Opal card

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Location Sydney
Central Coast
Hunter Region
Blue Mountains
Southern Highlands
Illawarra
Launched Ferries: 7 December 2012
Trains: 14 June 2013
Buses: 30 September 2013
Light Rail: 2015
Technology Contactless smart card by
Cubic Transportation Systems
MiFare DESFire EV1
Manager Transport for NSW
Currency AUD
Stored-value Pay as you go
Validity Sydney Trains
  NSW TrainLink
  Sydney Buses
  Private buses
  Sydney Ferries
  Light rail in Sydney
Retailed Online
  Telephone
  Retailers
  Public Transit Stations
Website www.opal.com.au

Opal is a contactless smartcard ticketing system being rolled out for public transport services in the greater Sydney area. The Opal card was officially launched as a trial in December 2012, beginning available for use on selected ferry services, with the card due to be fully rolled out by 2015.[1] It will eventually be valid on all bus, rail, light rail and government ferry services in the Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter Region, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Illawarra areas.[2]

History

Previous systems

Sydney has used a number of automated ticketing systems since the opening of the Eastern Suburbs Railway in June 1979. The current Sydney Automated Fare Collection System (AFC) was rolled out across all CityRail, Sydney Buses, Western Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries and Newcastle Buses & Ferries services between 1988 and 1993. The system featured loose integration between the different modes of transport, a complex fare structure and excluded private operators.

A unified brand for the majority of public transport tickets was introduced in April 2010. MyZone was designed to simplify the fare system and remove one of the stumbling blocks to the introduction of a smart card.[3] The AFC system was retained where it was in use, but tickets could also be used on private buses - and subsequently on the light rail in Sydney - by presenting a ticket to the driver or conductor.

Tcard

Main article: Tcard

A replacement for the AFC based on smart card technology, named Tcard, was first announced by the Government of New South Wales in 1996, with the aim of having a system in place before the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The contract was awarded to ERG Group, but was delayed until 2002 due to a lawsuit from the losing bidder Cubic Transportation Systems, which was labelled 'dishonest' by the presiding Supreme Court of NSW judge.[4]

The development and rollout of the system was beset with difficulties, leading the Government to terminate the contract in November 2007.[5] The government sued ERG for $77 million who counter sued for $215m.[6] The claim was settled in February 2012.[7]

Revival

In July 2008, only months after terminating the Tcard contract, it was revealed that the smartcard system project had been revived by the government.[8]

In August 2008 the NSW Government called for expressions of interest for the second attempt at the project, open to other Smart Card providers.[9] In April 2010 the NSW Government awarded the contract to the Pearl Consortium, whose members are the Commonwealth Bank, Cubic Transportation Systems and Downer EDi.[10][11] The system will also replace the various ticket machines used by private bus operators.

In September 2011 the new name for the system was announced as 'Opal', chosen from a selection of 665 names. Transport for New South Wales said Opal was chosen because it was 'uniquely Australian',[12] short, and easy to say. As well as the opal being Australia's national gemstone, the black opal is the New South Wales gemstone symbol.[13]

Rollout

Top up point flag
Opal Card Reader
Opal Card top up machine

Ferries

The first stage of the Opal card rollout commenced on 7 December 2012 as a trial on the Neutral Bay to Circular Quay ferry service[14][15] followed on 8 April 2013 by the Manly to Circular Quay service,[16][17] and on 12 August 2013 to the Eastern Suburbs, Mosman and Taronga Zoo.[18] From 30 August 2013 Opal was available on all Sydney Ferries services.[19][20]

Trains

On 14 June 2013 Opal was rolled out on train services on the City Circle and Eastern Suburbs lines.[21][22] On 30 August 2013 Opal was rolled out on train services on the North Shore line as far as Chatswood.[20][23] On 31 January 2014, Opal was extended west to Strathfield and north to Wyong along the North Shore and Northern Lines.[24]

By March 2014 Opal will be available on these railway lines:[21]

Buses

On 30 September 2013 Opal was rolled out on bus services on Transdev Shorelink Buses services 594 and 594H.[25] On 6 December 2013 Opal was rolled out on Sydney Buses' route 333 from Circular Quay to Bondi Beach, one of Sydney's most heavily used routes.[26]

Card types

There will be five different Opal card fare types, each with their own easily identifiable colour; Adult (black), Concession (silver), Senior/Pensioner (gold), Child/Youth (green) and Student (blue).[27] Non-reloadable Opal cards will be introduced at a future date.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Transport card ready to be rolled out in Sydney". abc.net.au. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012. 
  2. ↑ Opal card Transport for NSW
  3. ↑ Hall R & West A "Inner-city commuters hit by hefty fare shake-up" Sydney Morning Herald 2 February 2010
  4. ↑ Clennell, Andrew;Besser, Linton (4 November 2010). "Cubic Branded Dishonest by NSW Supreme Court Judge". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 November 2011. 
  5. ↑ "NSW ends TRG Tcard contract" The Australian 9 November 2007
  6. ↑ "Court orders government to hand over Tcard documents" Sydney Morning Herald 9 June 2010
  7. ↑ "NSW taxpayers 'spared $200m loss' as Tcard trail aborted" Sydney Morning Herald 17 February 2012
  8. ↑ Besser, Linton (3 June 2008). "Tcard: Here we go again". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2008. 
  9. ↑ "NSW revives failed Tcard project" ABC News 3 July 2008
  10. ↑ "Pearl Consortium wins NSW Tcard contract". iTwire. 12 April 2010. 
  11. ↑ "London's Oyster creator scores Tcard contract" Sydney Morning Herald 11 April 2010
  12. ↑ "Opal fact sheet". Transport for New South Wales. Retrieved 2012-12-03. 
  13. ↑ "New name's the ticket for Sydney transport" ABC News 13 September 2011
  14. ↑ "Test of city's ticket to ride will decide if Opal is Coalition's trump card" Sydney Morning Herald 26 November 2012
  15. ↑ Enthusiasm but few takers on Opal launch day Sydney Morning Herald 7 December 2012
  16. ↑ "A new voyage for Opal card" Daily Telegraph 25 March 2013
  17. ↑ Opal card trial extends to Manly Transport for NSW 25 March 2013
  18. ↑ Opal card expands to all Sydney Ferries services east of Sydney Harbour Bridge Transport NSW 31 July 2013
  19. ↑ Opal card rollout on Sydney Ferries Transport for NSW
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Opal smartcard comes to more Sydney commuters Sydney Morning Herald 30 August 2013
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Opal roll out begins for train customers Transport for NSW 2 June 2013
  22. ↑ The end of ticket queues: Minister announces Opal trial Sydney Morning Herald 2 June 2013
  23. ↑ Opal card rollout on trains Transport for NSW
  24. ↑ Opal card use to be extended next week Sydney Morning Herald 23 January 2014
  25. ↑ Opal card trial for bus customers begins Transport for NSW 26 September 2013
  26. ↑ Opal Smartcards Transport NSW Retrieved on 2 December 2013
  27. ↑ Opal card types Transport for NSW 25 November 2012
  28. ↑ Opal terms of use Transport for NSW
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