Opal Discussion and Observations

[Fleet Lists]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2018/nor ... y-services

states specifically Ryde depot.
"From Monday 16 April a trial of Opal card only services will begin for bus routes around the North Shore and North West areas, which operate out of the State Transit Ryde Depot."

Have things changed since then?

[Fleet Lists]

Since then I did a trip find between North Sydney and Castlecrag and when using route 202 which is included in the list, the message comes up that it is Opal only but when using route 203 which is not listed, the message does not come up either. I assume that 203 is Willoughby while 202 is Ryde and possibly also Willoughby.

[Stu]

There was internal info and one stage advising about Willoughby services although I cannot get my hands on it now, it may not have been officiated by TfNSW. I will be great to eventually see cashless services progressively rolled out and end-to-end as well.

[kypros1992]

I cannot get my hands on it now, it may not have been officiated by TfNSW

Transport NSW have renamed bus routes as 'opal only - route information' but a significant number of routes are missing, mostly STA E and X routes

[Frosty]

I when on an Airport Line replacement bus service today the Opal readers were enabled but then later got on another bus the Opal readers were turned off. A bit of in consistency. Did notice on the bus that have Opal readers on only about 1/4 actually tapped on & off.

[kypros1992]

The Opal One Day Travel Pass is not available directly to the public. It is available to approved charities and other not-for-profit organisations to provide emergency travel
assistance to people in their care.

https://www.lakemac.com.au/downloads/4E ... E46241.pdf

[Passenger 57]

Seems rather unfair that there is no concession version. Hopefully, charities are getting them at a sizeable discount to others, Given they offer better value than the Opal cap for those who arrive at and depart from the airport the same day, anyone not getting these at a discount should try to get some sales from the general public.

[moa999]

7News spruiking an "Opal Card Fraud" story tomorrow night involving 1 in 5 cards.

Presumably mistakenly construing Inactive cards (lost, broken, moved away etc) with those accidentally (or purposefully) put into negative balance

[moa999]

https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/ ... 90497?s=19

Claims 1 in 5 new cards for fraudulent purposes

[boronia]

A report like this should see a healthy increase in misuse

[boxythingy]

*News Flash!* Health Minister backs down on 'My Health Record' and will rip up legislation allowing medical records to be accessed by police without a warrant.

Meanwhile, police can still track your every move without a warrant
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/no-wa ... zt02j.html

[stupid_girl]

It seems TSA has changed the prepay only routes to opal only routes. (inspired by the adjacent region 7 )

To be honest, I don't know why we need two different terms for the same thing.
https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/w ... epay-buses

Transport NSW has updated the page on Opal only buses with B1 as an example. I didn't realize B Line was Opal only till now. Was Opal only introduced when B line started last year or at some time afterwards?

Also, I still don't understand why these two terms are still not unified.
https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/w ... only-buses

[OKO]

It seems TSA has changed the prepay only routes to opal only routes. (inspired by the adjacent region 7 )

To be honest, I don't know why we need two different terms for the same thing.
https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/w ... epay-buses

Transport NSW has updated the page on Opal only buses with B1 as an example. I didn't realize B Line was Opal only till now. Was Opal only introduced when B line started last year or at some time afterwards?

Also, I still don't understand why these two terms are still not unified.
https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/w ... only-buses

I guess it is referring to Pre Pay only stops. For instance, M-F Parramatta Interchange is Pre Pay only, irrespective of whether the bus route is.

[mandonov]

The term will have to change again or have another new one once contactless cards are rolled out to buses.

'PrePay' doesn't really apply since you don't actually pay anything prior to boarding, and 'Opal only' may confuse people trying to use their credit/debit cards. Simply calling it 'Cashless' may be a good way to brand it.

Though I don't know what this has to do with privatisation?

[Fleet Lists]

Though I don't know what this has to do with privatisation?

Nothing hence posts moved.

[andy_centralcoast]

Staff from Transport for NSW will be on campus at Macquarie University to facilitate Opal card top-ups from October 2-5 between 9am and 5pm. I assume this is because the station where the top up machine is will be closed as part of the ECRL shutdown.

[boronia]

Four days is not much of a show for a six month shutdown. Some of those uni students are not "real world" bright in such matters. Perhaps just moving the machines to near the top level entrances would solve the problem?

[neilrex]

That would be much too sensible for our government.

[andy_centralcoast]

Leaked documents show transport officials considered charging public transport users $10 for new Opal cards.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/pro ... 504r7.html

But Transport Minister Andrew Constance said there were “no plans to introduce any fee for new Opal cards”, and Opal was “here to stay” as the foundation of the state's public transport system.

[Swift]

Leaked documents show transport officials considered charging public transport users $10 for new Opal cards.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/pro ... 504r7.html

They should be sacked and told to find a career elsewhere, maybe as neo Nazis.

[boronia]

Many systems impose a refundable deposit on their cards

[Swift]

Many systems impose a refundable deposit on their cards

Their fare structure probably more than makes up for it.

[boronia]

Perhaps they could charge, say, $5 for the card, which could be credited if the card is registered for auto top-up?

[Campbelltown busboy]

Perhaps they could charge, say, $5 for the card, which could be credited if the card is registered for auto top-up?

How do the government convince the people that use their adlult opal anonymously and that want to stay anonymous to register their cards to start with

[Swift]

Perhaps they could charge, say, $5 for the card, which could be credited if the card is registered for auto top-up?

That's too elegant a solution. Invented complications have to be included (mainly to justify the positions of bureaucrats).