“The use of credit and debit cards to pay for public transport trips has been expanded to NSW’s rail network following a trial on ferry and light rail services. Mobile wallets on smartphones, tablets and wearable devices linked to an American Express, Mastercard or Visa card can also be used to pay for trips on Sydney Trains or NSW Train Link.”
Matt O’Sullivan
The Sydney Morning Herald
26 November 2018 — 3:10pm
Credit card payments extended to Sydney’s trains, but users miss out on Opal benefits
The use of credit and debit cards to pay for public transport trips has been expanded to NSW’s rail network following a trial on ferry and light rail services.
Passengers who opt for their credit cards will pay the equivalent of standard distance-based fares, unlike in previous trials when they were slugged a more expensive single-trip ticket.
However, the use of credit cards will not offer commuters the same benefits as those using Opal cards, which includes half-price travel after eight trips in a week, or a $2 transfer discount when switching modes of transport such as from a bus to a train.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance says contactless payments will make travel easier for tourists. AAP
Commuters will also be charged a peak fare if they use their credit cards, even if they are travelling on trains during off-peak periods when an Opal card would entitle them to a ticket 30 per cent cheaper.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said contactless payments would make purchasing higher one-off fares a thing of the past for tourists and other occasional public transport users.
“It will be wonderful for tourists. It is absolute convenience and, of course, anyone visiting the city now can just pull out the credit card instead of chasing down an Opal card,” he said.
Mobile wallets on smartphones, tablets and wearable devices linked to an American Express, Mastercard or Visa card can also be used to pay for trips on Sydney Trains or NSW Train Link.
Mr Constance reiterated that the expansion of contactless payments did not signal the end of the Opal ticketing system, which offered frequent public transport users the most savings, and serviced students, concession and senior card holders.
The expansion of contactless payments to the bus network has been slated for mid next year, and the state’s transport agency is also in talks with EFTPOS to include it in the ticketing system.
