Catch fare free public transport this Anzac Day
Thousands of Sydneysiders are expected to attend this year’s Anzac Day Dawn Service in Martin Place and March along Elizabeth Street in the CBD on Monday 25 April.
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said all modes of public transport, including in regional areas, are free for veterans and serving Australian Defence Force personnel over the Anzac Day long weekend.
“To honour our veterans and serving ADF personnel public transport is free from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 April. Those in uniform, wearing their medals, or with proof of military service are eligible, as are veterans’ families and carers,” Mr Collins said.
“Additionally, all modes of transport on the Opal network will be free for commuters as the Fare Free travel period rolls into the second long weekend of the Easter holidays. It ends at 3:59am on Tuesday 26 April and we remind customers to tap on and off with their Opal or contactless credit or debit card, which will not be charged.
Extra early morning train, metro, bus and light rail services will run to help those attending the Dawn Service get to Martin Place. Services will run to a regular timetable throughout the day for March participants and spectators travelling to and from the CBD.
Light rail services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall until 6am, while the Dawn Service is held in Martin Place. Buses in the city will also divert and use different stops while roads are closed for the day.
For anyone planning to attend the March, starting at 9am, the closest train stations are Martin Place, St James, Museum and Town Hall. The March will travel along Elizabeth Street from Martin Place to Hyde Park South.
“We encourage veterans, their family, friends and supporters to exercise personal responsibility and wear a mask in crowded places during the Dawn Service and March. Commuters are also reminded masks remain mandatory on public transport and at public transport waiting areas,” Mr Collins said.
With road closures and parking restrictions in place for most of the day, people are encouraged to plan ahead, leave the car at home and take advantage of free public transport across the Opal network.
Roads around Martin Place will begin closing from 2am followed by major closures along the March route from 6am, including sections of Elizabeth Street, Castlereagh Street, Pitt Street, King Street, Market Street, Hunter Street, Bent Street, Park Street and Liverpool Street. Most major roads are due to reopen by 4pm.
“We encourage motorists to avoid driving through the Sydney CBD on Monday, because traffic will be heavy while closures are in place for Anzac Day,” Mr Collins said.
“There are also other ways to commemorate Anzac Day – there will be a live stream of the Dawn Service at nsw.gov.au and the March will be broadcast on ABC TV. People can also attend a local service or stay home and ‘Light Up the Dawn’ at 6am.”
Transport for NSW will mark Anzac Day by broadcasting the Last Post at Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink and Sydney Metro stations across the network.
People using public transport to attend other major events on Anzac Day, including the Races at Royal Randwick and the annual NRL Dragons v Roosters match at the SCG, are reminded to tap on and off services with their Opal or credit card, which will not be charged. Register your details online or via the Opal app before the day.
For more information on Anzac Day services and commemorations, visit nsw.gov.au or RSLNSW.org.au.
For more information on travel to Anzac Day commemorations and to plan your trip, visit transportnsw.info. You can also check for service capacity using the online Trip Planner, the Opal Travel app or a third party transport app. Public transport capacity caps remain in place until Saturday 30 April.
For road closure details and real-time traffic conditions, visit livetraffic.com.