Fare review 2026: what changes on 26 December and how PantauSivik will update your trip estimates
The Public Transport Council (PTC) announced the 2026 Fare Review Exercise on 29 September 2026. Bus and train fares go up from 26 December 2026. This guide covers what is changing, a quick way to work out what it means for your own commute, and how PantauSivik's Trip Planner will be updated.
The short version
- The fare adjustment is 7.0%, and it applies to buses and trains.
- That is less than half of the maximum 14.7% the formula allowed. The formula itself gave 5.3%, and a further 9.4% had been deferred from previous years.
- Monthly passes do not change, and neither do fares for Workfare Transport Concession Scheme (WTCS) cardholders.
- The distance-based fare structure stays as it is, including the 3.2 km threshold for adult card fares.
What changes, by fare type
| Fare type | Who | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Card fare | Adult, journey up to 3.2 km | +12 cents |
| Card fare | Adult, journey over 3.2 km | +13 cents |
| Card fare | Students, seniors, persons with disabilities | +5 cents |
| Cash fare | Adult | +20 cents |
| Cash fare | Students, seniors, persons with disabilities | +10 cents |
| Monthly passes | Everyone | No change |
| WTCS | Cardholders | No change |
Paying by card is cheaper than paying cash, and the gap widens slightly: an adult pays 20 cents more in cash, against 12 or 13 cents more by card.
Support measures
Alongside the increase, Public Transport Vouchers go up from $60 to $80 per eligible household, and WTCS cardholders (about 190,000 people) are shielded from the increase.
How to estimate your own trips
You only need two steps:
- Find what your journey costs today. The PantauSivik Trip Planner shows an estimate when you plan a route.
- Add the increase for your fare type from the table above.
Example (illustrative numbers only, not actual fares): an adult card journey over 3.2 km that costs $1.50 today would become $1.63. A shorter journey of up to 3.2 km that costs $1.20 today would become $1.32.
What it adds up to over a month
Take a return commute, which is two journeys a day, over 22 working days:
| Rider | Calculation | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, journeys over 3.2 km | 2 × 22 × 13 cents | $5.72 |
| Adult, journeys up to 3.2 km | 2 × 22 × 12 cents | $5.28 |
| Student, senior or person with disability | 2 × 22 × 5 cents | $2.20 |
If you travel a lot, compare your new monthly card total with the price of a monthly pass, since passes are not changing.
How PantauSivik will update the Trip Planner
The Trip Planner already gives you a fare estimate for your route, so you can compare options before you leave. Here is what happens next:
- New fares in the estimates. We will update the Trip Planner so the estimates use the new fares.
- When. The update will be applied at around midnight as 26 December begins, within a window of about two hours either side. If you plan a trip close to that hour, treat the figure as approximate.
- Buses and trains only. The fare review covers buses and trains. Taxi and Drive estimates in the Trip Planner are not part of this change.
Trip Planner figures are estimates to help you compare routes. They are not a quote, and the fare actually charged is set by the operators and the PTC fare rules.
Quick answers
When do the new bus and train fares start?
On 26 December 2026, as announced by the PTC on 29 September 2026.
How much is the 2026 fare increase?
7.0% overall. For adult card fares that is 12 cents up to 3.2 km and 13 cents beyond. Concession card fares rise by 5 cents, and monthly passes do not change.
Will PantauSivik show the new fares?
Yes. The Trip Planner's estimates will be updated at around midnight as 26 December begins, give or take about two hours.
Source
Figures in this article come from the Public Transport Council's announcement, 2026 Fare Review Exercise (29 September 2026). Please refer to it for the official details.
