Sydney - Contactless Payments at Opal readers now available

[SeatBackForward]

No need to buy Opal cards if you use Trains or Ferries in Sydney anymore.

If you have an American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal readers on trains, light rail and Sydney Ferries. Just look for the contactless payment symbol

.

Standard (peak) Adult Opal fare pricing applies. If you consistently use the same contactless card or linked device to tap on and tap off, you may qualify for Opal daily, weekly and Sunday fare caps but no other Opal benefits apply.

 

[AIRwin]

Link to the FAQs:
Contactless Payments Trial - frequently asked questions | NSW Government | Opal

 

[moa999]

Note.. no off-peak discounts
(At least for now)
Or buses

For regular travellers or those using buses stick with the Opal card

 

[AIRwin]

For regular travellers or those using buses stick with the Opal card

Thanks for the reminder! I'm a cheapskate and take bus 400 to and from the airport instead of the train...

 

[kpc]

Note.. no off-peak discounts
(At least for now)
Or buses

For regular travellers or those using buses stick with the Opal card

...and many of us have huge opal card balances due to Shop Small

 

[VPS]

Good idea but still no way around it if you want senior's rates

 

[serfty]

In some places you can register your paywave card/apple pay/google pay etc. to a discount category.

 

[VPS]

In some places you can register your paywave card/apple pay/google pay etc. to a discount category.

You can't in London which is really annoying. Can you see something I missed about Sydney or is not possible?

 

[moa999]

Can you see something I missed about Sydney or is not possible?

Not possible now and I doubt they will ever make it so (as per London). thT whole point of contactless is simple - no need to register.

Too easy to borrow 'grannies' crrdcr card and claim you didn't know it was a concession - much harder when it's a differentiated card (and alerts that with tone or light that it's a concession)

 

[Mattg]

Apparently you'll now also be able to take advantage of daily and weekly caps/discounts when using a credit/debit card for public transport in Sydney from this Thursday.

Sydney commuters will now be able to use their credit cards or smartphones to pay for bus rides — and get the same benefits available to Opal card users

Commuters in Sydney will now be able to tap on and tap off from buses using their credit or debit cards, as well as smartphones with payments capabilities, from August. The discounts available to Opal card users will also be applicable to commuters using contactless payment systems. The full...

www.businessinsider.com.au

 

[Madison177204]

This has been available for a while. I used my Credit Card for travel from the airport into Circular Quay and then onto a Ferry as well as other train trips last September (2018) as I had forgotten to bring my Opal Card - left it home in N Qld so I was very happy to see the notices in the terminals advertising the availability of use of a credit card and it worked a dream!

 

[kpc]

As a Sydneysider, I will continue using my Opal card. Less wear and tear on credit card, frequent use of credit card increases risk of losing it, able to top up Opal at Woolworths / Coles at 5% discount, Amex shop small promos etc. . As a tourist, using the credit card to tap on / off is a no brainer.

 

[Alyopsis]

It’s a great idea. I have transports cards for 6 Australian cities so getting rid of one is a start. I’m assuming the periodic ticket checks on interurban trains won’t be a problem for people using credit cards rather than Opal cards

 

[Melburnian1]

Sydney is again way ahead of Melbourne's beleagured myki public transport smartcard that has cost Victorians hundreds of millions more than it ought have, and still isn't as up to date with technology as is Sydney's.

It's sad that in Australia we don't have a public transport smartcard available for use across multiple cities as do some countries.

Does using the latest Sydney initiative raise further privacy or 'snooping by Visa, or Google' issues?

 

[Buzzard]

Not living in MEL but a frequent visitor, what's wrong with the Myki?

 

[Lynda2475]

Its great for infrequent visitors as they dont have to worry about topping up an opal or being left with unused funds; and for when you accidently leave your opal card in you jeans/jacke pocket.

But for locals there are still benefits to using an actual opal card.

 

[Buzzard]

Not a local but as a visitor I use an opal to get the senior discount.

 

[VPS]

AFAIK there is still a problem that if you've got a concession Opal (seniors) then the CC transaction can't detect that

 

[Melburnian1]

Not living in MEL but a frequent visitor, what's wrong with the Myki?

Still can be very slow to touch on or off, irrespective of the mode (train/tram/bus.)

No short journey fares.

Contract blew out by hundreds of millions as have operating costs.

No card balance shown on the newest validators - you have to check it by other means.

 

[mrsterryn]

As a Sydneysider, I will continue using my Opal card. Less wear and tear on credit card, frequent use of credit card increases risk of losing it, able to top up Opal at Woolworths / Coles at 5% discount, Amex shop small promos etc. . As a tourist, using the credit card to tap on / off is a no brainer.

Not that I use the opal card often but how do you get discounts ?
Husband has just applied for his seniors card so he can get his seniors Opal card