I'm sure this is public knowledge for those who travel by train regularly .
But as a infrequent train traveler found out today about the unlimited $2.50 travel after I scanned my opal card on my second trip.
Now I'm considering a trip to Newcastle next Sunday.
Mod: Marked as long running deal
I only found out about it today. Imagine how many more are not aware of this great travel deal !!
Its because, under the old system, it was completely overshadowed by the free travel after 8 journeys. Now that after 8 journeys its only half price, I guess..??
Ferries are a nicer way to travel and take advantage of ultd transport.
Is it $1.25 (half price) then? Or still $2.50?
@first in line:
Incorrect - Sunday daily cap is $2.50 for all (full paying, concessions, half price).
You're getting half price fare after 8 rides, so for shorter rides you might not get to $2.50 cap (e.g. North Sydney to Central weekends half fare is $1.18).
Just be aware, most track works happen on Sunday, so trains are likely to be replaced with buses, so leave plenty of time for Sunday train trips.
Also, for buses check the timetable both ways, they may stop much earlier than expected due to Sunday timetabling.
Katoomba on train and Manly by ferry are good trips for Sunday. The Parra to city ferry is very popular (not many seats, lots of kids) last time I tried.
@neil aus: And you can get email alerts about trackwork every Monday.
http://www.sydneytrains.info/service_updates/trackwork/alert…
Seriously where have you been?
Only if there are referral credits involved.
[Neg] Voted by 1 other user
Someone's feeling bitter.
What's more interesting is that Easternculture still calls the train system CityRail.
CitiRail ceased operations in 2013.
The inner city trains are now operated by "Sydney Trains", and those that go further (to Newcastle / Blue Mountains, etc.) are now operated by "NSW TrainLink".
Well now you know that I use public transport once in a blue moon
Personally I've never seen a blue moon before, so I guess that means never? haha
Wait. So you are not the one jumping on all those opal top up deals like the rest of us low lifes? Maybe I mistook you for someone else haha
Its still cheaper to buy a bike and ride everyday.
Just call them all city rail so the rest of us understand. most of us do
It'll always be ShittyRail mate.
I sometimes refer to it as ShittyFail, particularly when they fail hard.
If CityRail gave a free data day everytime their trains had outages I wouldn't need home internet… Or a 4G plan for that matter…
I don't even live in NSW and I know about this lol
Haha same.
Last time I was up in the traffic congested hell hole that is Sydney I was going to travel to Manly and back + around the inner suburbs. My inner ozbargain obviously couldn't handle this, nor could I handle the complexly-shit ticket machines that Sydney has to offer. I was told by someone at a train station to go and get an opal card as my day would be capped at $2.50. In tears of joy I stumbled to a convenience store to buy one of these bad boys to find out that you don't even need to pay an initial fee for the opal card itself. I was over the moon and I will now plan my Sydney movements around $2.50 Sunday cap.
Wish I saw this before buying a single train ticket, then topping up an opal card for the very first time for a bus ride. Didn't want to top up the opal card for just the train, but then thought my bus wouldn't do cash.. sigh
Baird might backflip and reinstate full-fare Sundays at any time, dependant on direction from his church congregation
If it is like what you suggest, the churches would surely whisper into Mike's ear that cheap travel on Sunday encourages churchgoing, right?
Rickshaws pulled by underperforming greyhounds perhaps? 🐇
Maybe he can fund it a little more by selling off Sydney transport.
Nearly 2.5 years old. So this qualifies as a valid deal under the 6 month rule
If you wanted to I suppose…
@Savas: Nice, got to share my referral links with all the inmates, plus created the Band 28 Society… win :)
Whoa! I seriously had no idea there was a page dedicated to long running deals, so thanks. I might post a deal linking to that page ;)
Thanks OP, the NSW Government has removed so many of the Opal card deals that it's good to know this one is still in place.
lol- what a deal!
Trains don't go to Newcastle. The final station is Hamilton.
But that's pretty much Newcastle by "Sydney distances" right? I've never been but I understand Opal still functions on Newcastle buses anyway.
Yes, but as Op is an infrequent traveller considering a trip to Newcastle, it seemed relevant.
This weekend, trackwork necessitates replacement buses between Central and Newcastle anyway.
http://www.sydneytrains.info/service_updates/trackwork/track…
Did you come from the past?
Yes
Me too!
Do you live under a rock?
Ah I miss $3.50 unlimited weekend on MYKI. They increased it to $6 a couple of years ago now. :(
pls let us know if any opal technique that you believe is work and save money…
my travel cost gone up doubled or more now :(
Best to try to combine this with cheap air travel. Recently flew into Sydney on Sunday, bused to Ryde for $2.50. Time was not an issue
I imagine flying on Tuesday would lead to better savings, especially since you only saved $2 on the bus-only fare (you can take up to 4 buses at a capped price back to back).
Mhmm, I never seem to find cheap tickets for Sundays, usually Tuesdays or Wednesday.
Does the $2.50 cap apply for airport services?
Not to the train station at the airport (you still pay the surcharge).
You can catch the 400 bus from the airport to Mascot station (around 10 minutes away) to avoid the surcharge.
@peterpeterpumpkin: Thanks for that tip. Last couple of times I went to the airport on a Sunday there was trackwork on the airport line so I got the train to Wolli Creek for $2.50 and the free replacement bus with no $13.40 station access fee. Next time if there's no trackwork and I've got time, I'll try the bus from Mascot.
I reach the weekly cap just by going to work every day so I don't get the benefit of this deal :-(
Um, no more weekly cap?
Its $60
I came to Australia yesterday and I knew about this deal already! lol
My cousin lives in China and found out this deal by himself before visiting
Where good Yum Cha?
Forgive my cynicism, but is this deal only posted to inflate monthly deal posts? Most people in Sydney know this already.
Yep that's right.
No referrals from this deal
I think it's important to mention, this doesn't include the airport surcharge. That will be charged on top of the $2.50.
Insider tip: use an opal card with a few $ left on it, tap out at the airport and it will come out as negative $10-15 (depending on your trip) - throw the Opal card out and get a new one.
shush
You should unlink it from your Opal account before you do that. It probably doesn't matter but it'll probably act as an extra layer of protection.
Does this only work for when you tap out? Or can you do the same when going in? (So I bring 2 low balance Opal cards)
And what's the minimum balance?
Only when tapping out.
Source? Have you tried before?
I haven't but I would've thought it would work when tapping out too.
@Redwood: sorry, realised I typo'd too.
So to clarify, you can get to airport stations and tap out with the lower balance but you can't start your journey from an airport station in the same way.
@illumination: Yea. They should be able detect your opal has less than $15 when you access the station and deny access, but they can't deny your exit AFAIK. So tap out only
@illumination: Source: Me. Do it every time I catch the train to the airport to fly to Melbourne. I bring my actual Opal card to tap in when I come back home.
Shoosh
Hey …. wow.
You forgot to tell Leo won the Oscar :P
Our public transport sucks no matter how cheap it is. I would pay more for a clean, dependable and fast public transport system.
are you waiting for hyperloop??
NSW Govt would prolong the construction, ensure countless millions of dollars vanish into a blackhole (either politically related or fraudulently), change policies/plans midway through construction, ensure that the Hyperloop only benefited a specific demographic; upon completion ensure the fees are exorbitant enough to discourage commuters from ever using it frequently, block off access to 'Sydney trains' or at least make it inconvenient to use so as to force commuters towards the Hyperloop; then finally offload it to some private contractor to 'manage' and become dilapidated.
NSW Hyperloop, made to screw benefit NSW residents Govt!
The Liberals have always been all about the textbook ratios, they don't really measure any indirect benefits that aren't in the name of Revenue, for e.g. social, effect on other forms of travel, reduced traffic congestion.
All about the holy Surplus lads.
Last time I came this early, UK is still a part of EU!
I like your previous deals Easternculture, but I cannot call this one a deal or a bargain. It's part of our Sydney train pricing.
Meh the opal system got more expensive when the got rid of the 8 trips things people abused
Most people would hit the 8 trips in the week leaving the weekend free. Doesnt happen of course.
Looks like the negative nellies are out in force, not my fault you are riding the loser cruiser rather then doing the sensible thing and driving.
Are you for real?
bazinga !
https://www.opal.com.au/en/get-an-opal-card/what-services-ca…
To check whether a station exists with Opal :)
Bring back the free trips after 8 journeys in a week!
who doesn't know this?
Being the super tight ass I am, I book all my airfares departing and arriving on a Sunday. Basically $2.50 to get to the airport.
Parramatta (Train) > Burwood station > Bus 400 > Stops right at departure gates = 2.50
I would do this:
Parramatta (Train) > Mascot Station > Bus 400 > Stops right at departure gates = 2.50
Would that be faster??
I prefer to fly Friday night and have extra days away
that's the standard Sunday price, not a bargain
This 'deal' makes the free e-books look like good bargains
At least 99 people disagree with you
Opal card fares to rise from 3 July 2017
Sundays only cap have risen 10c to $2.60
Pensioner Gold Opals will remain a maximum of $2.50 every day
http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/opal-card-fares-to-rise-…
![[NSW] $2.50 for Unlimited Travel on Train/Bus/Ferry Network on Sundays](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/96/271896.jpg?h=f75dedd1)
I mean… this has been here for like what 2 years? or more?