17 January 2021
● A re-elected McGowan Labor Government will slash train and bus fares for the suburbs
● Under the plan all fares will be capped at a 2 Zone price - $4.90 cash, $4.40 for the standard Smartrider and $3.90 for the Smartrider auto-reload
● New policy could save passengers in the outer suburbs thousands of dollars each year
● Smartrider ticketing systems will also receive a $24 million upgrade so passengers can choose to pay by credit card, debit card or on their smartphone
A re-elected McGowan Labor Government will reduce the cost of public transport in the suburbs, by capping fares for all metropolitan train and bus journeys at the cost of a 2 Zone ticket.
Under the plan, the maximum price a passenger will pay will be a 2 Zone ticket - for a standard trip that is $4.90 in cash, $4.40 if using the standard Smartrider and $3.90 for the Smartrider auto-reload.
If travelling on concession, this would be $2.10 in cash and $1.68 for the Smartrider auto-reload.
Regular passengers who travel into the CBD from the outer suburbs, could save thousands of
dollars per year as a result of the $60.6 million investment by a re-elected McGowan Labor
Government.
For example, a Dawesville resident who commutes daily to the Perth CBD (a 9 zone journey)
currently pays about $5,300 annually - this will be slashed to about $1,960 - a saving of more than
$3000 per year.
This fare relief will begin in January 2022 and will significantly benefit families who live in our outer
suburbs but travel into the city every day making the public transport system in WA fairer and
equitable.
Passengers who board trains to the city from existing stations like Joondalup, Mandurah and
Cockburn, and passengers and those that will board at the future Yanchep, Byford and Ellenbrook
METRONET stations will all benefit from this new policy.
It will also benefit those that may travel across more than 2 zones to access universities, hospitals
and workplaces.
It’s expected the cheaper, reduced fare structure will result in an increase in patronage on our
buses and trains, potentially taking 5,300 cars off our roads everyday equally up to 1.93 million
less car trips each year. This will reduce congestion on our freeways and roads, helping ease
congestion in the inner suburbs.
The upgraded Smartrider ticketing system will give passengers the choice of tagging on, using
credit and debit cards or smartphones – making it easier for West Australians and tourists
exploring our great city.
The McGowan Labor Government is currently undertaking the biggest public transport
infrastructure build in Western Australia’s history, and creating thousands of local jobs in the
process.
There are nine major METRONET projects already underway, providing important work for local
businesses.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
“We’re building METRONET, with locally built trains, and now we’re slashing public transport fares.
“As a result of our strong budget management, we can introduce cheaper fares that delivers
affordable options for passengers, no matter where they live across our suburbs.
“This will help ease financial pressure on families in the outer suburbs, making it more affordable
to get to work and school, while also ensuring our public transport system is fair and equitable.
“My Government is embarking on the biggest public transport infrastructure build in the State’s
history, with nine major METRONET projects under construction, linking our suburbs and easing
congestion on our roads.”
Media contact: Jamie Macdonald - 0457 535 224