Impact of Fare Change on the Travellers and Management of Orange Line Metro Train, Lahore

Abstract:

Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) started working in October 2020 with a flat fare system. The fare system was changed just after a couple of years to a distance-based fare system. Based on the data obtained from the Punjab Mass-transit Authority (PMA), and interviews with the passengers, this paper investigates how the users and the management of OLMT were affected by the fare change. Analysis reveals that the most noticeable change was the sudden increase in the average number of users per day, from 1,15,000 to 1,70,000. With the increase in the number of average daily users, the average revenue also increased from Rs. 4.6 million to around Rs. 5.1 million per day. Secondly, users were also facing a lot of problems like they had to stand in the long lines to buy tokens, and due to some technical issues, token machines were also not working most of the time. This was increasing their overall travel time. New ways of selling tokens/tickets, increasing revenue collection, and better service management have been suggested.

• Periodical: Construction Technologies and Architecture (Volume 15)
• Pages: 115-122
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-54nQdE
• Online since: January 2025
• Authors: Muhammad Adil*, Obaidullah Nadeem, Muhammad Faraz Sajid, Muhammad Amama, Muhammad Umair
• Keywords: Distance Based Fare System, Fair Change of Orange Line Metro Train, Fare Change, Light Rail Transit Pakistan, Orange Line Metro Train Lahore

References

[1] Khalid, H. (2020). Country's First Major Mass Transit Project Opens. DAWN. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1587031

[2] Khan, G. (2021). Orange is the Colour of Change. DAWN. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1608442

[3] Khalid, H. (2022a). Orange Line and Metrobus Fares Likely to Be Reduced in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan. DAWN. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1693548

[4] The Nation. (2022). Orange Line Metro Train fares changed Retrieved from https://www.nation.com.pk/18-Nov-2022/orange-line-metro-train-fares-changed

[5] Khalid, H. (2022b). Lahore Orange Line Rates Revised, Discounts around the Corner. DAWN. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1721558

[6] Khalid, H. (2022c). Distance-Based Tickets for Orange Line Train Passengers Approved. DAWN. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1719593

[7] Magretta J., & Stone, N. D. (2012). What management is? How it works and why it's everyone's business? Free Press. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/What-Management-Works-Everyones-Business/dp/1781251479

[8] ITDP. (2007). Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide. Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, New York USA.

[9] The Nation. (2021). PMA proposes govt to increase ridership, and reduce subsidy in fares of the orange line metro. The National Daily Newspaper. Retrieved from https://nation.com.pk/19-Jul-2021/pma-proposes-govt-to-increase-ridership-reduce-subsidy-in-fares-of-orange-line-metro

[10] Modeshift. (2021). Fare Strategies & Their Role in Public Transit Adoption Rates Retrieved from https://www.modeshift.com/fare-strategies-role-public-transit-adoption-rates/

[11] ITDP. (2018). Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide. Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, New York USA.

[12] Petrie, J. (2013). The Start of a New Fare Era. Retrieved from https://www.masstransitmag.com/home/article/

[13] Libman, M. W. (2023). Debit Cards Can Be Tapped to Pay for Transit in Toronto Region. Retrieved from https://www.masstransitmag.com/technology/fare-collection/article/53059295/ debit-cards-can-be-tapped-to-pay-for-transit-in-toronto-region

[14] Fearnley, N. (2013) Free fares policies: Impact on public transport mode share and other transport policy goals, International Journal of Transportation, 1(1), p.75–90.

DOI: 10.14257/ijt.2013.1.1.05

[15] Neilson, G. (2006). Evaluate your bus system. PPP Library. Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://ppiaf.org/documents/6140.

[16] Brown, A. E. (2018). Fair fares? how flat and variable fares affect transit equity in Los Angeles. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 6(4), 765–773

DOI: 10.1016/j.cstp.2018.09.011

[17] Farber, S., Bartholomew, K., Li, X., Páez, A., & Nurul Habib, K. M. (2014). Assessing social equity in distance-based transit fares using a model of travel behaviour. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 67, 291–303

DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2014.07.013

[18] Biran, B. N., Sharaby, N., & Shiftan, Y. (2013). Equity aspects in transportation projects: A case study of transit fare change in Haifa. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 8(1), 69–83

DOI: 10.1080/15568318.2012.758525

[19] Myung-Jin, J., Ji-Eun, J., & Hyun-Ju, A. (2018). The welfare effects of the Free Subway fare scheme for seniors: A discrete choice approach with the case of Seoul. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 6(4), 642–650

DOI: 10.1016/j.cstp.2018.08.003

[20] Rye, T., & Mykura, W. (2009). Concessionary bus fares for older people in Scotland – are they achieving their objectives? Journal of Transport Geography, 17(6), 451–456

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2008.08.003

[21] Hickey, Robert, Alex, Lu., Reddy, Alla, (2010). Using quantitative methods in equity and demographic analysis to inform transit fare restructuring decisions. Transp. Res. Rec.: J. Transp. Res. Board 2144, 80–92.

DOI: 10.3141/2144-10

[22] Aydin, N., Celik, E. and Gumus, A.T. (2015) 'A hierarchical customer satisfaction framework for evaluating rail transit systems of Istanbul', Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 77, p.61–81.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2015.03.029

[23] Hassan, M.M. (2021). Determinants of customers satisfaction in orange line train, Lahore, Pakistan. BS Project in Statistics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Pakistan. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muhammad-Muaz-Hassan/publication/356568487_Determinants_of_Customers_Satisfaction_in_Orange_Line_Train_Lahore_Pakistan/links/61a155883068c54fa5203a40/Determinants-of-Customers-Satisfaction-in-Orange-Line-Train-Lahore-Pakistan.pdf

DOI: 10.15251/jor.2021.171.31

[24] Idrees, A. S., & Sarwar, S. (2022). Measuring the accessibility benefits of public transport: evidence from Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT), 1st Rasta Conference 2022, Islamabad. Retrieved from https://www.pide.org.pk/rasta/wp-content/uploads/Governance-Public-Service-Delivery_Alvina-Sabah_WP.pdf

[25] Tirachini, A., Hensher, D. A., & Rose, J. M. (2013). Crowding in public transport systems: Effects on users, operation and implications for the estimation of demand. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 53, 36-52

DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2013.06.005