Ash Bolt
It will cost a little bit more to catch the bus or train in Geelong, with public transport fees rising. The new year brought an increase to train and bus fares, which had previously been frozen throughout the pandemic.
A daily fare has increased by 40 cents, while a seven-day V/Line pass has increased by $1.40, increasing the yearly cost by $73. Data from the Department of Transport has shown patronage on Geelong V/Line services has dropped from 26,932 trips per day in 2018-19 to 10,822 in 2020-21.
Shadow Public Transport Minister Steph Ryan said the price rise came at the wrong time when people were encouraged to get back into city centres.
“We should be encouraging locals to find more reasons to choose public transport to travel, not less,” she said.
“Higher fares put more pressure on people still struggling to make ends meet, on sick regional Victorians travelling to Melbourne for medical appointments and is less incentive for office workers to get back to the CBD.”
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the fees had been kept as low as possible.
“After freezing fares last year, we’re keeping this year’s public transport fare rise as low as possible to allow us to support a sustainable return to public transport,” he said.
