Transport experts have reserved judgment on the Opal card system until Transport for NSW implements its final price structure for the new technology.
Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced on Sunday the smartcard will be trialled on the City Circle and Eastern Suburbs train lines from June 14. With its tap on and tap off facility, it is hoped the Opal card will ease long ticket lines and enable commuters to switch between trains, buses and ferries conveniently.
“The pricing structure will determine if the new ticketing system is a win for citizens or another NSW multimillion dollar missed opportunity,” said co-convenor of EcoTransit, Matthew Hounsell.
“Since price is a significant consideration in choosing transport mode, the proposal for free travel after eight trips would encourage weekend public transport use and reduce Saturday’s dreadful traffic. That will only work if NSW reverses the massive reduction in weekend public transport, which caused a drop in patronage and a jump in traffic.”
Periodical tickets (monthly, quarterly and yearly) will also be abolished in tandem with Opal card rollout, resulting in increased fares for users of periodical tickets.
But Ms Berejiklian said single trips using the Opal card will be 8 per cent cheaper than single paper ticket prices and will transform Sydney travel by implementing a faster, more eco-friendly commute.
“Bringing electronic ticketing to Sydney has been a long time coming. The former Labor Government promised it for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and failed to deliver after that,” she said.
“But the Liberals and National [Party] Government has been working hard behind the scenes to get to this point since we came to government in 2011.”
A further 30 per cent off-peak discount will be given to Opal card users outside weekday morning and afternoon peaks, and on weekends.
A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said several incentives have also been implemented to encourage the transition to Opal card use. Commuters will receive a daily travel cap of $15 and $2.50 travel cap on Sundays.
“Plus with Opal you get a weekly travel reward, which means after eight paid journeys in a week, all further journeys will be free,” said the spokesperson.
Ms Berejiklain said care must be exercised when rolling out such a project.
“While the Opal card will eventually transform the way we move around, the roll out is complex and we are taking our time. We have learned that progressive roll outs work best and we expect there may be some hiccups along the way,” she said.
Mr Hounsell said the smartcard rollout was too slow and the technology used is outdated when compared with transport technology used overseas.
“It is a shame that the government and bureaucracy have continued to pursue a bespoke, overpriced, outdated payment processing system creating another government mandated monopoly. Other cities have already rolled out next generation systems using contact-less credit cards and near field communication from mobile phones,” he said.
More than 42 ferry wharves, 300 train stations, 5,000 buses and light rail are planned to have fully operational Opal equipment across Sydney and regional NSW by 2015.
