Farebox recovery ratio


The farebox recovery ratio of a passenger transportation system is the fraction of operating expenses which are met by the fares paid by passengers. It is computed by dividing the system's total fare revenue by its total operating expenses.

Fare structures

There are generally two types of fare structures: a simple, flat rate fare structure or a complex, variable rate fare structure. A variable fare structure is typically associated with a higher recovery ratio, though it may simply be the case that such systems are implemented only on more profitable networks or modes such as commuter rail. Variable-rate fares require a higher initial investment in fare ticketing technologies such as the use of contactless smart cards, turnstiles or fare gates, automated ticket machines, as well as IT infrastructure.

Farebox ratios around the world

The farebox recovery ratio is the ratio of fare revenue to total transport expenses for a given system. These two figures can be found in the financial statements of the operators. Oftentimes the operator runs multiple modes of transport, and there is no data for individual modes. In this case the operator is considered as one system, or a group of modes are collectively considered one system.
Fare revenue is not the same as "transport" or "operational" revenue, as there are often secondary sources of revenue such as lockers and paid restrooms. Fare revenue is a subset of transport revenue, which is in turn part of total revenue along with "non-transport" or "non-operational" revenue.
Total "transport" or "operational" expenses are a part of total expenses along with "non-transport" or "non-operational" expenses. Total transport expenses may include expansion projects if they are paid for by the operator.
ContinentCountry or RegionSystemRatioFare systemFare rateYear
AsiaHong KongMTR 124%Mostly Distance basedHK$3.5+
HK$3.5+ 		2016
AsiaJapanHankyu Railway 123%Distance based¥150+1991
AsiaJapanOsaka Municipal Transportation Bureau137%Distance based¥200+1991
AsiaJapanJR East84%Distance based2016
AsiaJapanTokyo Metro119%Distance based¥160+2016
AsiaJapanTokyo Toei rail services74%Distance based2015
AsiaPakistanLahore Metrobus37.2%Flat ratePKR 202014
AsiaTaiwanTaipei Rapid Transit System100%Distance basedNT$20+
NT$16+ 		2015
AsiaTaiwanKaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit83%Distance basedNT$20+
NT$17+ 		2015
AsiaSingaporeSMRT Corporation 101%Distance basedSGD 1.40+
SGD 0.83+ 		2018
AsiaChinaBeijing Subway60%Distance basedCNY 3.00+2012
EuropeNetherlandsGemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf 88%Distance based2018
EuropeNetherlandsRotterdamse Elektrische Tram 99%Distance based2018
EuropeGermanyBerliner Verkehrsbetriebe 70%Zone basedEUR 2.60+2010
EuropeBelgiumBrussels Intercommunal Transport Company35%2007
EuropeDenmarkCopenhagen Metro52%Zone based1991
EuropeUKLondon Underground134%Zone based2018/19
EuropeUKLondon Overground and Docklands Light Railway94%Zone based2018/19
EuropeSpainMetropolitan lines of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya 93%Zone based2014
EuropeSpainMadrid Metro41%2007
EuropeItalyMilan Transportation System28%1991
EuropeGermanyMunich Transport and Tariff Association70%Zone based2010
EuropeCzech RepublicDPP 53%Flat rateCZK 24+2013
EuropeFranceSyndicat des transports d'Île-de-France 30%Zone based for passes
Distance based for tickets		€1.802014
EuropeSwedenStorstockholms Lokaltrafik 52%Flat rateSEK 37
SEK 50
Note: Tickets are not sold on buses.		2017
EuropeItalyRome Metro36%2007
EuropeAustriaVienna U-Bahn49%Flat rateEUR 2.002008
EuropeFinlandHelsinki49%Zone based€2.80-6.40
€4.00-9.00 		2019
EuropeSwitzerlandZürich S-Bahn60%Zone basedCHF 4.30+2014
North AmericaUSAmtrak95%Distance & demand based2017
North AmericaCanadaVIA Rail51%Distance & demand based2016
North AmericaUSMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority30%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSCapital Metropolitan Transportation Authority 11%Flat rate.25-, depending on modality2016
North AmericaCanadaBrampton Transit50%Flat rateC$4.00
C$3.00 		2019
North AmericaUSMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 46%Flat rate / 2018
North AmericaCanadaCalgary Transit50%Flat rateC$3.002012
North AmericaUSChicago Transit Authority55%Flat rate 2016
North AmericaUSMetra 43%Zone based-$112016
North AmericaUSGreater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority18%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSDallas Area Rapid Transit14%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSDetroit Department of Transportation20%Flat rate2016
North AmericaCanadaEdmonton Transit System39%Flat rateC$3.002007
North AmericaUSCapital Area Transit 17%Flat rate2015
North AmericaUSLas Vegas Monorail56%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSLong Island Rail Road51%Zone based+2014
North AmericaUSLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority23%Flat rate, with discounts for seniors, disabled, students2016
North AmericaUSMaryland Transit Administration23%Variable-, depending on distance & modality2012
North AmericaUSMiami-Dade Transit21%Flat rateUS$2.252016
North AmericaUSMetro Transit 25%Flat rate with rush hour and express surcharges to 2016
North AmericaCanadaMiWay 46%Flat rateC$3.252011
North AmericaUSRTD Bus & Rail18%Zone Based to 2018
North AmericaCanadaSociété de transport de Montréal46%Flat rateC$3.252016
North AmericaUSNew York City Transit Authority47%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSNYC Ferry 29%Flat Rate2017
North AmericaUSMetro-North Railroad 60%Distance based+2016
North AmericaUSPort Authority Trans-Hudson 44%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSNew Jersey Transit45%Zone based on most Buses and all commuter trains
Flat Rate on some buses and all light rails

Fare varies on Trains and Buses		2016
North AmericaUSSunRail 7%Distance basedUS$2-52018
North AmericaUSLynx 24%Flat rate2016
North AmericaCanadaOC Transpo 45%Flat rateC$3.60
C$3.55 		2019
North AmericaUSSoutheastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 39%Flat rate / 2016
North AmericaUSPierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation30%Flat rate2015
North AmericaUSPort Authority Transit Corporation 49%Distance based+2015
North AmericaUSTrimet 30%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSKing County Metro35%Zone and peak based+2016
North AmericaUSSound Transit 42%Zone & distance based+
+
+ 		2017
North AmericaCanadaRéseau de transport de la Capitale 39%Flat rateC$3.002011
North AmericaUSVIA Metropolitan Transit 12%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System39%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSBay Area Rapid Transit 70%Distance based+2017
North AmericaUSOakland Airport Connector96%Flat rate2015/2016
North AmericaUSCaltrain 63%Zone based+2015
North AmericaUSSan Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 35%Flat rate2016
North AmericaUSSanta Clara Valley Transportation Authority10%Express surcharges to 2016
North AmericaUSSouthern California Regional Rail Authority41%Distance based to 2017
North AmericaUSStaten Island Railway15%Flat rate2015
North AmericaCanadaToronto Transit Commission68.0%Flat rateC$3.00 $3.25 2018
North AmericaCanadaGO Transit 49%Distance basedC$5.30+2018/19
North AmericaCanadaTransLink 58.9%Zone based; transition to distance based upcomingC$2.95+2019
North AmericaUSWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 42%Distance and time of day based
+
+ 		2016
North AmericaCanadaWinnipeg Transit60%Flat rateC$2.502011
North AmericaCanadaYork Region Transit40%Flat rateC$3.88
C$$4.25 		2015
OceaniaNew ZealandAuckland44%Zone Based2012/13
OceaniaAustraliaACTION 21%Flat rateA$4.202007
OceaniaAustraliaCityRail 27%Distance basedA$0.15 / km2014
OceaniaAustraliaMelbourne30%Zone and time basedFrom A$3.76 / hour / zone2014
OceaniaNew ZealandChristchurch35%Zone Based2012/13
OceaniaNew ZealandDunedin60%Zone Based2015/16
OceaniaNew ZealandHamilton34%Flat rate2012/13
OceaniaNew ZealandWellington57%Zone Based2012/13