Image: Photo: Transport for NSW.
Sydney commuters will wake up to higher public transport costs tomorrow, as Opal fares rise by an average of 2.5 per cent from Monday 14 July.
The annual adjustment comes less than two months after the NSW Government settled a multi-million-dollar wage deal with rail workers that ended months of industrial action.
The fare increase, announced by Transport for NSW earlier this month, matches inflation under the Consumer Price Index (CPI) but remains below the maximum cap set by the state’s pricing regulator, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Opal fares to rise by 2.5%
From 14 July, adult Opal users will be paying between 7 and 33 cents more per trip, while child, youth and concession passengers will see increases ranging from 3 to 17 cents.
The exact increase depends on distance, travel mode and whether trips occur during peak or off-peak periods.
Daily and weekly fare caps will remain unchanged. Adults will continue to pay no more than $19.30 Monday to Thursday, and $9.65 on weekends and public holidays.
Weekly caps are staying at $50 for adults and $25 for youth, concession and senior card holders. Pensioners and seniors retain a $2.50 daily cap.
Transport NSW defends rise as costs climb
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said the rise would help maintain and operate the network.
“Each year, fares are reviewed to ensure the network can sustainably cover costs like electricity, fuel, maintenance and staffing,” he said. He added that most commuters would see an average rise of about 50 cents a week.
Transport for NSW noted that about one in ten adult passengers already reach the $50 weekly cap, meaning their costs will not rise further.
Murray also reminded the 60 per cent of adult passengers using contactless payments to tap on and off with the same card or device to avoid default maximum fares and to access transfer discounts.
The fare rise follows the NSW Government’s settlement of a new enterprise agreement with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) in late May. That deal delivered a 12 per cent wage increase over three years and backpay from May 2024.
The agreement came after months of industrial action that caused widespread delays and cancellations across Sydney’s rail network.
Airport station fees hit $17.92
From tomorrow, the Station Access Fee at Sydney Airport train stations will also rise to $17.92 for adults, and $16.03 for children, youth, concession and senior travellers accessing the Domestic and International terminals.
The hike lands as Sydney households continue to grapple with rising living costs.
For further information, visit transportnsw.info.
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