Changes Could Be Coming For Opal Fares During Peak Hour Commutes

Opal fares are under review, with the pricing regulator looking at the way peak hour fares operate on the rail network.

Passenger crowding is another issue to be tackled, as experts note the large crowds travelling to the city in the morning and away from the city during peak times.

One option floated is whether peak fares should be capped to mirror the travel pattern mentioned above, or even locked for certain popular destinations in the city such as Town Hall, Central and Wynyard when overcrowding flares up.

Currently, there are discounts for people travelling outside of peak time, including the off peak time of 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6.30pm.

Travelling outside of these times will give commuters a 30 per cent discount on their commute.

Other issues include whether these off-peak fares should be extended to cover train and bus trips, and the pricing scheme for the new Metro service which is expected to open this month.

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