The Liberals went to the last election with a promise that commuters would save $9 off a weekly ticket price, $25 off a quarterly ticket and $100 off annual costs.

Labor has argued that Opal fares were too high but the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal said the review across trains, buses and ferries had not been practical until now. 

“With the roll-out of Opal electronic ticketing now largely complete, there is an opportunity to consider a range of fare options that were previously not practical and look at where improvements should be made,” IPART chairman Dr Peter Boxall said.

Labor claims that Maitland people who catch the train to Newcastle for work each day, in peak times, have watched their annual ticket cost climb to $2005 – up $229 on 2011 prices.

“For the Opal card to be in as long as it has now, and for the government not to have sorted out equitable fares, shows their lack of commitment to carryout their election promise,” Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said.

“These higher costs fly in the face of the government’s election commitments.”

But the transport department said these Opal figures failed to take into account off-peak travel, sick days and annual leave.

A spokesman for the Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the figures Labor quoted were wrong.

“The vast majority of Opal customers are saving money with Opal, with around 90 per cent of customers financially the same or better off,” he said.

“With Opal you pay as you go, so if you have a sick day or annual leave [or travel in off-peak times], you don’t pay a cent.”