Passengers on the Warrnambool Line are voting with their feet for cheaper and fairer fares, with more than 200,000 trips taken in the over six months since the introduction of the Allan Labor Government’s regional fare cap.
The regional fare cap has proven to be so popular with Victorians it had put around $31 million back in people’s pockets since it was introduced on 31 March.
Already more than 280,000 trips have been taken on the Warrnambool Line since the capped fares were introduced, with an additional four million trips taken on the Geelong Line - all while paying no more than the cost of a daily ticket on the metropolitan network.
Since the launch of the fare cap, popularity of regional travel across the network has increased by around a third on the same period last year, with the Warrnambool Line showing a 38% increase compared with the same period last year.
V/Line has experienced the busiest Winter and Spring school holiday periods for train travel on record under the fare cap.
Under the fare cap, Warrnambool passengers who previously paid up to $78.80 for a return trip to Melbourne now have their tickets capped at the same price as the metropolitan daily fare.
It means more passengers are realising the benefits of the $4 billion Regional Rail Revival project, which is upgrading every passenger rail line in Victoria.
To help meet the extra demand across the network, V/Line has added hundreds of special services across the network, put on extra carriages where possible, utilised standby coaches at key locations and trialled new reservations procedures.
Across the network, V/Line is running more trains and services than ever before, with VLocity 109 recently entering service and new trains rolling off the production line every few months.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has invested over $2 billion in 82 new VLocity trains and supporting infrastructure.
VLocity production supports around 500 jobs across direct manufacturing at Dandenong and the wider rolling stock supply chain.
V/Line runs more than 2,250 scheduled train and 1,500 coach services every week, with more than 800 new services added onto the V/Line network since 2014. Almost 200 extra permanent weekend services are also set to commence in coming years.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“The regional fare cap has played a big role in boosting patronage on Warrnambool Line services, helping passengers keep savings in their pockets.
“The September school holidays saw more than 900,000 trips taken across the V/Line network in the two weeks alone, with Victorians making the most of reduced fares to attend special events and festivities across the state.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora
“By capping fares at the same prices as a daily metro ticket, it’s encouraging more Victorians to explore this great state and support thriving regional communities.”
“We’re delighted fairer fares have been so popular and we’ll continue transforming the regional rail network – upgrading every line in the state, as well as, adding more trains and services.”
