Opal card

The Opal card: Transforming the way we move around

Order an Opal card now by calling Opal Customer Care: 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).

New electronic ticketing system

The Opal card will provide an easy, convenient and fast new way of travelling on the public transport network in Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands.

It is a smartcard similar in size to a credit card that will allow you to pay for your travel on ferries, trains, buses and light rail.

Instead of buying a paper ticket you load value onto your Opal card via a range of convenient options.

Customers using the Opal card will tap on at a card reader at the start of their trip and tap off at the end. The electronic ticketing system will automatically calculate the fare and deduct it from the value stored on your Opal card.

No more queuing for tickets and only pay for the travel you use.

Progressive rollout

The electronic ticketing system and the Opal card are being progressively introduced and started with a Customer Trial on the Neutral Bay ferry service in December 2012.

On Monday 8 April 2013 the Customer Trial on ferries was extended to the Manly ferry service.

Customers will be able to use an Opal card to pay for travel on both the Neutral Bay ferry service and Manly ferry service. During 2013 the Opal card will become available on more services across the Sydney Ferries network.

The Opal card will be introduced on Sydney’s trains with a Customer Trial in the second half of 2013 on the City Circle and Eastern Suburbs line stations and then on buses after that.

Customer Trial to gain feedback

The implementation of a new ticketing system is a large and complex project and will be subject to testing and Customer Trials.

The trial approach is the best way to capture feedback from customers and transport operators to ensure the implementation is successful.

During the Customer Trial the full features of the Opal card will be progressively rolled out and tested. Initially only the Adult Opal card will be available, with other types of cards coming later in the year.

Be one of the first to use the Opal card and help with its introduction across public transport.

Opal card benefits

The easiest way to make sure you always have value on your card when travelling is to get auto top up.

You set and forget by linking your Opal card to a credit/debit card.

The Opal card is introducing a new era of convenience and provides the following fare incentives:

• A reward providing free travel after eight paid journeys in a week*
• A $2.50 daily cap on Sunday
• A daily cap of $15.00 from Monday to Saturday

* The Opal week runs from Monday to Sunday for the purposes of fare calculation.

The full details on fares for the Opal card will be released as the implementation progresses.

Order an Opal card now by calling Opal Customer Care: 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).

Customer trial
How do I top up my Opal card?
Fare information
Opal card Terms of Use
Frequently Asked Questions
Notification of changes to Opal Terms of Use and Opal Refund and Balance Transfer Policy
Privacy Policy (pdf 156KB)
Notification of changes to Opal Privacy Policy
Media Release - 8 April 2013
Media Release - 25 March 2013
Media Release - 7 December 2012
Media Release - 26 November 2012