While MyZone Ticketing does have some benefits, it is leaving some Northern Sydney train travellers “zoned out” into more expensive sectors, according to Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea.
“There is also less flexibility. Previously, passengers could purchase travel passes and nominate any number of days between 28 and 365. Now, under the new, MyZone arrangements, train travellers wanting to purchase tickets in excess of 28 days can only buy Quarterly (90 days) and Yearly (365 days) passes.
“Prior to the introduction of MyZone ticketing, a 30 day Flexipass between Lindfield and Wynyard Stations would cost $121, but under the new MyZone system, travellers can’t even purchase a 30 day pass!
“The closest comparison is the new 28 day pass, which has increased from $113 to $124 – or almost ten percent.
“To cover 30 days of travel, two extra day return fares would need to be purchased for a further $16, boosting the cost to $140 – a price increase of more than 15%.
“So the dropping of the Flexipass system has resulted in less flexibility,” Mr O’Dea said.
“Further, passengers could previously nominate the starting date but under the new MyZone arrangements the only way a passenger can nominate a starting date is by purchasing online.
“If purchasing at the station, the ticket must now start on the day it is printed,” Mr O’Dea said.
“It is the latest example of a bungling NSW Labor Government, which last year claimed a re-arranged timetable would deliver more services but in fact, at Lindfield there are clearly less, with daily services reduced late last year by about 25%.
“MyZone is a poor patch-up for the long-suffering public transport commuters, who are still waiting for integrated, electronic ticketing. T-card was promised for the 2,000 Olympics but saw the NSW Labor Government waste $100 million on its failed development,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
