Opal | Sydney City Centre Access 2018

The completion of the Opal roll out has allowed customers to enjoy smooth and uncomplicated travel between modes, simply by tapping on and off on their journeys. The cards can be easily topped up online or an automatic transfer set up, ensuring that customers can avoid queuing to purchase tickets.

In May 2018, the Opal network clocked up two billion customer trips since it was launched in December 2012.

Opal provides customers with a more streamlined and efficient travel experience across all modes of transport, providing ease of interchanging between modes, reduced costs and reduced congestion at busy locations in the city centre. Interchanging provides greater access to more places. In September 2016, the $2 interchange penalty (between modes) was removed which has provided customers more choice in planning their trips through various modes. Opal data allows us to gain more insight into travel patterns across the Sydney city centre and help plan the transport network.

Most major Sydney train stations including St James, Martin Place, Redfern, Edgecliff, North Sydney, Circular Quay, Bondi Junction, Wynyard and Central Station have seen a substantial increase in interchange during the 5am-10am weekday periods.

Town Hall is the only station to experience a decrease in interchanging, due to the implementation of the 2015 CBD Bus Plan, which reduced the number of buses in the centre of the city to take the pressure off Town Hall station.

Opal was successfully rolled out across Sydney on all modes of public transport, between 2012 and 2016, including rail, light rail, bus and most ferry networks.

We will continue to use Opal data to help inform future transport service and infrastructure planning.

In May 2018, the Opal network clocked up two billion customer trips since it was launched in December 2012.