Opal Card (Sydney Transport Smart Card) Finally~!

zoecot on 03/06/2013 - 11:15

Moved to Forum: Original Link

You might want to use the opal card for these benefits:-

Opal card discounts during the train trial from June 14:

  • Up to eight per cent off single journeys compared to paper ticket prices.
  • An off-peak discount of 30 per cent for all journeys taken before or after the weekday morning and afternoon peaks, and all day on weekends.
  • Free travel after eight paid journeys in a week.
  • A $2.50 daily cap on Sundays.
  • A daily travel cap of $15 from Monday to Saturday to help tourists and one-off users.

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/opal/fare-information
http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/the-end-of-ticket…

Please note that The Opal card will initially be trialled at train stations on the City Circle and out to Bondi Junction, with more than 300 other stations to be included by the end of 2014. Once your station start running Opal card; you might want to order it via https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/how-do-i-get-an-opal-c… , it is free.:)

Travel

Related Stores

Opal Card - NSW Government
Opal Card - NSW Government

Comments

  • irajohn90 on 03/06/2013 - 11:19
    +2

    lets hope this doesn't flop as last time

    • mafmouf on 03/06/2013 - 12:06

      Funny how 'flop' and 'opal' have almost the same letters…

  • carpecrash on 03/06/2013 - 11:19

    Just incredible that Melbourne didn't get Opal to manage their public transport ticketing system.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 11:52
      +1

      Yes and I like how your daily becomes a weekly automatically after 8 trips.
      In the UK, their Oyster cards automatically calculate the best ticket over the daily->weekly->monthly->quarterly->yearly.

      Where as the $1b & counting myki can only turn a single into a daily & you have to pre-purchase anything else.

  • bthaxor on 03/06/2013 - 11:23
    +3

    Just warning you, ordering a card is not entirely free - the site makes you top-up a minimum of $40 before they send it out.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 11:24
    +11

    I dont really see this as a deal. MyMulti's are cheaper and once they have everyone on board with Opal the price will sky rocket. They scam you into thinking you are getting 'free' travel. For instance, current ferry price for full fare is $7 a trip. After 8 trips ($56) you get 'free' travel for rest of the week. Well a $44 MyMulti 1 gets unlimited travel for the week on ALL ferries, buses and zone 1 trains!

    • the69thhokage on 03/06/2013 - 11:31

      That might change depending on what ferries you use apparently (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/commuter-anger-at-weekly-ferry-dis…)

      • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 11:38
        -1

        True. I hope it works out better, I love other systems around the world (Hong Kong/Singapore/Japan)

    • Lor3n4 on 04/06/2013 - 18:06

      i buy the my multi 2 as i need to catch 2 buses and a train to work and sometimes use the tram… how is this going to be cheaper? i save about 160$/monthjust by buying the my multi.

  • the69thhokage on 03/06/2013 - 11:30
    +1

    Wouldn't this be more of a forum post?

  • xc on 03/06/2013 - 11:45
    +1

    I wonder how many people will be caught out by the following. What happens if there is a gate malfunction.

    You should always tap on at the start of a journey and tap off* at the end of each journey. If you do not tap on or off, the electronic ticketing system is programmed to assume that the maximum distance has been travelled and to deduct a default fare. This is a fixed amount of $7.00 for ferries and $8.10 for trains in peak times and $5.67 during off-peak.

    As a comparison the NYC MTA is $US2.50 per journey. http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm Using the opal card to go from BJ to the city is $AU3.30 during peak periods.

    • asupre2541 on 03/06/2013 - 21:20

      Yea for this to work properly we would definitely need gates at all stations. Reminds me of the services in HK and Singapore (that i've visited), which turned out really handy. Interested to see how it works out.

      • young_dazza on 04/06/2013 - 13:42
        +2

        You dont need new gates, all you need is an opal card scanner. The gates are an optional extra. Theyre only useful if theres someone paid to monitor them. At my local station theyre installing several opal card scanners but no gates.

    • paddyo on 04/06/2013 - 09:03
      -2

      New gates are going to be rolled out on ALL stations in NSW….hopefully will stop all the fare dodging parasites from abusing the system.

      • Krizy on 05/06/2013 - 16:20

        According to the pamphlets being distributed at Central station by CityRail employees, not all stations will have opal gates. Many stations will simply have a scanner fixed to a pole so that you can tap on and tap off.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 11:48
    +1

    Hence my post about 'cost savings' above.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 11:54
    -3

    CREDIT CARD REQUIRED TO GET A OPAL CARD!

    Cannot use cash.

    Cannot use BPAY.

    Cannot use Post Office.

    Also, it is NOT entirely free - $40 recharge minimum required.

    The NSW Government should be ashamed. Not everyone has a credit card and I do everything by Cash.

    Cash is the only legal form of tender in every State of Australia, including NSW.

    Everybody, please lodge a FREE NSW Ombudsman Formal Complaint against NSW Government here:

    http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/complaints/complaint-form

    • cwongtech on 03/06/2013 - 12:05
      +2

      CREDIT CARD REQUIRED TO GET A OPAL CARD!
      Cannot use cash.
      Cannot use BPAY.
      Cannot use Post Office.

      In HongKong, an initial deposit of 50HKD is required to get an octopus card (it works like a prepaid debit card + opal), you can top up at any convenience store (their version of a 7/11), should you wish to close your octopus card, you can withdraw your balance + less a small fee (10HKD or somewhere)
      Maybe the credit card only applies to just the trial?

      • divineiniquity on 03/06/2013 - 12:13

        Keep in mind $50 HKD is about $7 AUD (I remember it used to be a minimum of $20 HKD a few years back?), though $50 HKD could probably pay for as much transport in HK as $40 AUD here in Syd, cost of living is much higher sadly.

        I also disagree with having to put a minimum $40 on the Opal card right away, especially when:
        1) It's still being put in trial
        2) We don't know what ticket prices may become once the system is fully rolled out
        3) Some other glitch where it'll recharge your Opal card from your credit card when you didn't expect it to.

        I was personally hoping for a $5 fee for the card (or a FREE card would've been nice if we could hope for that), but not be forced to put a balance on it.

        • cwongtech on 03/06/2013 - 13:20
          +2

          I was personally hoping for a $5 fee for the card (or a FREE card would've been nice if we could hope for that), but not be forced to put a balance on it.

          Well, it is understandable they want a deposit on your card. But $40 is a lot to deposit on a plastic card.

    • auna on 03/06/2013 - 12:14

      I hope you are joking….

      http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/opal/top-up-opal-card

      • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 13:43
        -4

        No, I am not joking.

        It is impossible buy a brand new Opal card at any retailer; it can only be done online or via call-centre and only by paying $40 via credit-card, and can only be sent to you by postal mail from Opal's Alexandria (NSW Inner City) HQ.

        I have lodged a Complaint with the NSW Ombudsman and will get cash compensation.

        I hope others also lodge Complaints and get cash money from the Government.

        • toomuchdogfur on 03/06/2013 - 21:57
          +1

          Then get a Debit Mastercard? Dramatic much?

        • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 22:12
          -1

          That's not the point.

          All Government services should be provided to everyone, including Housing Commission residents who only use cash.

          Cash is the only form of legal tender permitted by the Australian Constitution.

  • Moderatorscotty on 03/06/2013 - 12:09

    Introducing a new ticketing system for NSW public transport is not a deal. Moved to forums.

  • siuol on 03/06/2013 - 12:14

    Got mixed information. Some web page said it is only on trial on ferries and another page said it is now available in Eastern suburbs line.

    Can anyone confirm?

  • ippy on 03/06/2013 - 15:01
    +1

    Can anyone tell me why this is better than a quarterly ticket? (which is what I currently buy)

    • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 15:10
      -2

      It's plastic, unlike your Paper quarterly ticket.

      • ippy on 03/06/2013 - 22:07
        +2

        Clearly you've never purchased one, have you? They're thin plastic, much like the tickets the schoolkids get.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 22:15
          -5

          Nope.

          And will never pay $40 by credit card to get one!

        • ippy on 04/06/2013 - 12:19
          +1

          I was talking about the quarterly ticket, which is plastic and can be purchased at the ticket window.

    • neonlight on 03/06/2013 - 17:18
      +1

      Nil, basically another marketing scam to milk more money out of you. Quarterly also comes in plastic from ticket window.

      Mymulti and quarterly train tickets are still cheaper.

      They just want more people to trial the system.

      NSW gov should be ashamed for$40 cc deposit plus hardly any incentive to use it. After all it costs them$ to implement, so they decide to recover quickly rather than long term

      I will use paper ticket until the very last days…

      HK octopus card > opal. 16 years too late for us

      Once paper tickets are gone, everyone on Opal, that's the time prices will get jacked up. Even more expensive than it already is.

      • ippy on 03/06/2013 - 22:11
        +1

        My thoughts exactly. I'm hoping they don't do a Melbourne. At least we have a few more years of paper… Can't see the state govt doing something extreme like axing paper any time soon…

        I would've thought that they screwed up the t card so much that they'd make this a good one but clearly I was being naive..

        • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2013 - 22:17
          -4

          Not naive.

          The NSW State Government is Liberal and thinks we are all rich, or should be rich!

          Barry O'Farrell and his cronies…

        • paddyo on 04/06/2013 - 09:02
          +2

          What a crock. The whole point of the integrated ticketing is to prevent mass fraud and fare dodging which is rife in NSW. The introduction of a mass transit card, like all modern cities, will enable this and bring in the proper revenue to the people of NSW. You will NOT get compensation for lodging a complaint with the Ombudsman so get that clear in your head. Having used a similar card in London and Brisbane this works very well and I am sure that those without credit cards will find a way to get one.

        • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2013 - 09:15
          -6

          You will NOT get compensation for lodging a complaint
          with the Ombudsman so get that clear in your head.

          Worth a try.

          It's free to complain to the Ombudsman, and your taxes pay for him and his staff.

          Let them earn it, I say!

        • RockyRaccoon on 04/06/2013 - 11:19
          +4

          oznoodle. Make your complaints known about the card, but do you really have to bring in the associated political spin. It weakens any point you have to make about the card.

          BTW reading the FAQ on the site they say this.

          No fees apply to online or phone top ups or to top ups at Opal card retailers using cash.

          If you use a credit or debit card to top up at an Opal card retailer, a service fee may apply.

          At Opal card retailers - using cash - guess BO'F does like the cash payers after all.

        • tomclancy on 04/06/2013 - 20:36

          oznoodle, it's people like you with your political agendas and wasteful philosophy that make this country not as good as it can be.

          Why would you WANT to waste taxpayers money that could be better spent on education/hospitals?

        • arodes on 06/06/2013 - 12:00

          How would Opal card stop fraud and fare dodgers?
          If I get on the train/bus now and not pay….
          how the new system will prevent this?

  • Blugok on 04/06/2013 - 15:13

    Free travel after eight paid journeys in a week.

    Interesting…
    If I travel 8 times on Monday around the CBD
    - 1 journey trip from home to work
    - 7 dodgy trips in the CBD (city circle train) during lunch break

    Does that mean I get free travel fare for the rest of the week?

    • yargnairod on 04/06/2013 - 15:17

      Can't find the link but they are not that stupid. Second hand information has it that the trips have to be 60 minutes apart

      • Vallani on 04/06/2013 - 16:51

        "An advantage for Opal card customers when making several trips on the same mode of transport is a transfer period of 60 minutes that can determine the fare incurred.

        For example, you catch a train to the city from Bondi Junction and leave the station to meet someone and then within 60 minutes re-enter the station and hop on a train back to Bondi Junction – that is two trips, one journey and one fare. This will count as one journey toward your Weekly Travel Reward."

        Source: https://www.opal.com.au/en/fare-information/

        I get the ferry and can see this is open to abuse. Let's say I take a short bus ride at lunch time - this will mean I can get to my minimum of 8 trips much more quickly than if I accumulated it with it ferry trips alone. Not sure if they can do anything to stop this -serves them right for getting rid of seasonal tickets.

        • cwongtech on 04/06/2013 - 19:01

          An advantage for Opal card customers when making several trips on the same mode of transport is a transfer period of 60 minutes that can determine the fare incurred.

          How the hell is that an "advantage"?

          For example, you catch a train to the city from Bondi Junction and leave the station to meet someone and then within 60 minutes re-enter the station and hop on a train back to Bondi Junction – that is two trips, one journey and one fare. This will count as one journey toward your Weekly Travel Reward."

          That will count as one return trip.. which is the same price as 2 one-way trips (currently)
          Unless the return trip is significantly discounted compared to 2 one-way trips of equal length, that's the Opal system gipping one journey for accumulation!
          Or unless they change the pricing structure to be like a mybus numbering crap - where it seems like there is a Get-on-a-bus fee before it goes by whatever numbering crap they use that determines which mybus (1,2,3) you need to validate..

        • jason_ruz on 04/06/2013 - 20:33

          See the example on the website.

          Using a paper ticket you need to pay for two trips = $3.60 + $3.60 = $7.20
          Using Opal you only need to pay for one journey = $3.30

          They haven't really explained how the distance of your journey is measured, but here they imply that the distance is measured from the starting point of your journey to the furthest point of your journey (Bondi Junction to City).

          It is NOT the total distance you actually travel for your journey (Bondi Junction to City to Bondi Junction).

        • Shwayne on 05/07/2013 - 11:01

          No, you have to pay for each separate trip, but it is only considered one journey for the purpose of reaching your weekly quota.

  • xavster on 04/06/2013 - 16:20

    this is only available for city circle and Bondi line, that's not fair to the rest of the Sydney stations that aren't getting discounts :-(

    • one man clan on 05/06/2013 - 09:16

      It's a trial.

      As an aside - I work for the NSW Government, should I tick the rep box?

  • rokoz on 04/06/2013 - 17:35

    For convenience it is a win for not needing to purchase tickets and preventing fare evasion but the charging structure desperately needs an overhaul more importantly.

    I find it ridiculous that I can buy a MyBus3 Travelten ($36.80) to get to work using one bus, yet if I take 2 buses to travel the same distance I get charged again halfway through the journey.

    MyZone tickets are a poor compromise to address these issues.

    Surely converting to a system like Opal is the perfect opportunity to rationalise how people are charged to travel in line with other modern civilizations.

    • young_dazza on 05/06/2013 - 17:27

      I agree but the fact is that while most of us are happy to pay less than what they're currently paying, no-one wants to pay more. So the only way to satisfy everyone with a new 'fairer' fare structure is to ensure that all new fares are lower than the old ones. This is what they did in london when they introduced their 'oyster' card. The problem is that it means less ticket revenue for the state govt! So, while the govt has the opportunity to make the system fairer it doesn't want to.

      • rokoz on 06/06/2013 - 13:55

        I see your point, nobody wants to pay more - nor should they.

        Perhaps someone should inform the Govt that a good way to increase the ticket revenue would be to create a fair and efficient system that encourages the millions that currently drive to switch to public transport.

  • Shwayne on 05/06/2013 - 20:35
    +2

    Opal card will have people who currently buy yearlies paying up to 25% more for transit. :(

    Lets take Campbelltown to Central for example.

    Currently a single ticket is $6.60, a weekly is $51.00, a monthly is $186.00 and a yearly is $2,040.00.

    The opal price will be 8% less than a single, and charge for a maximum of 8 trips a week.

    So the trip cost is $6.30, and the weekly cap is $50.40. (Which is a saving of $0.60 a week.)

    However if you multiply this by 52 weeks (or even 48 weeks to incorporate leave) you get $2620.80 (or $2419.20).

    Also try multiplying it by 4 weeks, for a realistic monthly, and you get $201.60. (~5% more)

    Essentially people who previously bought yearlies are going to be paying a good 15 to 30% more on Opal.

    Sources: https://www.opal.com.au/en/fare-information/ & http://www.cityrail.info/tickets/fare_calculator.htm

    • neonlight on 06/06/2013 - 08:04

      Its the greedy cityrail again, ripping people off with poor service.

    • suti on 06/06/2013 - 10:23

      Commuters from far off lands can be better off:

      Day 1
      Trip 1: Campbelltown to Redfern $6.30
      Trip 2: Redfern to Central $3.30 (assumption: Campbelltown to Redfern takes more than 1hr)
      Trip 3: Central to Campbelltown $5.40 ($15 cap per day)

      Day 2
      as above. cost is $15

      Day 3.
      Trips 1 - 2 again, making it your 8 trips for the week.

      Total cost = $15 + $15 + $9.60 = $39.60 a week = $2,059.20 for 52 weeks.

      You will be better off when you factor in your leave (I assume people take at least 1 block of 1 week leave a year)

      • jason_ruz on 06/06/2013 - 20:29

        This isn't how it works.

        Trip 1 + Trip 2 in your example would be counted as 1 "journey". A journey finishes an hour after you tap off the card. You would have to exit the station, wait for an hour, and then re-enter the station for it to be counted as a separate journey. You need to make 8 "journeys" a week to get the "Weekly Travel Reward" of free travel for the rest of the week.

        However, what you could do instead is take the train during lunchtime and you would end up with a similar result.

  • supersabroso on 03/06/2014 - 23:12

    What happened to the off peak paper tickets? Did they remove them so that only Opal card users have them???

    • grab_ur_freebies on 04/06/2014 - 20:40

      They are forcing ppl onto Opal as it fully functional on the train network.

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