Free Fares, Empty Seats, New Solution | Australia News

Free public transport has caused a new headache for bus company Kinetic: more people are booking seats but not showing up, leaving others stranded. To tackle this, they tested a 48-hour confirmation system on the Hobart-Launceston route, which saw nearly 10% of passengers cancel — reducing empty seats and waiting crowds. The success led to a statewide rollout, with plans to explore active booking confirmations next. The Transport Minister backed the move, acknowledging the strain free fares have put on the system, while smart ticketing remains on hold until the model stabilizes. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/eeb4314264dae296