The state government should improve the frequency of train services on the Werribee line to reduce overcrowding instead of spending $100 million a year to reduce fares and provide free tram services, according to public transport advocates.
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and Wyndham Transport Advisory Committee (WTAC) said while capping fares at zone 1 prices will provide hip-pocket relief for commuters, the benefit won’t be felt in Wyndham until train services are improved.
From January 1 next year, a full-fare commuter who currently buys a zone 1 and 2 daily ticket will save about $5 a day. Tram travel in the city will be free.
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Premier Denis Napthine said the plan would reduce cost-of-living pressures and make public transport more accessible.
But WTAC chairman John Menegazzo said the changes would not encourage more people to use public transport.
“We need more trains and more parking at stations or it’s not going to have a major effect.”
PTUA president Tony Morton said $100 million a year could be used to greatly improve bus and rail services.
He said the association had heard from commuters from outer suburbs, including Werribee, who would rather have frequent, reliable train services than cheap fares.
Tarneit MP and opposition treasury spokesman Tim Pallas said Labor supported lower fares, but services also needed to improve.
“We need infrastructure plans that will remove the bottlenecks from the system so we can run more trains more often.’’
