Under the new structure, commuters will be able to buy MyTrain, MyBus and MyFerry tickets for single and weekly trips, with fares capped by distance. The MyBus tickets can be used on government and private buses like Hillsbus.

Fares for trips shorter than five sections stay the same but all trips longer than six sections including The Hills to the city will be capped at $4.30 for a single adult fare and $34.40 for a 10-trip ticket, called a TravelTen. Passengers now pay $6.30 for a single trip and $50.40 for a weekly ticket. There will be a MyMulti ticket for unlimited trips on all government and private buses, trains and ferries. Three different ticket prices, determined by train distance from Sydney's CBD, will apply.

The maximum MyMulti fare, for travelling more than 35 kilometres from the CBD, will be $57 a week regardless of where or how often a passenger travels on the network.

Mayor of The Hills Shire Peter Dimbrowsky said the drop in ticket prices was a good interim measure until the rail line was built.

``We thank the Government for finally acknowledging commuters are really struggling out here and now we look forward to the announcement that the North-West rail will be delivered,'' he said.

He invited the Premier to visit The Hills and look at the council's Integrated Transport Direction. Cr Dimbrowsky said it was imperative to include the North-West rail in the NSW Government's transport blueprint, released next month.

The Transport Minister, David Campbell, said the new fare structure would cost the Government $33million a year in lost revenue but ``we will attract patronage and that will reduce our cost.''

The Hills MP Michael Richardson said the savings will be useless if people can't get on to a bus. ``Which is exactly what'll happen if the Government doesn't increase buses.''

Commuters will be able to buy monthly tickets online and have them mailed to their home.

Details: myzone.nsw.gov.au /mybus.html.