Opal - E-ticketing - fares discussion etc.

[verbatim9]

People think they are paying more with Opal as they cannot transfer across modes with a through fare. Looks like their fare model is here to stay if people think they are already getting a raw deal.

[ozbob]

People think they are paying more with Opal as they cannot transfer across modes with a through fare. Looks like their fare model is here to stay if people think they are already getting a raw deal.

No it isn't.  IPART have recently done a review.  I am confident that they will move to better integration between the modes, and the free after 8 will probably go.  It is farcical, a lot worse than the present free and 9 on the go.  Opal has a daily/weekly cap.  The free after 8 was a sop for the lack of full mode journey integration, and is rapidly becoming a major fare leak, lot worse than the go.

Fare structures that give away rotten apples cost.  They cost in service quality and delivery.

Watch this space!

[ozbob]

Seven News Sydney - Fare Evasion rates down (25/11/2015)

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Pensioners stock up on paper tickets ahead of Opal deadline

[ozbob]

[verbatim9]

It's a great ad. Go card needs a refresh ad campaign you tube ad, online, magazines etc... promoting transport to tourist  destinations from Coolangatta to Noosa. Maybe when MBRL opens?

[ozbob]

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/helping-visitors-make-most-our-public-transport

Helping visitors make the most of our public transport

Visitors to Sydney will have more information to help them use public transport and make the most of their stay, with Transport for NSW releasing a new visitor pack and a video explaining the benefits of getting around with the Opal card.

Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Customer Services, Tony Braxton-Smith, said the new visitor information pack is now available at key tourist locations within Sydney.

"The pack provides information on how to use public transport in Sydney and surrounds, how to get and use an Opal card, a network map, and details of apps they can use to help them plan their travel," Mr Braxton-Smith said.

"This is part of a pilot program which will run until mid 2016, helping Transport for NSW collect feedback from visitors and develop a long-term program to encourage more tourists to use public transport.

"The pack also includes ideas on what to do while in Sydney and information on getting to popular destinations."

Visitors will be able to pick up a visitor pack at Transport Customer Service Centres at Central Station and Circular Quay Stations, Transport Shops at Railway Square and Wynyard, Sydney Visitor Centres at Darling Harbour and The Rocks, the Opal counter in the Domestic and International Airport Train Stations, and at the White Bay and Overseas Passenger Terminals.

Mr Braxton-Smith said as part of the pilot, the visitor pack available at the Sydney Visitor Centres will also contain one Adult Opal card with no value. Customers can take the pack to the counter and add value to activate the card.

Transport for NSW has also released a new video aimed at visitors, providing helpful information on the Opal card system, including how to get a card, tapping on and off, and the benefits of Opal including daily and weekly fare caps. The video is available at opal.com.au, transportnsw.info, and on the Transport for NSW Facebook and YouTube sites.

"Opal has many benefits for visitors including daily, weekly and Sunday fare caps, and the convenience of only having to get one ticket to use all forms of public transport during their stay," Mr Braxton-Smith said.

The visitor pack is printed in English however information about the card is available in 10 other languages on the Opal website.
8 December 2015

[ozbob]

Tickets for vision impaired persons

>> http://www.transportnsw.info/sites/en/tickets/concessions/disability/vision-impaired.page

[ozbob]

TfNSW --> Ita Buttrose joins the Gold Opal campaign

The much-loved Ita Buttrose has joined the campaign to help seniors and pensioners transition to the Gold Opal card with just weeks left before paper tickets are no longer sold.

So far the intensive campaign has resulted in 26,000 eligible customers making the switch to the Gold Card every week.

But with just 17 days left until the paper Pensioner Excursion Ticket is no longer available, Ita Buttrose will be travelling to numerous shopping centres and stations across the state to assist those who may be hesitant about making the change.

"I want to help them get started with Opal," said Ita.

"There are a lot of people already with a Gold Opal card and they are important champions, so I want to encourage them to talk to their friends or neighbours and help us get other people on board."

"It's the same $2.50 all day fare for our pensioners and seniors no matter where you travel, and you only ever need to get the Gold Opal once."

[ozbob]

People think they are paying more with Opal as they cannot transfer across modes with a through fare. Looks like their fare model is here to stay if people think they are already getting a raw deal.

No it isn't.  IPART have recently done a review.  I am confident that they will move to better integration between the modes, and the free after 8 will probably go.  It is farcical, a lot worse than the present free and 9 on the go.  Opal has a daily/weekly cap.  The free after 8 was a sop for the lack of full mode journey integration, and is rapidly becoming a major fare leak, lot worse than the go.

Fare structures that give away rotten apples cost.  They cost in service quality and delivery.

Watch this space!

LOL, as I suggested it was only a matter of time .... bye bye Opal rort, hello better integrated fares ..

========================

Sydney Morning Herald --> End looms for $150 million Opal card loophole used by Sydney commuters

The fare structure of the Opal public transport smartcard should be overhauled to stop commuters taking short, unnecessary trips early in the week to get free travel, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has recommended.

In a draft report proposing sweeping changes to public transport fares, the tribunal has also proposed an integrated fare structure so commuters who switch between trains, buses, ferries or light rail are not charged twice for the same journey.

IPART chairman Dr Peter Boxall said the tribunal's proposed changes would mean more than 60 per cent of passengers would pay less for public transport across Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter.

The draft report aims to correct one of the key eccentricities of the Opal fare structure, which allows users to travel for free after they have paid for eight journeys or spent $60 on fares in a week. The structure has created a "perverse incentive", according to the tribunal, for users to attempt to max out their cards by tapping on and off for cheaps trips early in the week.

This structure costs the state around $150 million each year, the tribunal said, with the 62 per cent of passengers who travel less than nine times a week subsidising those who travel more often.

This scheme could be replaced with a "weekly travel credit" that combines both a weekly spending cap and discounts for frequent travel.

Customers would pay for all their trips as they go and get a credit at the end of the week so that they only pay for their 10 longest journeys up to a maximum of $65 a week.

The tribunal has also recommended creating an integrated fare structure, so that people who change between trains, buses, ferries or light rail on the same journey are no longer charged twice.

The fare would instead be based on the distance between the origin and the final destination. The tribunal has proposed a separate fare schedule for multi-mode journeys based on the distance travelled and the single-mode fares for that distance.

For example, if you travel by bus from Lane Cove to Wynyard and then by train to Central the longest distance you travel is nine kilometres between Lane Cover and Central. Under the proposed new structure you would pay $4.16 for a journey of eight to 15 kilometres that involves a peak rail trip and a bus trip.

The single-mode fare for a component of a journey would be applied where it is higher than the fare for the total multi-mode journey.

For example, if you catch a bus from UNSW in Kensington to Central and than a train to Bankstown, you would pay the $3.34 bus fare rather than the $2.84 multi-mode fare.

If implemented, these changes would see passengers who change transport modes pay 20 to 50 per cent less for each journey.

Also among the proposed reforms is a recommendation to increase the off-peak discount on trains, which would see more than 97 per cent of commuters who travel outside of peak hours pay less.

A weekend daily cap of $7.20 for adults, $5.40 for concessions and $3.60 for children on Saturday and Sunday should also be implemented.

The tribunal said this would encourage people to use public transport on the weekend, without putting pressure on the system on just one day as the $2.50 current Sunday cap does.

The tribunal said these proposals, and others, would mean commuters pay less for 96 per cent of single journeys.

But other changes would make travel more expensive for some.

The tribunal has called for an increase in the per kilometre rate so that commuters travelling  more than 15 kilometres on bus and 65 kilometres on trains would pay more.

It has also recommended that the daily fare cap be increased from $15 to $18 Monday to Friday and that paper tickets be priced at 40 per cent more than Opal fares.

"This is a complete package of reform delivering the most benefits to the majority of passengers and society as a whole," Dr Boxall said.

The draft fare reform package will be open for public comment until February 5 and a final report will be released next year. Any new fares would come into effect in July 2016.

[verbatim9]

Interesting definitely yes for integrated travel and a weekend cap sounds good but substantially more than $2.50 on Sundays. QLD needs a Sunday Cap of 5.00 bucks?

[ozbob]

Opal can do a lot more than the go card system.  Present go card system can only do a flat all or none fare.  For that reason will not happen here. However come the NGTS anything and everything will be on the cards ...

[ozbob]

Daily Telegraph --> New fares system in NSW is fairer for everyone

[ozbob]

IPART --> Draft Report - More efficient, more integrated Opal fares - December 2015

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

News.com.au > Commuters paying out hundreds in surcharges to top up travel smartcards

[ozbob]

TfoNSW --> Last hours left to tap onto Opal before the end of most paper tickets

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today joined Gold Opal Champion Ita Buttrose to remind public transport customers there's two days left to get an Opal card before most paper tickets are no longer sold.

Seniors and pensioners have been rapidly responding to the information campaign about Gold Opal with 400,000 receiving a Gold card over the last five months.

"From New Year's Day the majority of paper tickets won't be sold so if you haven't tapped on to Opal, now is the time. More than 1.6 million cards have been issued since our August announcement and I'm pleased customers are getting on board," Mr Constance said.

Since the introduction of Opal in December 2012 the retail network has been expanded to 2,100 stores, 250 extra top up machines are rolling out to join the 100 in service and now 27 Service NSW centres offer Opal.

Gold Opal Champion Ita Buttrose has been visiting regions across NSW to remind those leaving the transition to Opal to the last minute that it's simple and easy to get on board.

"The response has been fantastic. Obviously some of our seniors and pensioners are hesitant about the change but I've managed to allay most of their concerns after speaking with them," Ita said.
Since its launch in December 2012 customers have adapted positively to electronic ticketing with:

    4.9 million Opal cards issued to customers
    550 million journeys taken on all modes
    35 per cent of all customers set their card to auto top up to avoid manual top ups
    60 per cent of seniors and pensioners top up at Opal retailers

Mr Constance said that customers can get an adult or child/youth card at Opal retailers such as Woolworths, Service NSW centres, 7-Elevens, or newsagents.

"The Opal website and 13 67 25 Customer Care telephone service offer a convenient daily 24 hour option for obtaining any type of Opal card including the Gold card for seniors and pensioners and the Concession card for tertiary students and job seekers."

Paper Ticket Fact Sheet (pdf 124KB)

30 December 2015

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal advances: Last day for sale of most paper tickets

[ozbob]

Twitter

The Opal Card User ‏@TheOpalUser 45m

Opal heralds end to most paper tickets for NSW public transport
http://smh.com.au/nsw/opal-heralds-end-to-most-paper-tickets-for-nsw-public-transport-20151216-gloxzb.html ... (via @smh) #opalcard

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Why the $2.50 pensioner excursion paper ticket is worth hanging on to

[ozbob]

Sydney trains: Opal cards have now replaced most of the remaining paper tickets #7News https://t.co/RpMbs4ySMP

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) January 1, 2016

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> 1.4m reasons why raising Opal cap and tightening eligibility won't travel

[techblitz]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal fare system needs to change to make it fairer for everyone

Removing the "transfer penalty" – the additional fare you pay when you switch from a bus to a train, for example – was the single biggest change people wanted when we consulted on possible changes. Future expansions of the network, such as the Sydney Metro and the George Street light rail, will mean more people will need to switch services to complete their journey. Our draft report outlines a solution to remove the transfer penalty. It would see fares for a multi-mode journey come down by 20 to 50 per cent, improving the passenger experience across the network.
However, this change would come at a cost of around $100 million in lost fare revenue. This cost could be met by changing the way the Opal weekly travel rewards work.

[ozbob]

The 8 and free, is going to go the same way as the 9 and free.  Botched, very botched rort fare structures.

Thank goodness some commonsense is starting to be applied.

[#Metro]

Discounts for frequent use have benefits to the broader community only if they encourage people to switch out of their cars and onto public transport. The current system gives most of the free trips to full-time workers, most of whom would have made the same journeys anyway.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/opal-fare-system-needs-to-change-to-make-it-fairer-for-everyone-20160124-gmcwdd.html

9-then-waste was always votebait. As was the 'cheap discounts or more services' poll. "Rewards" for frequent travelling on the Friday trip home is also votebait. And wrong when unemployed people don't have concession in QLD.

[ozbob]

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/opal-runners-tapped-out-fairer-system

Opal runners tapped out for a fairer system

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced the Opal ticketing system has been updated to stop the practice of 'Opal running', closing a loophole that potentially costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

Currently, some people are running, cycling, driving or even roller-skating between train stations or light rail stops to tap on and off, earning free travel for the week after only paying around $18.00.

"It's unfair that customers doing the right thing and paying to actually use transport are being cheated by people who are using their own or other people's cards to artificially inflate their journeys. Some are even using the practice as a business model to earn money," Mr Constance said.

Below is a sample snapshot of typical short trips taken between light rail stops and train stations to artificially reach the Opal reward of free trips, during February 1 and March 6, 2016. The table demonstrates the prevalence on Mondays and Tuesday of Opal running.
Journey    Monday    Tuesday    Wednesday    Thursday    Friday    Saturday    Sunday

Pyrmont Bay to Star City stops & back (300m apart)
   63,636    8,198    1,469  313    149    110    481

Paddy's Market to Capital Square stops & back (280m apart)
   30,285    9,408    2,434    647    238    193    714

Macdonaldtown to Erskineville stations & back (470m apart)
   6,465    1,142    178    51    14    6    6

The Opal system currently allows people to walk, run or cycle between stations that are close together, like Macdonaldtown and Erskineville, and accumulate free travel rewards in approximately an hour and a half – without even catching a train or tram. The changes implemented today mean the same process could take at least five hours.

"From today, the system will be updated to substantially disrupt those people who are improperly earning free travel, by raising the number of transfers needed to make a journey," Mr Constance said.

"My message is that the changes are in operation as of now – so 'Opal runners' don't have to bother. It's not worth running out of steam.

"The system changes do not affect other customers because they are not the ones attempting to quickly get charged for more journeys, especially when transferring between light rail stops or train stations while travelling on the same journey.

==================

[verbatim9]

Looks like they want to keep the 8 then free but have put safeguards in place.

[ozbob]

Looks like they want to keep the 8 then free but have put safeguards in place.

No. This is to stop the 'runners'. They have indicated that they will move to a weekly type discount whereby users pay for 10 longest journeys each week.

[red dragin]

Looks like they want to keep the 8 then free but have put safeguards in place.

Doesn't stop the lunch time trip's, just those shuttling back and forth between two stops. Sounds like some are doing it with multiple cards and charging for it.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal card loophole closed for commuters

[ozbob]

Twitter

The Opal Card User ‏@TheOpalUser 6 minutes ago Sydney, New South Wales

Single trip Opal card tickets are (obviously) only valid for one trip, which you select when you purchase the ticket



===============

Twitter

The Opal Card User ‏@TheOpalUser 23 minutes ago North Sydney, Sydney

Single trip Opal (card) ticket

[ozbob]

No official annoucement yet.  But single use tickets on the Opal are now go.

It just confirms the backwater that SEQ is hey? lol

[tazzer9]

single use go cards have been here for a while.  its called buying a go card, putting no money on it and travel to the airport so it goes well into a negative balance

[ozbob]

single use go cards have been here for a while.  its called buying a go card, putting no money on it and travel to the airport so it goes well into a negative balance

^ Brisbanetimes --> Go Card airport crackdown

[ozbob]

Opal single trip tickets – Customer trial

>> https://www.opal.com.au/en/get-an-opal-card/opal-single-trip-tickets/

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> School Opal card finally to be extended to Sydney light rail line

[ozbob]

9 News --> Top up Opal en route with updated app

Sydney commuters will be able to top up their Opal cards using a new app, the NSW transport minister says.

With the updated app, which is available on Monday, funds can be added, public transport trips planned and fares estimated.

The app has so far been downloaded about 300,000 times but with about five million opal users in the state, transport minister Andrew Constance is hoping more commuters will get on board.

"We want to be the number one jurisdiction around the world in the delivery of the best technology to deliver the outcomes from a transport perspective with the interest of our customers," he told reporters at Central Station on Sunday.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> The new Opal: Commuters to trial swiping of credit cards to pay for trips

Commuters will be able to use credit and debit cards to tap on and off Sydney's trains, buses and ferries if a trial next year is successful.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance will announce the government's commitment to the trial on Monday when he opens its Future Transport summit in Sydney.

Mr Constance said a "contactless payment" with credit and debit cards would give commuters another "easy to use and convenient" option for using the public transport system.
Advertisement

"The easier we can make it to hop on a train, ferry, bus or light rail, the more people we will get out of their cars congesting our roads," he said.

The trial will involve an upgrade of the Opal card system, which is modelled on London's Oyster card.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-new-opal-commuters-to-trial-swiping-of-credit-cards-to-pay-for-trips-20160415-go7o5e.html

[ozbob]

IPART

http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Transport/Reviews/Public_Transport_Fares/Public_Transport_Fares_in_Sydney_and_Surrounds/10_May_2016_-_Media_Release_on_Final_Report/Average_public_transport_fare_increases_capped_-_10_May_2016

AVERAGE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARE INCREASES CAPPED
Tuesday 10 May 2016 10am
Public transport fares can increase by an average of 4.2% a year (including inflation) over the
next three years under a final determination released today by the Independent Pricing and
Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

IPART has determined the maximum increase that can be applied across all fares, and has
recommended a package of fare reforms to the NSW Government designed to improve
public transport efficiency, encourage greater use of public transport, and minimise impacts
on customers.

The NSW Government will make the final decision about how individual fares will change
under the determination.

IPART Chairman Dr Peter Boxall said the final package of recommendations would move
towards a more efficient, more integrated transport system, but with a smaller impact on
passengers than that proposed in the draft recommendations released in December 2015.
Dr Boxall said extensive feedback including over 1200 submissions was provided throughout
the consultation period. Overall the community supports more integrated fares, but expressed
concern about the potentially significant increases for some travellers.

IPART's final package of recommendations includes:

A $2.00 rebate for customers needing to switch between trains, buses, ferries or light
rail on the same journey. This replaces the earlier recommendation for integrated fares
to be calculated as if they were single trips, like the fares for passengers changing from
train to train, or bus to bus. The recommendation has been modified in response to
Transport for NSW advice that the proposed approach could not be implemented within
the next three years. The modified recommendation would continue to deliver savings
for most passengers switching transport modes.

Applying a 50% discount on travel after the first eight journeys in the week. This
supersedes the previous recommendation for customers to pay for their 10 most
expensive journeys in the week. The modified recommendation would reduce the impact
on commuters while still increasing the efficiency of the transport system, and also takes
account of Transport for NSW feedback about the significant lead times needed to make
major changes to the Opal system.

The Gold Opal Card would continue to be available to all holders of a Seniors Card
and the Gold Opal Card daily cap would be set at 20% of the Adult daily cap ($3.60)
in place of the current daily cap of $2.50. After considering stakeholder comments,
IPART continues to assess the increase in the cap for the Gold Opal Card to be
affordable, as it has not increased for 11 years while pensions have increased by 74%
over this period. IPART has also recommended that Government review the eligibility
arrangements for the Seniors Card, so that the benefits of the card are better targeted
towards people who most need them.

IPART maintains the recommendations to increase the off-peak discount on trains from 30%
to 40%; increase the Adult daily cap from $15 (Monday to Saturday) to $18 Monday to Friday
in 2016-17, with a lower $7.20 cap on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dr Boxall said that public transport services are becoming more efficient. The operating
costs per trip are forecast to fall by around 5% over the next three years. However, overall
costs are continuing to rise as the Government expands and improves services through
projects such as the CBD and South-East light rail extension and the Sydney Metro.

"Right now, the efficient cost of providing the rail, bus, ferry and light rail services in Sydney
and surrounding areas is around $4.8 billion a year. While operating costs per trip are
reducing overall, total efficient costs will rise to around $5.6 billion a year by 2018-19,"
Dr Boxall said.

"Some fare increases are needed to ensure the additional costs are not borne entirely by
taxpayers, but also by those who use public transport the most.
"This determination means that fares will continue to cover around 25% of efficient costs, with
taxpayers funding the remaining 75% reflecting the benefits public transport provides to the
whole community such as reduced congestion and cleaner air."

The IPART Determination covers all rail, bus, ferry and light rail services where the Opal
Card can be used across Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Wollongong, the Blue
Mountains and the Hunter.

The new Determination for the maximum allowable increase in average fares takes effect
from 1 July 2016. The Government decides when any fare changes will commence on or
after that date.

[ozbob]

Final report > http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Transport/Reviews/Public_Transport_Fares/Public_Transport_Fares_in_Sydney_and_Surrounds/10_May_2016_-_Final_Report/More_efficient_more_integrated_Opal_fares_-_May_2016

on

http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Transport/Reviews/Public_Transport_Fares/Public_Transport_Fares_in_Sydney_and_Surrounds

Note well:

" Applying a 50% discount on travel after the first eight journeys in the week. This
supersedes the previous recommendation for customers to pay for their 10 most
expensive journeys in the week.  "