The next stage of Transport for NSW’s Opal card rollout has seen the state’s seniors shifted to the smart ticketing system.
With almost 5 million Opal cards now issued, several of the last remaining paper tickets were formally phased out on New Year’s Day. The only paper tickets still available for public transport are single and return adult and concession tickets for trains, ferries and light rail, and single adult and concession tickets for buses.
Tickets phased out on New Year’s Day included the pensioner excursion ticket. To replace paper tickets for seniors is the Gold Opal card.
“For seniors and pensioners eligible for the Gold Opal, it’s easy to apply,” state transport minister Andrew Constace said.
Cards can be ordered online, by phone, at Service NSW centres, or picked up at Opal kiosks at train stations.
“You’ll need to confirm your eligibility with your NSW Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession card of DVA NSW War Widow/ers card,” Constance added. “They can be topped up at more than 2100 retailers including Woolworths, 7-Elevens, newsagents or top-up machines at stations across the network.”
Gold Opal customers can travel across the entire public transport system for no more than $2.50 a day.
“It’s simple to use – just tap on at the start of your journey, tap off at the end, and the fare will be deducted,” Constance said.
Greens NSW MP and transport spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi said the phasing out of all remaining non-single or return tickets was forcing thousands of remaining passengers onto a “flawed” system.
“On 1 January, thousands of people will be forced onto a ticketing system with systemic and obvious problems that have not been adequately addressed,” she said late in December.
“The government has promised 350 top-up machines by early 2016, but as of the last days of 2015, machines are advertised as only available at fewer than 100 stations or interchanges.
“Where are the rest, and why aren’t they here in time for the ticket removal? The government has had years to sort this out.
“Transport Minister Constance needs to seriously look at the problem of excessive surcharging,” she added.
“From Friday, plenty more people will need to use Opal retailers, which means more people getting slugged 10%, 20%, or even 40% fees on their top-ups when they pay by card.
“A good public transport system gives people options and provides accessibility for everyone. It’s ridiculous that the long-awaited Opal system still leaves plenty of people worse off.”