Commuters are now paying more than $600 extra each year to travel between the Central Coast and Sydney, according to a NSW Opposition analysis of train fares under the Opal system.
Shadow minister for the Central Coast, Mr David Harris MP said people commuting from Gosford to Sydney for work or study five days a week are paying hundreds more than in 2011 despite a Liberal Government promise of lower fares.
“Since 2011, the annual cost of travelling from Gosford to Sydney’s Central station is now $432 more than using a monthly train ticket, and $656 more than a quarterly or annual train ticket,” Mr Harris said. “Under Opal, the annual cost of commuting from the Central Coast has for the first time exceeded $3,000,” he said.
“In the lead up to the 2011 election, the Liberals distributed leaflets saying train commuters should be rewarded with lower fares. “If this is a reward, I’d hate to see what a punishment looks like. “These unfair price hikes will just push more people onto already congested roads.”
“Mike Baird is doing nothing to create jobs on the Central Coast, and he is making it more expensive to commute to work in Sydney at the same time,” Mr Harris said. Member for Gosford, Ms Kathy Smith MP said the cost increase has corresponded with a drop in service quality.
“Central Coast commuters already have to put up with fewer carriages ensuring standing room only for some,” Ms Smith said. “The trains also stop at fewer stations, so instead of getting on at a station between Gosford and Woy Woy like Point Clare or Tascott, travellers have to drive along already congested roads to reach already congested car parks at Woy Woy or Gosford,” she said.
“The costs are going up but the quality of service is going down with trains bound for the North Shore being redirected at Hornsby making people late for work and important appointments. “Now we learn we are paying more for the privilege.
“When is Mr Baird going to realise that we can’t all live in the Western Suburbs of Sydney but that we do all have the same rights, rights that we on the Central Coast are about to start asking for.” Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch MP said the Opposition did not get “their facts straight when it comes to the Opal card system.
“Simply said, Labor MP David Harris’ quoted figures are incorrect and just show how out of touch they are and why they could not be trusted to run the State of NSW,” Mr Crouch said. “The vast majority of Opal customers are saving money with Opal, with around 90 per cent of customers financially the same or better off,” he said.
“The Opposition clearly has forgotten the promises by two Labor Premiers and four Labor Transport Ministers for electronic ticketing to be ready for the 2000 Olympics that was never delivered to the people of NSW. “What the people of NSW ended up with was court action from the T-card developers and the waste of $100 million. “So why would we trust what Labor has to say on the successful Opal Card.”
According to Mr Crouch, the annual tickets used in the Labor comparison represented less than one per cent of all sales across NSW “because few people could afford to pay thousands of dollars upfront for travel that they may not end up taking due to annual leave, sick leave and public holidays.
“These tickets were retired in 2014” said Mr Crouch. “Fares using Opal on trains did not increase in 2014 and Opal light rail and bus fares were also frozen in 2015. “All other Opal fares have only increased by the cost of living and below the maximum fares set by the independent regulator.
“With Opal, you pay as you go, so if you have a sick day or annual leave, you don’t pay a cent,” said Adam Crouch. “It’s completely misleading to compare the cost of a paper ticket, that is no longer available, to the 2011 dollar prices with a new ticketing system in 2015 dollar terms,” said Mr. Crouch.
“There are now more than 3.2 million Opal cards issued and thanks to free travel rewards, millions of free trips are taken every month, “I am hearing everyday how good the Opal Card System is by commuters because it is easier, quick and convenient,” he said.
Media release,
24 July 2015
Debra Wales, office of
Adam Crouch
Media release,
20 July 2015
Jake Allen, office of David
Harris
Media release,
20 July 2015
Kathy Smith,
Member for Gosford