Off the rails: Transport Minister Terry Mulder.
ERIN PEARSON
AS MANY as 225,000 V/Line passengers on the Geelong line are flouting ticketing laws each year, according to State Transport Minister Terry Mulder.
The figure means V/Line was losing up to $2.13 million in ticket revenue based on estimates with on-peak, one-way fares at $9.50.
Mr Mulder said the Baillieu Government was taking action to reduce fare evasion after discovering that fare evasion was running between two and six per cent between Marshall and Southern Cross stations.
Mr Mulder, who released the figures to the Independent this week, said about 3.77 million passengers, up 8.6 per cent on the previous year, used a single trip on the Geelong line in 2010/2011.
Geelong remained V/Line’s busiest commuter belt line, he said.
“Around 94 per cent of V/Line’s Geelong line passengers did the right thing in 2010/2011 and bought a ticket,” Mr Mulder said.
“The small minority on V/Line who refuse to use a fare, be warned – both conductors and V/Line’s authorised officers are ever-vigilant because the majority of regular travellers know that fare evaders are ripping the community off.
“Fare evasion costs the transport network some $80 million a year, which is money that would be reinvested into the system, so those who fail to pay their way are ripping off all public transport users.”
Mr Mulder said between January 1 and August 28 this year 824 passengers were fined for travelling without a ticket on V/Line services across the state.
He said 571 V/Line passengers were fined for travelling on concession-discounted fares without evidence, 156 for liquor-related offences, 99 for feet-on-seat infringements and 24 for smoking aboard a train.
Public Transport Users Association Geelong convener Paul Westcott said the numbers were “concerning” but feared they might be inaccurate.
“How can they tell these numbers, seeing the only real check on tickets are conductors and they’re selling tickets as well?” Mr Westcott said.
“There are ways around the system but it’s not that easy.
“On busy crowded services conductors may not be able to get to every passenger and can’t always check concessions consistently, so if they’re not doing that I’m a bit bemused at how they can come up with these figures.”
