Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Adelaide / South Australia Transport Discussion
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Gayspie
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Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by Gayspie »

Hello Everyone;

I am interested in knowing what were the different fares for riding on Adelaide public transport during the period of the 70's and 80's.

I am especially interested in the fares when the crouzet ticketing system was first introduced in 1987 ?

I am also really interested in knowing the different fares for off peak, peak, student, senior, unemployed, adult, etc ?
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marc506
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by marc506 »

I can remember paying around $.20 as primary school student in 1981 and think it was around 30 cents when I was in high school starting in 1984 but normally had a monthly bus pass (can't remember the cost - dad usually got it). The pass was a little card and each month you'd by a sticker to go on the card and you'd show it to the driver each time you on.
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by bigrobbo »

My memories started in the 1970s. I used to get the route 16 on some days to get to school. Get on at stop 8 and get off at stop 10 and it cost $0.05.

It cost me $0.10 to get into the city and my mother $0.15 as she was a pensioner.

At some point the fare did go up to $0.20, which is my memory from the early 1980s.

When I went to high school I used the same monthly pass. I cannot remember the cost, but you would buy the sticker, attach it to the card given to you at the start of the year, and it was unlimited travel for the month. You just had to show the driver, conductor on the train or tram or the inspector.
softgrow
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by softgrow »

If you look at old STA annual reports they generally have details of changes to fares in the previous year.

These reports can be found in the State Parliamentary Papers in the State Library
homer9000
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by homer9000 »

$4.20 FOR MULTITRIPS from memory as a school student when me and my brother had to start using public transport for primary and high school in my case in 1989 and what was left of his high school years at that point then 1990-1992 came in free transport for students but that's another story.It was the embarrassment of my dad dropping us off at school in a brand new series 5 mazda rx7 he had just bought that july which lead to what we kids had to do and me bringing it up.had he bought say a cheaper 626 hatchback or held out a couple of extra months for a 323 astina sp or even bought a toyota celica sx the first generation front drive models which were on run out at the time things would have been a hell of a lot different.
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Gayspie
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by Gayspie »

Interesting. Public transport, especially when using single tickets, seems to cost a fortune compared to what it did 30 years ago.

So where can i find those STA annual reports that detail fares ?
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The Phonj
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by The Phonj »

The state library has copies of annual reports. If memory serves, they form part of the parliamentary papers.
Bus Preservation Association of South Australia https://www.bpasa.org.au/
Tramway Museum St. Kilda https://www.trammuseumadelaide.com/
National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide https://nrm.org.au/
paulgersche
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by paulgersche »

I attended Marden High in the period 1973-1977. I know that in my final year, when we shifted from Evandale to Colonel Light Gardens, it used to cost me 15c from East Parkway CLG to the City, and then 15c to St. Peters Terminus.

I think it was in the latter part of 1977 that the Circle Line was introduced, and I managed to save 5c on each single journey by changing at Cross Road on to the Circle Line (anticlockwise) and getting off near school on O.G. Road. I must confess that I am not sure whether it was just the shorter distance on the inbound trip that saved the money, or if it was the introduction of the "single transfer" tickets. Either way, it was a significant saving to someone who only got $5 per week to travel and secure school lunch!

Regards to all!

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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by wisp »

From my notes taken at the time:

STA Fares as from 31.7.1983:

Adult 1 or 2 section (no transfer) 60c
Adult 1 or 2 zones normal 90c off-peak 60c
Adult 3 zones normal $1.30 off peak 90c
Child normal 30c off-peak 30c
Pensioner normal 30c off-peak Free
Cycle (train) normal 30c off-peak 30c

Off-peak is 9:01 to 15:00 weekdays
Day Tripper $4.00

Sorry for the format, copied from a table in a document.
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by wisp »

Cash Fares from 1/2/1975:

1 Section Adult 10c Child 5c
2 Sections Adult 20c Child 10c
3 Sections Adult 25c Child 10c
4 to 7 Sections Adult 30c Child 15c
8 to 12? Sections Adult 35c Child 15c
Transfer Ticket 40c

Pensioners
1 to 2 Sections 5c
3 to 9 Sections 10c
10 or more 15c
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Gayspie
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by Gayspie »

wisp wrote:From my notes taken at the time:

Pensioner normal 30c off-peak Free

Sorry for the format, copied from a table in a document.
Interesting. Perhaps we can bring back FREE off peak travel for all pensioners, including disability and veterans, not just the seniors. What do you think ?
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by Merc1107 »

heath loxton wrote: Interesting. Perhaps we can bring back FREE off peak travel for all pensioners, including disability and veterans, not just the seniors. What do you think ?
It's free during non-peak times for seniors in Perth, and concession fare during peak. Although I suspect a good proportion get free travel anyway for one of the following reasons:
- The balance is too low and won't tag on; seniors don't understand the beeping from the SCV and are completely ignorant of the driver trying to instruct them (or the driver can't be bothered having to wait for someone to fumble for their wallet - some people are bad enough for holding up services fishing their SmartRiders out, let alone anything else).
- Seniors think they can just flash their card at the driver and are entitled to a free ride as a result.
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Gayspie
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by Gayspie »

What was the distance between sections back in the 70's and 80's ?
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Kevinmac
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Re: Public Transport Fares in the 1970's and 1980's

Post by Kevinmac »

This is around 1979 or 1980
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