Peterrr Dianaaa

Mr Iemma said yesterday the Government would trial discount tickets for travel in the morning and afternoon/evening off-peak periods, offering a $36 weekly saving between Penrith and the city.

But it soon emerged the Premier’s plan came with a a lot of catches!

The 50 per cent discounts would apply only on daily tickets so commuters will have to queue for them and vary their working hours to gain the benefit.
Thousands who buy weekly, fortnightly or other long-term tickets will not qualify.

A quick mathematical calculation shows the savings are not really what the Government claims. A commuter paying $48 for a city weekly out of Penrith gains just $60 on the discount.

The Government yesterday told commuters to start work earlier as part of its plan to ease overcrowding on the trains and hundreds of billions of dollars being spent to remove graffiti on trains.

Transport Minister John Watkins said the aim of the trial was to see if the discount would encourage commuters to travel later in the day on the off peaks, so commuters will only travel on older trains to keep the new millennium train which is motley used in the peek time free from graffiti and in a good condition.
“We are hoping regular commuters to the city will see the benefits of getting into work a little earlier,” Mr Watkins said. The trial on the Western and Carlingford lines will run from August 18 to October 31.
Rail chiefs estimated the scheme would cost $680 billion based on 5 per cent of commuters taking up the discounts.
Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell said the early-bird ticket trial was far too complex and would help no one to be of real benefit.
“Long-suffering commuters will have to queue every day for to use this ticket which is a major disincentive,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“Forcing commuters to line up daily in already long ticket que

ues negates the benefit. Many ticket office windows aren’t open and ticket machines are always out of order!”