Opal card travel fares will go up by 2.2% next month in line with inflation, deciding against implementing the higher rate recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)
In 2016 the IPART recommended Opal fares be increased by an average of 4.2% annually over three years.
State transport minister, Andrew Constance, said the government did not support IPART’s recommended annual price increase due to concerns about cost of living pressures.
“Since the introduction of OPAL in 2012, this government has kept the fares low with a five-year fare freeze and then induction of an adjustment to fares by CPI only last year, and again this coming financial year,” Constance said.
“We believe it’s more important to put commuters first and these changes show that we are continuing to do so.”
Constance stated that the fare increase was necessary due to the increase of patronage on public transport and rising costs of running and maintaining the network.
“Through this slight adjustment we are asking those who use the network to contribute to that,” he said.
“While we’ve made plenty of improvements to public transport and we’re investing record amounts in transport infrastructure, including building the brand-new Sydney Metro system, we are also focused on keeping fares affordable.”
The increase will mean that, on average, passengers will pay an extra 39 cents a week.
Once the fare rise comes into effect in July, an all-stops train trip from Penrith to Town Hall during peak hours, which currently costs (for adult Opal card users) $6.61 will cost $6.76, and a light rail trip from Dulwich Hill to Pyrmont Bay (currently priced at $3.58) will rise to $3.66.
Those using Opal Gold, however, will not pay any more than what they are currently, with all-day travel to remain at $2.50 every day of the week.