• In 6 days

[NSW] Free Train and Metro Travel on Thursday 31 July and Friday 1 August @ Transport NSW

1300

Travel will be free for passengers on all rail services statewide including Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link and Metro from Thursday 31 July to Friday 1 August inclusive.

From 12.01am Thursday 31 July to 11.59pm on Friday 1 August 2025, travel will be free on all Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services.

Opal gates and readers at Opal enabled train and metro stations will be turned off during this fare free period meaning customers will not need to tap on and tap off.

Passengers using NSW TrainLink services during this time will be refunded but must have booked a ticket to secure their seat to travel.

However, passengers on all other services including bus, ferry, and light rail must tap on and off as normal as fares will continue to be charged.

Opal benefits will still apply to all paid journeys where customers tap on and tap off.

Passengers who use Park&Ride commuter car parks will still be able to access free parking to travel on the Opal network.

Funded by tax payers

Two days of free train travel for NSW after government, unions sign pay deal.

In short:
The NSW government and the union have ended their dispute over pay after a majority of rail workers voted in favour of the new enterprise bargaining agreement.

The government has announced two fare-free days on trains in recognition of the disruption caused by protracted dispute.

What's next?
The fare-free days will run from July 31 to August 1, and only applies to trains.

Related Stores

Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW

Comments

  • +17

    i bet they'll be back on strike by then

    • +18

      I told my work that I will strike tomorrw. They suggested early retirement to me as an option.

      • +14

        You should probably join a union then

    • Good on them.

  • +1

    metro and regional train trips across NSW will cost nothing.

  • +31

    Funded by tax payers

    So is the whole public transport system and all the roads. Most of the income from tickets ironically probably goes towards enforcing tickets… (Revenue from tickets is half of employee wages)

    • I didn't know it. Why it's so high compared to Victoria (let alone QLD)?

      • +1

        Since it's not meant to be profitable, I guess it's somewhat arbitrary - whatever they think they can get away with. I'm not an expert.

      • +5

        Public transport fares in NSW are set by IPART (unelected bureaucrats) and they set them high to try and recoup costs, even though the system still runs at an overall loss.

        • +8

          The horror think tax dollars should be spent providing a public service!

    • +9

      In some cities, although usually smaller than Sydney, public transport is free.
      It's just because it costs too much money to enforce tickets, have the payment system in place etc.

      I doubt we would see this on Sydney one day but I like the idea.

      • Melbourne inner city trams are free

        • To promote tourism.

          • +3

            @rodericb: More because they scrapped ticket selling machines on board trams, and the fact that the tap-ons are too slow and would make boarding a busy tram take heaps longer. But, yes, officially, 'to promote tourism' (since tourists never leave the inner city)

        • +1

          Free shuttle for a 1-2 kms in parramatta to leagues club there 😄

      • Which cities?

  • +18

    This is a real bargain if you don't pay taxes

    • +7

      Or travelled from outside of NSW/AU.

      • +1

        This is a real bargain if you don't pay taxes

        This is a real bargain … if you pay taxes but don't normally catch the trains.

        • +1

          Real bargain if you pay taxes and paying for trains anyway for commute..

        • +1

          By the same logic government funded cancer research is a waste of taxpayer money because I don't have cancer.

      • OzB meet up on the Brisbane to Sydney train! $0 first class seats for all.

    • Gst is also a tax and everyone pays for it.

  • +7

    NSW’s Free Train Delays

    is how i read the title.

    • +6

      And the drivers get payrise

  • -6

    Drivers and staff don’t deserve it

  • +1

    what a coincidence, I will be taking leave during these 2 days

  • Puzzled: why would train union advocate free ride for us?

    • +4

      To win public support after the inconvenience caused by the strike.

      • +3

        lol they should have done it right in the first place

    • -1

      Don't see anything to say they did advocate for it. And if they did I'm sure it would have been more visible.

    • +1

      To pretend they have any consideration for the perpetually inconvenienced public who pick up the tab for their lazy, overpaid members…

      Bring on the driverless and guardless trains, post-haste.

  • +2

    REGIONAL TRAIN IS FREE AS WELL!!!!!

  • Are we still paying for drivers on driverless trains (metro)?

  • What's the longest distance we can travelling for free by Sydney train? Blue Mountains?

    • (might be off topic), booked one-way regional train to Brisbane

    • +3

      Here's the map…
      https://transportnsw.info/regional-network-map

      Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide are $0 too.

      • So far. So so far

      • Are you sure country link rail is included?

      • Free travel interstate? That seems totally bonkers!

        Apparently they're sold out already but I'm guessing there will be people refunding/cancelling since it doesn't cost them anything

  • -5

    How much pay rise did they get? Probably no more $$ for nurses now…
    What's the bet July 31 to August 1 - some problem with the train lines or some other BS? lol

  • +3

    This is a better deal than I think most people realise. If you are quick before the trains fully book out, then you can book a seat on the nsw train link website for $0. I just received confirmation for a day trip to Orange on the 31st, but you can go much further if you want to take annual leave for both days.

    • You are paying it just like the toll rebate

    • Got relos there? Or are you camping, or where do you get cheap accommodation?

  • -3

    I’d happily pay double if the government would stick it to these unions and turf the lot of them…

    • Old mate uncle Rico must've been ecstatic when work choices was implemented…

      • Not really. Why, old mate?

  • Thanks OP

  • Thanks OP

  • +1

    Anyone got any scenic statewide overnight itineraries? Could head to Broken Hill and back, we're free those days :)

  • +1

    Months of train delays and disruptions, so that you can get 2 days free travel. Not a good trade..

  • Why does this never happen in Melbourne? I mean, we have more than out share of train network meltdowns

  • Does that include airport stations?

    • Yes, but you still pay the airport access fee

  • Melbourne day trip?

  • +1

    there are quite a few jobs/industries that if they striked, the impact would be similar or far worse for all of society than what the rail workers did

    but those industries never have, even when their conditions were arguably worse than the rail workers

    the whole saga does not leave me thinking well of the rail union

    • +1

      Imagine ED goes on strike. Like, why not?

      Some are slightly more considerate.

  • +1

    Just booked Sydney to Brisbane, $0 for first class (normally $97)

    • I booked to Gold Coast? Good view on the way I wish!

  • Go to Tweed Heads and you’re almost there !
    I think the only line actually takes you through Beaudesert and on to Acacia Ridge but you will still have made it to the promised land.
    Yes Queensland.
    Beautiful one day ,
    Subdivided and ruined the next.

  • -2

    I assume this is for anywhere on the opal network?

  • they giving it for Thursday and Friday when least patrons uses Sydney Train… such a cheap trick by liberal primer working under Labor party banner :D

    • +2

      Agree. They should give 1 week free at least.

    • Thursday is the busiest day on the network, at least between 2020-2023: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-train-patronage-s…

    • I don't know man… Peak hour still packed on northern line, and can't get on at Chatswood to Metro. So at this point…even free travel won't get me back unless the passenger congestion is improved.

  • Sydney to Gold Coast day trip 😆

  • Thanks & booked for a Regional Train ride.

  • All interstate tickets are sold out lol

  • "The government has announced two fare-free days on trains in recognition of the disruption caused by protracted dispute."

    Well in Victoria, we have had years of disruption caused by protracted incompetence of our state government. How many days free should we get?

    • +4

      VIC gov is on another level of retardation

  • the nsw govt and unions got into bed together to give us these 2 specific days when we're all either at work or won't benefit from their messes

  • +1

    Naarm culture (fare evasion)

  • Anyone figured out a trip starting from Adelaide?

    Not sure how this would work with transport NSW, but for free travel to anywhere on interstate tax payer dollars, I would be stupid to not take it!

  • +1

    Qld has a much better deal. 50c on all public transport at all times (intercity and airport excluded) but you can go as far as the Gold Coast or Caboolture for 50c.

    • Gympie North technically

    • It means to be free but gov wants the data for the stimulation I reckon.

  • Does anyone know how does commuter carpark works on Free fare days?

    I would be going to office on both these days and I use commuter car park which is free to use as long as I used train o that day with tap on and off. I see the machines going to be switched off, so I wouldn’t be able to tap.

    My daily fare is ~12$ and car park fare would be $18 if I don’t tap on normal days

    • I would think either the commuter car parks will be "open" to all (Boom gates up), or if not then you pay for parking and then should be able to get a refund for those days.

      • I was thinking the same.

        I have always driven to work and only started using public transport from past 3 weeks due to change in jobs. So this would be my first time to have fare free train days.

    • free doesn't mean don't tap on for $0.00 deduction

      • The announcement says the opal reader machines will be turned off. So no option to tap on.

  • Need a cheap 1-2 night stay in NSW to take advantage of this deal.

  • +2

    abcde f, off

Login or Join to leave a comment