Transport

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO PASS ONTO PARENTS

Please find below some important information regarding Victoria's student and concession travel ticketing arrangements for 2016, which will be of interest to your school community. We encourage you to make this information available by inclusion in your school newsletter or intranet page.

Proof of concession entitlement

All students aged 17 years and over, or those requiring a half yearly or yearly Student Pass (regardless of age), are required to obtain a 2016 Victorian Public Transport (VPT) Student Concession Card as proof of their concession entitlement. Application details and a copy of this year's form are contained within this letter. It is important to note that school issued student identification cards are not accepted as entitlement to concession travel on public transport.

2016 Victorian Student Pass

The Victorian Student Pass provides travel for students on all metropolitan trains, trams and buses, all regional bus services and all V/Line train and coach services operating wholly within Victoria. The Victorian Student Pass is issued on a myki.

2016 Regional Transit Student Passes

Regional Transit Student Passes provide travel for students on buses in the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo Transit Systems and limited V/Line rail services in these transit areas. The Regional Transit Student Pass is issued on a concession myki. Regional Transit Student Passes for Southwest Transit, Colac Transit and Portland Transit will continue to be issued as paper passes.

How to apply for a 2016 VPT Student Concession Card and/or a Student Pass

The 2016 VPT Student Concession Card & Student Pass Application Form (enclosed) can be obtained from:

o metropolitan premium train stations

o PTV Hubs (Southern Cross Station, Docklands, Geelong & Bendigo)

o V/Line staffed stations and ticket agents

o PTV Call Centre by calling 1800 800 007 o online at ptv.vic.gov.au.

• Students wishing to purchase a Half Yearly ($285.00) or Yearly ($546.00) Victorian Student Pass will be required to obtain a 2016 VPT Student Concession Card, regardless of age, as proof of their concession entitlement. The standard $9 fee applies. Students can have their 2016 Yearly or Half Yearly Victorian Student Pass loaded to their existing myki card at a metropolitan premium train station, a myki-enabled V/Line staffed station or from a PTV Hub (located at Docklands, Geelong or Bendigo). If the student does not already have a myki, the Student Pass will be loaded onto a new myki. This myki will be issued on the spot with the myki card fee waived.

• Students 16 years and under, who do not wish to purchase a Student Pass are not required to obtain a VPT Student Concession Card but can still get a child myki for concession travel by visiting a metropolitan premium train station, a myki-enabled staffed . V/Line station, a myki retailer, visiting ptv.vic.gov.au, or calling 1800 800 007. A $3 card fee applies.

• Students 17 years and over, who require a VPT Student Concession Card as proof of their concession entitlement can obtain a VPT Student Concession Card and apply for a free concession myki (if required) at the same time. Students will need to complete the·enclosed form and lodge it at a metropolitan premium train station, a myki-enabled staffed V/Line station, the PTV Hub at Southern Cross Station or the PTV Hub at 750 Collins St, Docklands. They will then be issued with their 2016 VPT Student Concession Card ($9 fee applies) and a free concession myki (if required). Those students who already have a concession myki can continue to use it and only need to renew their concession entitlement by completing the 2016

VPT Student Concession Card form.

Registration

Registration is optional for students that hold a student pass. It is, however, strongly recommended that students register their myki online at ptv.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 800 007. Benefits of registering a myki include:

• The balance on the myki is protected if it is reported lost or stolen

• Option to manage myki with an online account

• Option of auto top up for 'set and forget' convenience

If a myki is not registered, there is no way for a student to recover the value held on the card in the event it is lost or stolen.

Further information specific to student travel arrangements under myki can be obtained by visiting ptv.vic.gov.au and going to the student area under the Tickets> Concessions> Students on the website. For information about non-myki Regional Transit Student Passes, visit http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/regional-fares/ under the section 'Student concessions'.

I would be grateful if you could share this-information with your staff and students. Yours sincerely

Alan Fedda

Director, Customer Experience

Public Transport Victoria

Staughton News

Issue 1 · 04 Feb 2016

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