What’s better than $2 train fares? Public transport that works

Fare prices are hardly the only problem on Victorian trains, argues Anna Spargo Ryan. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

The Victorian opposition recently pledged to drop metro public transport ticket prices to $2 if elected, at a cost of about $1.3bn.

The suggested savings of $3,600 a family a year are certainly significant enough to make an impact, but something else that might make an impact is a functioning, safe and operational public transport system.