North West Rail Link Update and Opal Cards Expansions - Coming to State Transit Buses!

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Youth and Children Opal Cards Now Available For Western Sydney Commuters!

Click here for blog for Youths/Children Opal Card Now Available

Opal Electronic Ticketing System Is Coming To Western Sydney Trains But....

Yes that is true, as from 28th of February 2014, the NSW for Transport's Opal electronic ticketing system will be expanding to Western Sydney train commuters:

Opal card for Western Sydney by end of month

09 February 2014

NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced on Sunday 9 February that the Opal electronic ticketing card would be available to train customers in Western Sydney by the end of February, giving tens of thousands more customers a cheaper, faster and more convenient journey.

On 14 February, Opal will be extended to 22 train stations from Homebush to Casula via Granville, as well as along the Carlingford line and to Olympic Park.

A further extension of Opal along 26 stations will occur on 28 February from Harris Park to Emu Plains and also to Richmond via Schofields.

“Today marks a significant milestone for Western Sydney as we modernise the way people use public transport, put an end to the Monday morning queue for a ticket and offer free Friday and weekend travel for regular customers,” said Mr O’Farrell from Parramatta Station.

“We are getting on with the job of delivering - this will make a huge difference for train customers in Western Sydney giving them benefits such as lower fares, weekly travel rewards, daily caps and discounts for off-peak travel,” he said.
“Opal will be available on 120 train stations by the end of the month.”

For an Opal card customer travelling from Penrith to Town Hall the single adult fare is $6.30 compared with $6.80 with a paper ticket, and only $4.41 for an Opal customer travelling off-peak.

For a regular Parramatta to Town Hall train commuter a weekly paper ticket costs $41.00, and with Opal you will only pay $37.60 plus you are rewarded with free travel on any mode for the rest of the week after eight paid journeys.

But....until buses have been launched  if you are traveling on a train and  you  enter a bus to complete next trip, we believe that you will not be able to use the Opal Card until the launching of the buses (by the end of year) - according to an Opal Operator, you will have to pay extra for the bus service.

Click here for Opal Card details

Comparing Opal card to Myki and TCard.

Here is an interesting blog which looks at the history of electronic ticketing development in Sydney and Melbourne.  Worth reading.

http://transportsydney.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/comparing-opal-to-myki-and-tcard/

It Is Time You Prepare Yourself For The Opal Card - IT's Coming!

Opal Card 'Pay-as-you-go' system, is now running in the city circle and  Eastern Suburbs line to Bondi Junction and will eventually end up in Western Sydney trains and then buses afterwards, sooner than you think. At present it's on trial.

At present it's on trial and once it passes all tests, it will be further extended, For lots of the elderly commuters this may seem to be a bit daunting to them  as they  may find  new technology hard to accept and , be educated and used to it!

So this is a good time to research and prepare yourself for it. The basics are

• you are  not paying for more than the journey you are travelling 
• maximum journey to pay per day is  no more than $15.00
• after 8 journeys per week all journeys are free until your week starts again
• The week starts from Monday and finishes Sunday
• If you changes modes of transport and it is completed with 60 minutes that will be considered as one trip
• Sunday travel cap $2.50
• Opal Card provided to you 5-7 days after ordering
• Weekly tickets are cheaper than current ticketing system

Click Here For further Information including pricing of the Opal Card