Auckland Transport hikes adult cash fares by 25 per cent

Adult cash fares are increasing by 25 per cent on Auckland buses and train single-stage trips, in order to encourage more passengers to use electronic ticketing.

The AT Hop card will offer a 20 per cent discount on the trip, which will cost cash customers $2.50 on March 29.

Two-stage cash fares will go from $4 to $4.50 compared with $3 using the card, but there will be no increase for cash three-stage users - for example, those travelling from Britomart to Otahuhu, which will be $1 cheaper if they use the card.

For card users, there will be increases of 5c and 10c for stage one and two trips.

However, a card gives a 20 per cent discount off child cash fares, with a two-stage child's ticket paid with cash going up from $2 to $2.50 but with a card from $1.66 up to $1.73.

In announcing the results of its annual review of bus, rail and ferry fares today, Auckland Transport general manager Mark Lambert said the fare rises took into account 2.3 per cent increase in costs of fuel and labour and an attempt to try to recover at least 46 per cent of running costs from bus passengers, currently 45 per cent.

The rest comes from public subsidies.

Mr Lambert said the increases across the network would yield an extra $4.5 million from bus users and $600,000 from rail passengers.

Running costs were being eased by gradually replacing diesel-powered trains with new electric trains and increased patronage for rail, of 19 per cent for the year to February, and a 10 per cent growth across the public transport network to 77 million boardings.

AT said card users on longer bus and train trips do not face increases, other than for five-stage journeys which get a tertiary concession, now 35 per cent off adult cash fares.

Stage six and seven child fares using a card will reduce by 5c and 6c per trip respectively.

In its review of ferry charges, AT said it was trying to make fares the same for similar lengths.

As a result, fares for users of the Hop card on the Hobsonville ferry would go down (adult by 40c, child by 24c).

On West Harbour ferry services, there would be a decrease on the cash fares (adult by 59c, child by 30c) and for Hop card users, adult by 40c and child by 24c.