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Earlier this week, it was confirmed that metro services are stepping up in response to rising fuel prices. And now, Sydney’s public transport is about to get a whole lot smarter – and for nearly a million commuters, a whole lot cheaper. In a long-awaited overhaul of the city’s ticketing system, the NSW Government has announced that concession, pensioner and senior Opal users will soon be able to tap on using their phone, watch or debit card – without losing their discounted fares. Yep, no more frantic wallet rummaging for that elusive physical Opal card.
Right now, if you’re eligible for concession or Gold Senior/Pensioner fares, you have to use a specific Opal card to access the discount. Which means plenty of savvy commuters have been opting for the convenience of contactless payments instead – but forfeiting those cheaper fares in the process.
Rolling out gradually from April 16 as part of the Opal Next Gen overhaul, the new ‘next gen’ system will allow eligible passengers to link their concession status directly to a credit or debit card. The result? Seamless tapping on and off, with all the discounted perks intact.
According to the NSW Government, around 970,000 people are set to benefit, including 800,000 seniors and pensioners, 130,000 uni students and jobseekers, and 40,000 TAFE students and apprentices. Modelling by the Transport for NSW team suggests that about 70 per cent of younger concession holders will make the switch to contactless, alongside 30 to 40 per cent of seniors.
Doing the maths? The discounts are nothing to sneeze at. Generally across Sydney, adult fares are capped at $50 a week, while concession and youth fares max out at $25. Seniors? They’re cruising with a $2.50 daily cap (or $17.50 across a full week of travel).
There are also off-peak perks to keep in mind: if you travel on Fridays, weekends, public holidays or outside peak hours you’ll score 30 per cent off fares across metro, train, bus and light rail services.
Opal loyalists can breathe easy (the physical card isn’t going anywhere), but this digital shift is good news for people who like to leave the house without over-thinking what’s in their pockets. And let's be honest – with petrol prices as they are, easier ways to cut costs right now are certified blessings.
Concession card holders will be able to begin registering contactless cards from Thursday, April 14 via the Transport for NSW website.
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