Cheaper fares for Geelong passengers

GEELONG train travellers will enjoy cheaper fares from today (Friday, March 31) as a promised regional fare cap takes effect.

V/Line passengers will pay no more than $9.20 a day for full fares for daily travel on weekday services.

Prices would also be capped at $6.70 daily on weekends and public holidays. Concession holders would pay half of either rate on the relevant travel day.

Peak travel fares had cost up to $27.60 for a return trip between Geelong and Melbourne before today – or three times the new daily cap.

The changes follow a commitment from Labor in last year’s successful state election campaign to bring regional fares in line with those paid on metropolitan services.

The changes cover travel to within 60 kilometres of the Victorian border to include border communities in New South Wales and South Australia, and also apply to regional buses, town buses or coaches in the PTV or V/Line network.

Premier Daniel Andrews signalled the start of the new fare schedule last week. “We’re proud to be making regional fares fair – making public transport accessible to passengers who live in every corner of our state and opening up regional Victoria to more visitors,” he said.

Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the cap would encourage Victorians to connect with their family and friends and bring benefits for regional tourism businesses.