Commuters to travel free on public transport for a month

Public transport will be free across Victoria throughout April as part of a state government effort to encourage motorists to drive less and ease the growing fuel crisis that has left bowsers running dry.

Premier Jacinta Allan will announce on Sunday that Metro and V/Line trains, Melbourne’s tram network and all public bus routes will be free for a month starting on Tuesday.

Allan said free rides were a temporary measure to help with the cost of living and get cars off the roads.

“It will take pressure off the pump and help you save,” she said. “This won’t solve every problem, but it’s an immediate step to help Victorians right now while we keep working on new solutions to make Victoria more affordable.”

Myki fares are capped at $11.40 a day, meaning a full-fare, five-day-a-week commuter would save $250, or $205 if they use a monthly or yearly myki pass. Myki passes will automatically pause and resume after April.

The US-Israel attack on Iran a month ago and Iran’s subsequent blocking of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in oil prices rising 60 per cent, leading to rocketing fuel prices and local shortages.

On Saturday, Victoria had 99 service stations without diesel (43 in Melbourne and 56 in regional Victoria) and 42 without petrol (13 in Melbourne and 29 in the regions).

Unleaded petrol prices in Melbourne have jumped from an average of $1.76 a litre a week before the war to about $2.50. Prices at some service stations neared $2.75 a litre on Saturday, according to the state government’s Servo Saver app.

Last week, the Victorian Farmers Federation called on the state government to make public transport free and to run more services to accommodate extra passengers, amid concerns fuel shortages could leave farmers unable to run machinery during critical harvesting and sowing periods.

Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell joined that call a day later, saying it was “something the state government could do right now to immediately help people with cost-of-living pressures”.

Victoria’s public transport system is already significantly subsidised. The state paid train, tram and bus operators $3.2 billion last financial year to operate the network while collecting only $736 million in fares from passengers.

That figure suggests one month of free travel would cost the state government about $60 million in forgone passenger revenue. However, the state has already made travel free for under-18s and for seniors, carers and disability support pensioners, and at weekends, since January 1.

All myki gates will be left open during the free month. Passengers will not need to touch on and won’t be charged if they do. V/Line coach passengers travelling outside the myki network will need to book a free ticket to secure a seat.

Allan said public transport would be busier during the month, but the network could handle extra passengers after upgrades including the new Metro Tunnel.

There has not been a discernible increase in public transport use since the start of the fuel crisis.

Myki data released by the Transport Department recorded 8,811,313 weekday touch-ons last week, which was 2.3 per cent down on the same week last year.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.