By Stephanie Holliday
THE wait is almost over, with the price of V/Line fares to drop from Friday, March 31.
A cap will be introduced to the daily travel cost anywhere in the state at $9.20, bringing regional fares in line with Metro Melbourne daily rate fares. The concession charge of $4.60 in Melbourne would also be matched.
Regional commuters who use a Myki Pass to travel between 28 and 365 days a year, will also be capped at the Melbourne rate, currently $5.52 per day.
Currently, regional commuters can pay up to $46.00 for one-way journeys, dependent on location. A full-fee (non-concession), off-peak fare one way from Shepparton to Southern Cross station is $26.80 currently.
The last fare cut was in 2007, when they were slashed by 20 percent. Following this, V/Line reported a surge in customers using the train services.
The Government has also spoke of potentially adding 200 weekend services on regional lines around the state, including five return services on Saturday and Sunday on the Shepparton line and three return services on Saturday and Sunday on the Echuca Line.
