Released 14/01/2013

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today announced that new fares for travel on ACTION buses will come into effect in February.

“From 4 February 2013, MyWay bus fares will increase by five percent and there will be changes to monthly trip caps,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“The fare changes reflect rising costs of operation and improvements to the public transport system. The last increase in bus fares was July 2010.”

“We are making ongoing improvements to ACTION, including installing new bus shelters, upgrading stops to comply with disability standards, purchasing new buses, and providing new bus services.

“I’m excited to introduce Canberra’s first real time passenger information system later this year. Passengers waiting for buses will be able to see live information on the timing of their bus.

“I do not expect the fare increase to impact negatively on passenger numbers. At this stage, I think the key to more passengers is to introduce more frequent and convenient services.

“To this end, the Greens-Labor Parliamentary agreement provides for 5 new ‘park and ride’ facilities and $24M above the existing funding level to improve bus services, including school services.

“ACTION also continues to offer competitive fares. Catching an ACTION bus daily to and from Civic remains $41.00 per week cheaper than driving and parking, not including additional costs such as petrol.

The new MyWay fares are shown below:

Current fareNew fare as at 4 February 2013
Adult$2.52$2.65
Concession$1.26$1.32
School student$0.95$1.00

The new on-bus cash fares are shown below:

Current fareNew fare as at 4 February 2013
Adult$4.00$4.20
Concession$2.00$2.10

The daily fare cap (and all day cash fare) will also increase by five percent with adults paying $8 and concessions paying $4. Monthly trip caps will increase from 36 to 40 for adults and concession holders with the school student cap increasing from 26 to 30 in the new fare structure.

Mr Rattenbury said the new fare structure also includes reciprocal free travel arrangements for interstate Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) and Vision Impaired Person (VIP) pass holders. The Tertiary fare category will also be extended to include employees of the Australian Defence Force studying full time.

From 4 February 2013, a fee for new MyWay cards will be introduced. Standard riders will pay $5 and concession riders will pay $2.50 for new and replacement cards.

“Unfortunately, customers have been throwing out their free card when it runs out of credit, rather than recharging the same card,” said Mr Rattenbury.

For more information visit www.transport.act.gov.au or contact the ACTION call centre on 13 17 10.

This page was last updated on 14 January 2013