Melbourne metropolitan train passengers catching 'Early Bird' services will travel for free from next year if a trial to start next month proves successful in alleviating crowding on the network, Premier John Brumby, announced today.

Mr Brumby said a new Early Bird Metcard, to be tested on two train lines this year and rolled out in 2008, would mean free travel for passengers arriving at their destination by 7am. "This is the next step in our commitment to improving public transport services for Victorians by finding ways to ease crowding on the metropolitan train system," Mr Brumby said.

During each morning peak period, about 150,000 passengers travel on our trains. By encouraging passengers to take earlier trains we hope to spread the peak-hour load across more services and ease congestion on the network.

The Early Bird Metcard will be tested on the Sydenham and Frankston lines from October, enabling passengers on these lines to travel for free on a train scheduled to arrive at its destination by 7am. The 10x Early Bird ticket will be available for free from premium stations on the Sydenham and Frankston lines as well as Central Business District (CBD) stations. Each card will be valid for 10 morning trips.

"By testing the Early Bird ticket on two very busy train lines we will be able to accurately assess the effects of the early bird incentive and the public's response to it," Mr Brumby said.

The Early Bird Metcard means a zone 1 and 2 trip scheduled to arrive at its destination by 7am will be free, saving commuters up to $52 a fortnight on the normal cost of a 10x2 hourly ticket. Customers can then purchase a 10x2 hour Metcard to travel home in the evenings. "We estimate a regular traveller using this system could save up to $1100 each year."

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the Early Bird test had been introduced to coincide with the new metropolitan train timetable which will deliver more than 200 new services across the network each week. "Using the new timetable, commuters will be able to travel for free on the five Sydenham and five Frankston trains that arrive in the city by 7am on weekdays," Ms Kosky said. "The testing on the two lines allows us to track uptake and use of the Early Bird ticket to ensure broader rollout is appropriately designed and targeted. While yearly ticket holders represent less than one percent of commuters we don't want them to be disadvantaged which is why, following a system-wide rollout a refund on yearly tickets will be available.

More services are part of the solution, but we also need innovative ideas to encourage commuters to use all parts of the network. I encourage all commuters on the Sydenham and Frankston lines to beat the crowds, save money and take advantage of the Early Bird ticket."

Daily savings for commuters using the Early Bird Metcard

	Daily	Early Bird	Saving $	Saving %
Adult		Daily*
Zone 1	$6.30	$2.76	$3.54	56%
Zone 2	$4.40	$1.90	$2.50	57%
Zone 1+2	$9.90	$4.66	$5.24	53%
Concession
Zone 1	$3.30	$1.38	$1.92	58%
Zone 2	$2.40	$0.95	$1.45	60%
Zone 1+2	$5.10	$2.33	$2.77	54%
*Assumes one free trip and a 10x2hr