Commuters in NSW are taking advantage of free public transport with Opal cards
More than two million free trips have been taken by customers using the Opal card on buses, trains and ferries with more than 250,000 cards now registered.
Customers can travel free anywhere on the Opal network once they have reached their weekly travel cap of eight paid journeys during the week, or reached their daily cap.
Opal is now available on all Sydney trains, ferry services and a number of selected bus routes across the city.
New South Wales Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian says using Opal is easy and with more than 250,000 cards registered it is clear more and more customers are keen to take advantage of the benefits.
“For bus customers, the rollout is underway and they too can enjoy cheaper fares, the convenience of always knowing their Opal card is ready to go and never again arriving at the bus stop to find their TravelTen has no rides left.”
As well as the added convenience, Opal is cheaper for the overwhelming majority of customers, with daily fare caps, $2.50 Sunday travel and free travel after eight journeys in a week.
Berejiklian says 2.2 million free trips had been taken with Opal by customers who reach their weekly or daily cap.
“This is the fantastic thing about Opal – travelling for free will increase patronage once customers realise they can jump on and off public transport without paying a thing,” she says.
“We’re getting on with the job of delivering Opal to all public transport customers, so their travel is simpler, cheaper and more convenient.”
The NSW Government also announced Opal is now activated on all of the State Transit buses serving the 326, 327, 355, 361 and L24 bus routes.
Five new Opal bus routes went live over a two-week period from late April and carry customers between the beach, Bondi Junction and the city, and – in the case of the 355 – on to Marrickville.
Berejiklian says State Transit routes include buses from multiple depots, so it takes a number of weeks before every bus on a single route can accept Opal.
When a bus goes live with Opal, customers will see an ‘Opal Bus’ sign on the front of the bus and by the side door.