public transport to get cars off the road,reducing emissions and helping tackle climate change.
Parker said she travels multiple times a week to Melbourne on V/Line from Maryborough in the state’s central-west for her work as a lawyer.
V/Line user Nikki Parker,from Maryborough,at Southern Cross Station on Tuesday.Credit:Lachlan Abbott
“Yes,there’d be a loss of revenue,but at the same time,we should be using money in a wise way so that it’s improving things like climate change,” Parker said.
“And if we can increase people on trains and public transport more generally,then it reduces the cost of our roads,which are far more expensive than our public transport system.”
Geelong commuter Stan Coath,who regularly travels to Melbourne on the train,said he wanted to see the cost of the proposed fare reduction on the state budget.
“I really think in the situation we are in,we should be spending less. Looking after the debt we’ve got,” Coath said.
Guy said the halving of V/Line fares – the estimated cost of which was not disclosed in the party’s announcement – would be possible because a Coalition government,if elected,would reduce the state’s debt.
Coath added he thought the Coalition’s proposed 50 per cent reduction for regional train fares was “not an even balance” with its pledge to reduce metropolitan train fees to a maximum of $2 per day. Currently,a daily adult myki fee is $9.20 for the metro system.
Tree-changer Tamara Reinisch,who was leaving Southern Cross Station after catching the train from Bendigo for work,said she thought fares were currently too expensive.
“It’s cheaper for me to come in by car than it is by train,but I prefer to take the train,” Reinisch said.
The fare for a Geelong to Melbourne return trip would fall from $27.60 to $13.80,if the Coalition is elected.Credit:The Age
Reinisch,who travels to Melbourne for her work as a consultant at least twice a week,said politicians needed to consider the growing population of regional areas,which has become more pronounced since the pandemic hit.
“It’s either that or we create more jobs regionally,where I could be doing my professional services there,” she said.
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The opposition’s transport spokesperson said the plan would ease the burden of the rising cost of living and help promote regional tourism.
Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan,who represents the regional city of Bendigo,said:“The Liberals are leaving behind regional Victoria again,but asking us to pay up to 20 times more to use a train than people in Melbourne.
“Previous Liberal-National governments cut regional train lines,closed regional stations and sold off public transport — if he gets the chance,Matthew Guy will do the same.”
The Age’s Victoria’s Agenda project launched on Monday andasked thousands of Victorianswhat they want political parties and candidates to be talking about as they compete for their vote. It found thattransport was a key issue for many voters.
One of the six key questionsThe Age will ask politicians after surveying the community will be:“What are your plans to deal withpopulation pressures in Melbourne and the regions?”
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