The cost of public transport is set to increase from next month
The New South Wales government has announced that bus fares are set to increase by around three per cent as part of a wider public transport price rise across the state.
From July 4 the price increase will match the rising inflation seen in many industries across the country, as public transport fares will rise alongside petrol and grocery expenses seen recently.
But Transport for NSW says the fare increase will not pass more than $1 a week for the vast majority of NSW Opal customers.
Transport for NSW COO Howard Collins says existing travel caps will still stay to protect frequent public transport users and pensioners from these price rises.
Other limits staying in place include the lower $25 per week cap for youth and concession card holders and the $2.50 daily limit for gold senior or pensioner opal customers.
Under current limits that are set to be continued despite the price hike, adults will still be able to travel on public transport in NSW for free after they spend more than $50 in one week on PT fares.
Transport for NSW says the three per increase still remains below current inflation rates such as the 4.4 per cent increase in the Consumer Price Index over 12 months seen in Sydney to the March quarter.
But the fare increase is still around double the 1.5 per cent increase in public transport prices seen in NSW in 2021.
“We want our customers to continue accessing affordable and convenient public transport across light rail, metro, trains, ferries and buses,” Collins says.
The Australian Automobile Association says Sydney has the second most expensive public transport fare costs of all capital cities in Australia, with residents paying roughly $50 per week on PT fares.