Millionth passenger boards light rail


Released 15/07/2019

Canberra's light rail has carried its millionth passenger today in a significant operational milestone for the city's new public transport service.

To celebrate the milestone, the ACT Government gifted lucky passengers on a light rail vehicle a free MyWay card with $20 credit to use for journeys across Canberra's transport network.

Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel said that the new transport network was carrying significant growth in passengers compared with last year, since full-fare services commenced.

"Light rail is now well past its launch date and the success of the service speaks for itself. We now have record numbers of Canberrans using public transport, exceeding expectations," Minister Steel said.

Minister Steel said that the patronage numbers for light rail are higher than anticipated in the business case for the first year of operation.

"As time goes on with operations, the data is becoming clearer, Canberrans are choosing to use light rail and more public transport," Minister Steel said.

Light rail has generated a significant uptake in public transport use in the Gungahlin to the City corridor, with 32 per cent more public transport journeys starting in Gungahlin in June 2019 than there were in June 2018.

"Patronage growth in the inner north has also been very strong, with light rail now accounting for 20 per cent of all passengers on Transport Canberra services, and we expect this number to continue to grow as the urban renewal projects along the corridor are completed " Minister Steel said.

Since the completion of free travel, weekday journeys across the whole transport network to 30 June 2019 have increased by 6.1 per cent compared with the same time last year and weekend journeys have increased by 32.7 per cent.

"The number of people using weekend services is incredibly high with more services in the evenings and more convenient services with the same route and number seven days a week," Minister Steel said.

"Overall the signs are very positive for the new network. With more services, coming more often we are seeing more people moving on public transport compared to this time last year."

95 per cent of journeys being made are using MyWay cards, up from 89 per cent, with over a million journeys planned online using the new Journey Planner.

- Statement ends -

Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases

Media Contacts

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Anton Gallacher

(02) 6205 3795

0422 574 108

anton.gallacher@act.gov.au


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