Your light rail trip will cost a little bit more from today. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Be prepared to pay a bit more for public transport in Canberra from today (4 January) as the ACT Government’s price increase comes into effect.
Transport Canberra bus and light rail fares will increase by 3 per cent, taking an adult fare from $3.22 to $3.32 during peak hours and from $2.55 to $2.63 during off-peak. Concession fares will increase from $1.61 to $1.66 during peak hours and from $0.89 to $0.92 during off-peak.
Customers will continue to pay the same fare price whether they are catching a bus or taking light rail.
The increase was announced in the 2024-25 ACT Budget and is the first increase in public transport fares since 2019 when a fare freeze was implemented to help users during the economic recovery after COVID-19.
However, the 12-month trial of Fare Free Fridays remains in place, so customers will not be charged for bus or light rail travel on Fridays.
“We anticipate this will save a family with two adults and two children around $1000 a year if they catch bus or light rail services every week,” a Transport Canberra spokesperson said.
“The new fares will assist Transport Canberra with our operational costs.
“Numerous investments have been made in public transport recently. This has included a number of timetables and network changes, the introduction of the light rail network, the transition to zero emissions, including a new and expanding electric bus fleet, our new ticketing system, as well as a new bus depot and interchange for the Woden precinct.”
The new MyWay+ public transport ticketing system had a rocky start when it went live late last year. Its procurement and troubled rollout will be investigated by a Legislative Assembly committee, with a report expected in June this year.
The inquiry will also look at the timing of the transition period and rollout, coming during and soon after an election campaign, and the adequacy of the public information campaign.
It will also consider the data security of the MyWay+ system to ensure people’s private information is protected.
More information on the new fares, including a detailed breakdown of the new fare structure, is available at Transport Canberra.
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