Fare evasion falls in Melbourne

Fare evasion on public transport in Melbourne is at its lowest level in five years, the Victorian government says.

Premier Denis Napthine says despite the decrease in fare evasion, the rate was still too high, costing Victorians $60 million each year.

"These people are fare cheats who are cheating their fellow Victorians of further expansion of our great public transport system," Dr Napthine told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

Commuters who don't pay their way will now be subject to on-the-spot fines of $75, to be paid in full, if they are caught.

The current $212 fine will remain in place for certain offences and situations.

"With the introduction of on-the-spot fines, with the improved deployment of authorised officers, we will catch these cheats."

Fare evasion has been cut because Victorians are more informed, Myki is operating better and ticket officers are used more effectively, he said.

The rate of fare evasion decreased across all modes of public transport in Melbourne from 11.9 per cent in May 2013 to 8.9 per cent in October last year.

The new changes form part of Public Transport Victoria's new revenue protection plan which will add more ticket inspectors across Melbourne.

Dr Napthine was unveiling the Collins Street tram extension project in Melbourne's CBD, where an extra 1200 trams will run weekly to and from the Docklands from Sunday.