Public transport fares may halve but services unlikely to be increased

Half-price fares for public transport are unlikely to result in boosted services to cater for extra demand, Otago Regional Council staff have signalled.

Councillors are to decide today if they will endorse the Government’s three-month halving of fares in the region, as part of an effort to soften the impact of high fuel prices.

Dunedin and Queenstown bus fares and Queenstown ferry fares could be reduced from April 1, assuming councillors agree.

However, council staff recommended keeping services within existing constraints, rather than boosting capacity.

"That may mean some customers are left at stops to await the next service," staff said in a report for councillors.

The council’s contracted bus companies, Go Bus Transport and Ritchies, have been battling to stay on top of their scheduled services amid some driver illness.

Last-minute cancellations have frustrated passengers.

The Dunedin Tramways Union has said cancellations have been caused by low staff numbers and usual driver ailments.

The regional council planned to bring in a reduced timetable if Covid-19 disrupted operations.

If prices are halved, Bee Card bus fares in Dunedin and Queenstown would be just $1 and a one-way trip on the ferry would cost $5.

That could result in an 18% increase in patronage, the council said.

Council surveys last year showed the vast majority of bus passengers considered existing fares to be affordable.

Demand has also been affected this year by changes affecting school pupils since Otago Road Services stopped passenger operations.

In early February, the number of pupils using services from Green Island into Dunedin rose from 361 to 742 in one week.

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