Rail commuters have three months to embrace the Opal card, with the popular weekly and other periodical paper tickets to be axed from September1. Adult off-peak return tickets will go too, Murray Trembath reports.
TRANSPORT Minister Gladys Berejiklian said more than 300,000 Opal cards had been issued and described it as "a great product for our long-suffering commuters".
However, it was obvious from the number of paper tickets still purchased at stations on the Illawarra and East Hills lines that many travellers were not yet convinced.
At last month's community cabinet forum at Hurstville, Ms Berejiklian asked how many people in the audience of about 200 had used one. Only a handful of people put up their hands.
"I would've hoped for more," she said.
The Opposition, which botched its attempt to bring in a similar card when it was in government, claimed many passengers were being short-changed.
Opposition spokeswoman Penny Sharpe said rail commuters in St George and Sutherland Shire would pay $164-$339 more for an Opal card than they would for a yearly paper ticket.
A Transport for NSW spokesman said about 90 per cent of passengers paid the same or were better off financially if using Opal.
"It's not possible or correct to compare the cost of periodical tickets," he said.
"Individual travel patterns can access Opal off-peak discounts, rewards and fare caps over the day and week, which make costs over both the short term and long term significantly cheaper. Attempts to quote long-term costs for Opal over a month, quarter or year are generally based on maximum costs.
"With long-term tickets, customers are required to pay a substantial amount of money up front for travel they may not take, when on annual leave, during holiday periods or unwell.
"That is why they represent less than 1 per cent of all train tickets sold."
Opal cards can be used on trains, ferries and many bus services, with the rollout continuing. They will soon be sold at newsagents and other retail outlets.
COMMUTERS' VIEWS
Rebecca Halsall, of Penshurst, loves her Opal card. ‘‘I am always late for the train so it is much easier,’’ she said. ‘‘You can use it on any rail line, you don’t have to stand in a queue and it’s cheaper, particularly in off-peak and weekends.’’
Mamtaz Begum of Sutherland, said: ‘‘It makes travelling very easy and I save $5 a week.’’
But Graham Garden and Maggie Owen, of Sylvania Waters, aren’t keen. ‘‘We need to know more about it but if it is like an e-tag on cars I wouldn’t like it,’’ Ms Owen said. ‘‘I sold my car and they continued to take money out of my account.’’
Other comments:
Jake Craven, of Sutherland: ‘‘It’s great. I don’t know about the savings yet but it’s quick and easy.’’
Linda Simons, of Engadine: ‘‘I haven’t got an Opal card yet but it looks like it’d be easier. I’ll be looking to see what the benefits are.’’
Clare and Dennis Day, of Oatley: ‘‘We’ll stay with paper tickets as long as possible because you’d have to be watching your Opal card account all the time. There could easily be mistakes, like double-dipping.’’
Nicholas, of Roselands: ‘‘The mechanics of it are very muddled. If you forget to tap off you’re charged double, which is unfair. I’ve always bought a weekly and find it more efficient.’’
Stuart, Sutherland: ‘‘It’s excellent. I don’t have to worry about queuing and it saves me about $5 a week.’’
Margarate-Helen Everett, Bangor: ‘‘I’m looking forward to the Opal card for seniors because it’d just be a matter of turning up.’’
Chris, of Miranda: ‘‘I sometimes work seven days a week so I can save $15 to $20 a fortnight with it.’’
What do you like or not like about the Opal card?
