From Sunday, July 12th, Sydneysiders will be forced to kiss the glorious $2.80 Sunday public transport fare cap goodbye.
The Opal network is set to restructure ticket costs. The ticket structure will usher in a new flat daily rate across Saturday and Sunday of $8.05 — half the current cap rate of Saturday’s $16.10.
Coronavirus and social distancing concerns reportedly prompted the decision to restructure the Sunday cap. According to NSW transport minister Andrew Constance the number of passengers taking the ferry on Sunday typically increases three times the number of ferry users during the week.
“Too many people were crowding on to the network on Sundays, especially on ferries,” Mr Constance shared.
“$8.05 is still a great deal for unlimited travel across the entire Opal network and is half the current cap on Saturdays.
“Sydney public transport fares are some of the most affordable in the world. It’s important to remember the taxpayer already subsidises around 75 per cent of the fares.”
This sounds like an incredibly fake catalyst to scrap the Sunday cap. Perhaps dabbling in the concept of implementing booking a ferry trip would be more pragmatic than ruining my highly-coveted $2.80 Sunday Opal cap but whatever, we’re used to the thinly-veiled bollocks of the New South Wales government.
I just hope that Andrew Constance is sleeping soundly knowing he’s tearing families from Western Sydney who’s children pay out the wazoo to live in the inner-city apart because there’s no way in hell I’m going to be footing the cash to trek it back to the old country now that the $2.80 cap is gone. Mum if you’re reading this I love you, blame the government.
Labor’s transport spokesperson Chris Minns has expressed trepidation about the decision to scrap the cap, fearing that it will lead to a spike in road traffic.
“Sunday’s discount fares were an opportunity for families to see Sydney and spend some much-needed money in areas that don’t normally get much trade on the weekend,” Mr Minns shared via SMH.
“We’ll be left with empty trains running around the city while families jump on the road or stay at home. Where’s the sense in that?
“Encouraging people to use public transport in non-peak periods always made sense.”
