Opal Discussion and Observations

[CB80]

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/opal

[Daniel]

3,300 bus routes hey?
"Making sure they get it right" I guess...

[Simes]

hmmmmmm 1304 looks to have a full fit out

3300 routes, all the variations, all the school routes?

I thought that we were going to get an improved ticketing system ??????? What are we getting in the privates instead.
ANSWER: No improvement really , all we get improved is not having to "section up/down whilst driving along.
* Still have to manually mark off Mybus tkts
* Still have to validate repaid pets & multis
* Can still issue multiple fares (but unlike previous when we can get them all on 1 tkt WE CAN NOW ISSUE UP TO 20 TKTS AT ONCE AND IT BLOODYWELL ISSUES 20 SEPERATE TKTS
* Still have to isue free tkts for multys , pets etc.
IS IT WORTH ALL THE MONEY INVESTED ???

Why should they throw cash at installing the green machines in the private buses?

And yeah what you see is only the start - as the smartcard becomes more widely available, and used, then the myzone tickets will disappear, I'd argue that the myzone (particular the bus) tickets will be phased out pretty quickly. How often do you see a mybus ten or a mymulti that's been purchased from a train ticket office?

[simonl]

Any news on what the fare will be? The same as MyFerry1?

[Fleet Lists]

From http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/opal (to keep this data as the webpage may not last for ever)

What is the Opal card?

The Opal card will provide an easy, convenient and fast new way of travelling on public transport. It is a smartcard similar in size to a credit card. Once fully implemented, the Opal card will enable travel on greater Sydney’s ferries, trains, buses and light rail.

Public transport customers using the Opal card will tap on at the start of their trip and tap off at the end, with the Opal card working much like an e-tag.

You will keep the card on a permanent basis like a credit card. You won’t have to queue for tickets or worry about having the right change for your fare.

The Opal card will be introduced with a Customer Trial on 7 December 2012 for the Neutral Bay ferry service. It’s expected to be available for all Sydney ferry customers, from Parramatta to Manly, by the end of next year, with the roll-out to trains starting on the City Circle in the second half of 2013. The Opal card will then be introduced on buses after that.

The Opal card will be progressively rolled out across the greater Sydney public transport network.

The Customer trial is taking place December 2012 - Sydney Ferries Neutral Bay service and second quarter 2013 addition of Sydney Ferries Manly serviceCome 2015, 42 ferry wharves, 307 train stations and more than 5,000 buses and light rail will have Opal card equipment operating in Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast, the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains.

The Opal card Customer Trial enables customers to test the new electronic ticketing system and Opal card in a live setting.

It is being conducted on the Neutral Bay ferry service from 7 December 2012 and then during the second quarter of 2013 on the Manly ferry service.

We are starting with the ferry service because it’s simpler and smaller, making it easier to trial the new technology, systems and customer interactions.

Different features of the Opal card and its accompanying services will become available as the Customer Trial progresses. This allows feedback from customers which will improve the system.

We are encouraging regular customers on the Neutral Bay ferry route to be involved in the trial. Opal card team members will be directly approaching customers on the ferry to ask them if they’d like to participate.

Customers involved with the Customer Trial will need to complete a registration form and they’ll then receive an information pack including the Opal card.

[Fleet Lists]

Any news on what the fare will be? The same as MyFerry1?

The obvious answer is NO. If it was known it would have been posted.

[boxythingy]

Interesting, the man tapped off at 1:43 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9Os#t=103s )
and was charged the price of a MyZone2 Adult Single...

And it was $3.50 at a train station/wharf with barriers at 0:43?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 39Os#t=46s

[Simes]

Interesting, the man tapped off at 1:43 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9Os#t=103s )
and was charged the price of a MyZone2 Adult Single...

And it was $3.50 at a train station/wharf with barriers at 0:43?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 39Os#t=46s

I'd not take that as gospel, for one thing it looks to have been added digitally, nothing has been said as to what will happen between now and full implementation, if anything it's there as a demonstration?

[simonl]

Any news on what the fare will be? The same as MyFerry1?

The obvious answer is NO. If it was known it would have been posted.

That's the obvious answer, but you'd think these things would have been advertised by now. We are less than 2 weeks out from the start of the trial. Or is it a closed trial, only selected people allowed to use the new system, who presumably have been told?

[CityRail]

I think we need not worry too much about that $3.50 thing, as per most other states in Australia do give discounts to passengers using Opal card.
What we might see (I suspect) is a TravelTen fare deducted for each trip we used, and a MyMulti Zone Daily Fare Cap (New?) for unlimited travel within a zone?
I haven't see anything with the trial, but keep close to the news I am sure something will come out soon on our TV Channels.

[Tim]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/onestop-trans ... 2a16k.html

sydneysiders will be able to use the one card to pay for tickets on ferries, trains and buses by 2015, the NSW government says.
NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said on Sunday the Opal card will be available on all Sydney ferries and some trains in 2013, with buses and light rail to come on line by 2015.
She says the first commuters to have access to the card will be patrons on the Neutral Bay ferry route in a trial of the system from December 7.
"This is something that will change the way we use public transport," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.
"It will be an easy system where commuters simply have to top on and tap off, and it will be like having an e-TAG in your pocket."
She said fares would remain the same during the Neutral Bay trial, while further announcements on charges would be made during the system's roll-out.
The Opal card itself will be free, with public transport users putting money on it in a similar way to the e-TAG for cars.
Ms Berejiklian said a big benefit of the Opal card will be that after eight journeys using it in a given week, all further trips will be free.
She also said there would be a daily travel cap of $15.00 from Monday to Saturday for Opal card customers, with a cap on Sundays of $2.50.
She expected there would be a "few glitches" during the roll-out and said that's why the single card system was being implemented progressively.
"It's a very complex task," she said.
"It will take the next three or four years to finalise."

[mubd]

Having your balance shown on screen as you tap off might have a few privacy implications. Also, if it was truly like having an E-tag in your pocket, you wouldn't need to take it out of your pocket in order to scan it.

[Fleet Lists]

That's the obvious answer, but you'd think these things would have been advertised by now. We are less than 2 weeks out from the start of the trial. Or is it a closed trial, only selected people allowed to use the new system, who presumably have been told?

Note from the announcement by the minister

She said fares would remain the same during the Neutral Bay trial, while further announcements on charges would be made during the system's roll-out.

Do dont get too impatient - it will get sorted out as time goes on.

One would not expect a full announcement until the initial trials have taken place.

[user13548]

Having the balance on the screen has not been a problem with the brisbane GO card on buses the remaining balance is displayed to anyone with a clear view of the reader. On rail stations it is a bit more private as the font is much smaller
Have been up here a week and very impressed by the Brisbane GO card. Same company as the opal card.

[Simes]

Having your balance shown on screen as you tap off might have a few privacy implications. Also, if it was truly like having an E-tag in your pocket, you wouldn't need to take it out of your pocket in order to scan it.

If it just displays a balance - no it wouldn't - it's like saying that when you have a phone card and use a payphone, it displaying a balance is some kind of breach?

All it is saying the card has xx balance, nothing stopping someone from having more than one card...

[Mr Twig]

Having your balance shown on screen as you tap off might have a few privacy implications.

Shouldn't be a problem.

$2.50 cap on Sundays is a bargain. Nice work Gladys.

[CityRail]

$15.00 Cap on Mondays - Saturdays is way too expensive, but it is still a $6.00 discount from MyMulti Daily.
It will still being quite expensive for those who will have an extra trip to somewhere else.

[simonl]

Do dont get too impatient - it will get sorted out as time goes on.

One would not expect a full announcement until the initial trials have taken place.

Perhaps the info will eventually be released, but the official secrets act approach gives me the pip. It also often results in a worse outcome.

[simonl]

New Sydney transport ticketing announced
AAP Updated November 25, 2012, 1:04 pm

Sydneysiders will be able to use the one card to pay for tickets on ferries, trains and buses by 2015, the NSW government says.

NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said on Sunday the Opal card will be available on all Sydney ferries and some trains in 2013, with buses and light rail to come on line by 2015.

She says the first commuters to have access to the card will be patrons on the Neutral Bay ferry route in a trial of the system from December 7.

"This is something that will change the way we use public transport," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

"It will be an easy system where commuters simply have to top on and tap off, and it will be like having an e-TAG in your pocket."

She said fares would remain the same during the Neutral Bay trial, while further announcements on charges would be made during the system's roll-out.

The Opal card itself will be free, with public transport users putting money on it in a similar way to the e-TAG for cars.

Ms Berejiklian said a big benefit of the Opal card will be that after eight journeys using it in a given week, all further trips will be free.

She also said there would be a daily travel cap of $15.00 from Monday to Saturday for Opal card customers, with a cap on Sundays of $2.50.

She expected there would be a "few glitches" during the roll-out and said that's why the single card system was being implemented progressively.

"It's a very complex task," she said.
"It will take the next three or four years to finalise."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/lat ... announced/


8 then free? Haven't they seen the irregularities this policy has caused in SE Qld? Link: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/ne ... s/1236421/

[mubd]

I think it could be an issue when you're, say, moderately affluent and your card has a $100 balance on it. You could get mugged by someone after you leave the bus. If it's worked in other places, though, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Daniel]

19. Registered Card Benefits: A range of services (Registered Card Benefits) are available for registered Opal Cards. Information about Registered Card Benefits can be obtained by calling 13 67 25 (13 OPAL) and from the Opal Website when it is operational. If a registered Opal Card is lost or stolen and you report it as lost or stolen, the Opal Card Balance of that Opal Card will be protected in accordance with and upon the terms of our refund policy set out at opal.com.au (Opal Refund and Balance Transfer Policy).

That takes care of that.

[simonl]

^ What about the purchase charge/deposit, is that refunded? It is in QLD, I don't think Vic. Not sure about WA.

[boxythingy]

Interesting, the man tapped off at 1:43 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9Os#t=103s )
and was charged the price of a MyZone2 Adult Single...

And it was $3.50 at a train station/wharf with barriers at 0:43?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 39Os#t=46s

I'd not take that as gospel, for one thing it looks to have been added digitally, nothing has been said as to what will happen between now and full implementation, if anything it's there as a demonstration?

Yes, although in this day in age I would have expected some overly small print on the bottom of the screen saying "*Prices not indicative of the actuality" or something along those lines. But yes, you are right.

[boxythingy]

I think it could be an issue when you're, say, moderately affluent and your card has a $100 balance on it. You could get mugged by someone after you leave the bus. If it's worked in other places, though, it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm sure other systems like Opal display the balance, and therefore such horrendous acts will be inevitable. In fact, displaying the available credit is not a breach of privacy or a design flaw, but if an instance of robbery occurs, only society is where the flaw exists.

What these (potentially) criminals aka scumbags have to realise is, the amount stored on the card does not always indicate how wealthy someone is. For instance, someone commuting from say Picton will have more credit since they will be travelling more and for longer.

[macpro622776]

I think it could be an issue when you're, say, moderately affluent and your card has a $100 balance on it. You could get mugged by someone after you leave the bus. If it's worked in other places, though, it shouldn't be a problem.

The screen isn't big, so it'd be almost impossible to see the balance without looking strange and suspicious if you were going to pinch someone's card.