A $390 taxi fare from Kiama to the airport is one of a number paid for by the government because of overcrowded or cancelled trains.
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This and other taxi fares totalling thousands were obtained under Freedom of Information by the NSW opposition and released on Thursday by Keira MP and shadow Transport Minister Ryan Park.
Since the Liberal government came into power in 2011, almost $30,000 has been spent on taxis for the South Coast line and $188,000 across the network.
However a spokesman for Transport Minister Andrew Constance said Labor’s record was far worse.
Other taxi trips on the South Coast line paid for by the current government include a $277 fare from Dapto to Moss Vale, $240 ride from Kiama to Bomaderry and a $200 journey from Wollongong to Central.
Mr Park said this was linked to the 40per cent rise in train cancellations on the South Coast line in the past year.
However, a TrainLink spokesman said the rise was due to the storms and heavy rains in April, which forced the cancellation of a number of services.
Mr Park said it was not acceptable that thousands were being spent to ferry commuters around in taxis.
‘‘This is a ridiculous waste of money: close to $1000 a week on taxi fares because train cancellations are skyrocketing under the Baird government,’’ Mr Park said.
‘‘The Baird government needs to explain how it justifies spending thousands of dollars on taxi fares for passengers stranded on the South Coast line.
“The Liberals have completely stuffed up the local network and this is just another example of their continued failings.
“Year after year we see train cancellations skyrocket – and now we see the government pouring almost $200,000 into taxi fares instead of rail maintenance. It’s just obscene.”
Mr Constance’s spokesman rebuffed the claim that it was a waste of money.
‘‘It’s disingenuous for Labor to call providing customer service a waste of money,’’ the spokesman said. ‘‘The former Labor government spent more than $170,000 on taxis for its customers in its last term in office.’’