Survey targets fare evasion on city's public transport

The move is part of Transport for NSW's biannual statewide fare compliance survey, which looks into evasion rates across buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

The previous survey in May did not include data on Newcastle's light rail network, however transit officers have been checking Opal card use on the city's tram system this time around.

"Authorised revenue protection officers, NSW Police officers and Newcastle Transport Customer Service Officers work together to ensure ticket compliance across the network and may ask to see your ticket and concession entitlement at any time," said a spokesperson for Keolis Downer - the company that runs Newcastle's trams and buses.

"The fare compliance survey helps Newcastle Transport to identify any problem areas and develop strategies to improve fare compliance.

"We encourage everyone to do the right thing and travel with a valid ticket and customers should be aware that their ticket could be checked at any time.

"When all customers travel with a valid ticket, we can provide the best possible service and grow the transport network."

According to the May survey results, passengers on the Hunter train line recorded an 87.3 per cent fare compliance rate, up from 86.4 per cent the previous November.

This represented a revenue loss of $201,000 for the six months to June, 2019.

Of the region's buses, the data showed that the Cessnock-Maitland-Newcastle service had the highest compliance rate at 93.8 per cent in the May survey.

The Maryland-Edgeworth-Toronto service had the lowest rate at 82.7 per cent.

But the data showed the biggest loser in the six months to June, 2019, was the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie service, with $473,000 in revenue lost.

The latest patronage data shows there were 112,000 trips on the Newcastle light rail network in October, up from 99,000 the previous month.

The best performing month since the network opened was in March, when there were 118,000 trips taken.

The data shows there were only 47,000 journeys in February - though the line opened to the public 17 days into that month.

The next lowest was in June, when 86,000 trips were taken.

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