Opal - E-ticketing - fares discussion etc.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 7m

Now the NSW IPART has declared their hand time for the SEQ Fare Review to be delivered @StirlHinchliffe @jackietrad @AnnastaciaMP #qldpol

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> IPART proposes Opal card fare surge for commuters

Commuters would no longer travel for free after eight journeys in a week but would pay half-price for trips after the first eight, under wide-ranging changes proposed by the state's pricing regulator.

And commuters who change between modes of transport in the one journey – for example, switch from a bus to a train – would get a $2 rebate against the cost of paying twice.

The state government will decide whether or not to implement the proposals by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in the coming weeks.
Other changes proposed by IPART include:
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    Raising the daily cap for seniors using the Gold Opal Card from $2.50 to $3.60.
    Increasing overall public transport fares by an average of 4.2 per cent annually, well over the current rate of inflation, for the next three years.
    Increasing the off-peak discount for train fares from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
    Increasing the Adult Opal daily cap on transport fare from $15 to $18 for travel on Monday to Friday. A $7.20 daily cap would apply on weekends.

In its final report released on Tuesday, IPART backed away from a previous recommendation for the government to end free travel after eight journeys in a week for the state's ticketing system.

Instead, IPART has proposed a 50 per cent discount apply for journeys after the first eight, after Transport for NSW told it that major changes to the Opal ticketing system would require "significant lead times".

The difficulty of changing the Opal system is also a reason IPART has dropped its previous proposal to calculate fares based on the overall length of a journey – no matter how many modes of transport were used.

Despite concerns from community groups, the pricing regulator said the rise in the daily cap for Gold Opal card users was affordable, noting that the fare had not increased for 11 years while pensions had risen by 74 per cent over the same period.

The regulator has also recommended the government review the eligibility for the Seniors Card to ensure that "the benefits are better targeted towards people who most need them".

IPART chairman Peter Boxall said the final package of recommendations would result in a more efficient and integrated transport system but with a smaller impact on passengers than what it had proposed in its draft report released just before Christmas.

"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," he said.

"This determination means that fares will continue to cover around 25 per cent of efficient costs, with taxpayers funding the remaining 75 per cent."

The release of the final report had been delayed by about six weeks because the government wanted to give the regulator "sufficient time" to complete the review.

The new determination for the maximum allowable increase in average fares will take effect from July 1.

The government has not said when it will release its decision on whether to accept the regulator's recommendations.

In a sign of the deep level of community concern about fare increases, IPART received 1256 submissions on its draft report.

Many community groups, councils, and politicians such as Opposition leader Luke Foley have argued that significant fare increases will discourage people from taking public transport.

Seniors groups such as the Joint Council on the Ageing have voiced their opposition to a toughening of the criteria for the electronic smartcard or an increase in the daily cap.

The Gold Opal card represents one of the state's few concessions based on age that is universally available.

IPART has recommended in its final report that the Gold Opal continue to be available to all holders of a Seniors Card.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ipart-proposes-opal-card-fare-surge-for-commuters-20160509-gopsvi.html

[verbatim9]

7.20 Daily cap on weekends is still good value

[ozbob]

ABC --> Opal fares: No more free end-of-week trips on Sydney's public transport, regulator recommends

[ozbob]

I have just listened to the NSW Transport Minister on Fairfax Radio (4BC) confirm that the free after 8 paid journeys is dead.  They have accepted IPART recommendations, except for the Opal Gold (Senior) still staying at $2.50 it appears.

50% fares after 8 from 5 Sep 2016.

They have daily/weekly caps too.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> No more free trips on Opal card, announces NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance

Travellers will no longer travel for free after eight journeys in a week on the state's public transport system but will pay half price for trips after the first eight in the wake of the Baird government adopting a key recommendation from NSW's pricing regulator.

However, Transport Minister Andrew Constance has put a freeze on set fares until the end of 2016-17 financial year and kept in place existing fares and fare bands for the state's Opal ticketing system.

Following widespread concern from community groups, Mr Constance has rejected the regulator's advice to raise the daily fare cap for Gold Opal card holders from $2.50 to $3.60 and kept it at the present level. He has also kept the Adult Opal daily fare cap at $15 and weekly cap at $60.

"We are however adopting the recommendation to change the Opal weekly travel reward system," Mr Constance said. "Instead of free travel after eight paid journeys, customers will receive a 50 per cent discount on fares after eight paid journeys during a week."
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The government has also adopted  the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's recommendation that commuters who change between modes of transport in the one journey – for example, switch from a bus to a train – get a $2 "transfer discount" against the cost of paying twice.

Mr Constance rejected suggestions he had put a freeze on fares due to the federal election ...

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/no-more-free-trips-on-opal-card-announces-nsw-transport-minister--andrew-constance-20160517-goxlpb.html

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> NSW Government confirms changes to Opal travel smartcard

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Sydneysider Angus Kidman travels 1500km for less than $20 due to soon-to-be-axed Opal card hack

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Why Opal train trips to the Sydney CBD can cost more

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> NSW transport paper tickets to end Aug 1

[ozbob]

NSW Opal - From 1 August 2016, paper tickets will no longer be sold or accepted

--> https://www.opal.com.au/en/opal-fares/no_more_paper_tickets/

[ozbob]

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/last-paper-tickets-be-wrapped-august-1

The last paper tickets to be wrapped up on August 1

The historic transition towards a modern integrated electronic ticketing system on public transport will occur on Monday 1 August 2016 when the last of the old paper tickets will no longer be sold or accepted.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said that customers have embraced Opal, with 2 million customers taking 13 million journeys a week. "Opal is being used for 95% of all public transport trips," Mr Constance said.

"Given the enormous success, it's now time to stop running two ticketing systems and move to one convenient system that enables future innovation.

"With the single electronic system we can move to the next stage in ticketing, with a customer trial in 2017 for tapping on with credit and debit cards."

Since the roll-out of Opal began in December 2012 customers have taken 800 million trips and we have issued more than 7.5 million cards, with 1 million Gold Senior/Pensioner cards, 700,000 Child/Youth cards, and 350,000 School Opal cards.

Mr Constance said we are continually enhancing the customer experience with Opal - just this year we launched the award winning Opal Travel app so customers can top up on the go.

"There are now more than 350 Opal top up machines placed at locations that provide coverage for 99% of all train trips, and our busiest light rail stops and ferry wharves. Plus 255 of these machines sell the last resort Opal single trip ticket."

"Presently customers who don't have their Opal card can purchase an Opal single trip ticket through top up machines for travel on trains, light rail and ferries and from 1 August an Opal single bus ticket will become available on-board buses."

Following the recommendation from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, single trip tickets will be set to a standard premium fare across modes when compared to normal Opal card fares from September 5.

"NSW is not alone in setting a premium fare for single trip tickets, with electronic ticketing systems, like in Brisbane or London, encouraging customers to travel with smartcards."

A comprehensive information campaign will roll out from today to remind the remaining customers who don't have Opal that it's time to make the switch.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Ticketless train stations cause Opal headaches as deadline nears

[ozbob]

From Monday 1 August, paper tickets are no longer sold or accepted. Get your #opalcard today https://t.co/q5nLOsgyJU pic.twitter.com/uUq3q5xprT

— T3 Sydney Trains (@T3SydneyTrains) July 26, 2016

[verbatim9]

Surge in Opal Cards as end of paper ticketing nears. ---->  http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/surge-in-opal-cards-as-paper-tickets-are-axed-in-nsw/news-story/d4b54ecbea5b25417af360e8a710bb0b

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Last minute demand for Opal cards as paper train tickets come to an end

[verbatim9]

One day! It will happen in Qld?

[ozbob]

One day! It will happen in Qld?

It had been planned to occur in 2010, but the authorities decided the cost of a short term go card ticket was too dear and so retained paper tickets.

I think they will go eventually, but probably not until the next generation ticketing system is introduced now.

[ozbob]

A transport app will help commuters dodge crowded buses based on live data from Opal cards. https://t.co/b5P0mY2tpq #9News

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) August 24, 2016

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal data gives insight into Sydney's busiest buses

Sydney's busiest bus route is the 400 from Burwood in the east to Bondi Junction via Sydney Airport, data from NSW's Opal electronic ticketing system shows.

About 16,000 journeys are taken on the 400 service – the only bus that drops passengers at the airport – on a typical week day ...

[ozbob]

Check out the new feature on transport app NextThere which shows how full or empty your bus is! #futuretransport pic.twitter.com/PIYQpoR9w2

— Andrew Constance MP (@AndrewConstance) August 23, 2016

[#Metro]

^ They need this for train carriages. Treat each carriage independently. Data could be crowdsourced from commuters for the observations. Quick tap on an app on the phone. Could use the Derwan Scale of crowding.

[red dragin]

^ They need this for train carriages. Treat each carriage independently. Data could be crowdsourced from commuters for the observations. Quick tap on an app on the phone. Could use the Derwan Scale of crowding.

The NGR's have counting camera's, perhaps that could eventually be used for the above?

[verbatim9]

Google uses personal GPS data to get people numbers in stores and other locations. Wonder if Transport Agencies can use that data?

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Ten ways to make the most of the last free Opal card weekend

[ozbob]

Opal card free public transport trips to end in Sydney https://t.co/eR8tDaFbXm pic.twitter.com/npN9A0xIRb

— SBS News (@SBSNews) September 4, 2016

[ozbob]

ARA > http://ara.net.au/content/opal-changes-fairer-fares-sydney

Opal Changes - Fairer Fares for Sydney
2016 September 05 | 11:45am

The ARA welcomes Transport for NSW's changes to Sydney's Opal ticketing system that come into force today. The recent Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) made a number of important recommendations to improve public transport pricing and it is great to see these changes now operational so Sydneysiders and visitors have access to fairer fares.

"An integrated approach to public transport is key for a modern, vibrant, busy city and these changes to ensure a fairer fee structure for the Opal card have integration at its heart," said ARA CEO Danny Broad.

"The Opal Transfer Discount, offering a $2 discount for Adult Opal card holders who transfer between different modes of transport, such as train, ferry, bus and light rail, allows commuters greater opportunity to use the best available mix of transportation options to reach their destination.

"Users of public transport are clear about their desires. They want a safe, reliable and affordable public transport system that is interconnected, thereby offering greater choice.

"Similarly, the Weekly Travel Reward, offering half price fares after eight trips in one week, offers an incentive to commuters to use public transport to reach their destination, particularly on weekends.

"Sydney's population is expected to exceed 8 million people by 2061. More cars on the road is not the solution to any expanding city's problems. Easing congestion by encouraging travel on an integrated transport network is a viable plan for the future. 

"A sustainable and affordable public transport network that sees various modes fully integrated will ease congestion, is environmentally friendlier than more cars on the roads, and allows for the expansion of light rail and metro routes as cities grow," said Danny Broad.

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Contactless bank card ticketing to be trialled in Sydney

Transport for NSW has contracted Opal system developer Cubic Transportation to design, build and operate a contactless bank card solution for public transport ticketing.

Cubic designed the technology used in the Opal tap-and-go ticketing system used on the Greater Sydney transport network.

Contactless ticketing systems like Opal have been taken a step further in cities like London, to allow commuters to use their debit or credit cards to pay for transport in the same way they would use a contactless card like Opal.

The $10.2 million deal, announced on December 16, will see Cubic Transportation – whose technology is used in London's Oyster system – develop such a technology integrated into the Opal network.

Transport for NSW said Cubic will be aiming to deliver a customer trial in 2017.

The state department said the technology would be designed as an "add-on" to "enhance" the Opal system.

"The customer trial will be a practical example of how Transport is shaping the most customer-centric, innovative, digitally-enabled transportation system in Australia," TfNSW said.

"Only a few major mass transit systems similar in scale and complexity to Sydney's have introduced contactless transport fare payments.

"London's Oyster card system is a well-known example and that is where Cubic gained their experience to now offer Transport a solution which will underpin the customer trial next year."

TfNSW said it is also in discussions with banks and credit card payment schemes to finalise their participation in the customer trial.

"This is the first time in Australia that these financial institutions have been directly involved in contactless transport payments and they are determining their interest, role and position.

"A lot of critical work needs to be undertaken to get to the customer trial stage such as finalising all the partnerships, working with the finance and contactless payments sector, and developing the software for our needs and getting it into the Opal system."

[ozbob]

Opal Cards could make way for mobile phone transport passes https://t.co/mUpnIZAvYh via @Yahoo7

— Cubic Transportation (@CubicTS) December 19, 2016

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Saturday passenger numbers drop after Opal card changes, report shows

[verbatim9]

^^I am surprised that they don't have some kind of better Saturday cap for the opal card which would be more of an incentive to travel on that day. Reducing the Cap to 8.00 bucks for Saturdays can encourage multiple trips. Ticketing reviews in the future should be looking at the "whole weekend" and "Public holidays" increasing incentives for those days to allow for multiple trips.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal card data turns up surprise for Sydneysiders wanting 30-minute commute

The parts of Sydney boasting 30-minute trips to work on trains or buses might not be where you think they are.

An analysis of data from the state's Opal ticketing system has revealed that the time commuters spend on public transport to get to many so-called employment centres in the western suburbs during peak hours is significantly less than those in other parts of Australia's largest city such as North Sydney, Randwick and the central business district.

A report by the Australian Automobile Association reveal the average family from western Sydney is paying around $22,000 a year in transport costs.

The best performer of the 15 employment clusters surveyed is Blacktown. Three-quarters of people spent 30 minutes or less taking public transport to reach it.

Only 7 per cent of commuters took longer than an hour to travel to the suburb in Sydney's west.

The study by the University of NSW of a typical weekday morning shows second place for speed of travel is to the site of the new Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest, which had 69 per cent of people get there within half an hour.

It was followed closely behind by Liverpool at 67 per cent. However, more people got to Liverpool within 45 minutes than Frenchs Forest.

In contrast, only 27 per cent of people travelling to Sydney Olympic Park got there within half an hour, while for North Sydney it was 37 per cent and the CBD 39 per cent.

While 44 per cent of people travelled to Randwick in the city's east within 30 minutes, the home of the UNSW and several large hospitals had the highest proportion of people taking an hour or more at 36 per cent.

Chris Pettit, the associate director of UNSW's City Futures Research Centre, said he was surprised to find many centres in western Sydney tended to have a high proportion of people travel to them within 30 minutes.

"Those areas in western Sydney, on this particular metric, are performing better than eastern suburbs areas," he said.

Professor Pettit said the longer trip times to destinations in eastern parts of Sydney was partly due to greater urban density, which increased congestion on major thoroughfares.

Higher property prices in the eastern suburbs also curbed people's ability to live close to where they worked.

"They are just priced out of the market, so we are seeing people live out a lot further because that's all the can afford," he said.

In contrast, Professor Pettit said areas such as Liverpool and Blacktown were less densely populated and more affordable to live.

"People are more likely to be living around Blacktown. So the distance from home to work is a lot less," he said.

However, the push for Parramatta to become Sydney's second CBD, and an "aerotropolis" further west around the planned new airport at Badgerys Creek, would significantly increase population and pressure on the transport network.

"We need to ... make sure we don't lose the accessibility that we have out west in some of these employment centres," he said.

"There is a real opportunity to use this data to try to at least maintain, if not improve, the accessibility of those western employment centres."

Professor Pettit said greater investment in public transport, including cycle and walking paths, was needed in these areas to ensure they kept pace with the surge in population and the push to attract more businesses.

The researchers examined trips from anywhere on the public transport network to the employment centres during the morning peak on March 16 last year, a day without any major disruptions from weather or major incidents.

Travel times on public transport to Sydney's central business district performed reasonably well because "through the hub-and-spokes model all roads lead to Rome".

About 69 per cent of trips to the CBD were with 45 minutes, while only 12 per cent of commuters took longer than an hour.

The CBD has more three times the number of journeys on a typical workday than the next biggest destination of Chatswood.

The study was conducted to inform the district plan for the Greater Sydney Commission, which selected the key centres it was focusing on from the perspective of the so-called 30-minute city.

[verbatim9]

Credit and Debit cards to be trialled for tap on and off in Sydney this year

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/premier-announced-that-opal-card-system-set-to-work-on-manly-fast-ferry-service/news-story/a05d889f73750883a45528656bcf768f

THE Opal system will be expanded to include fast ferry services, with public transport users also able to pay by directly tapping on with their credit cards.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today that the Manly Fast Ferry would be the first system to trial credit card tap-on technology later this year.

[ozbob]

Transport releases Opal data - https://t.co/6eoz5YnbiP pic.twitter.com/uhGKIhbrs0

— Rail Express (@RailExpressNews) May 3, 2017

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal card fares to rise on July 3, Transport Minister Andrew Constance announces

Public transport users in NSW face a 2.4 per cent increase in Opal fares from July, which the state government stresses is in line with inflation and needed to offset a decline in revenue.

The government has also kept the cost of all-day travel for seniors' Gold Opal cards capped at $2.50.

In attempting to head off what he described as Labor's "fare scare campaign", Transport Minister Andrew Constance said commuters could be guaranteed increases would mirror inflation while ensuring more public transport services were provided.

"We have adjusted the fares in line with inflation because we want to continue to put as much downward pressure on the cost of living [as possible]," he said.

"The impact on an average customer [from the latest change] is roughly 50¢ a week, and means taking the train, bus, ferry or light rail is still a much cheaper option than driving."

Last year, the state's pricing regulator recommended the government increase overall public transport fares by an average of 4.2 per cent annually over a three-year period, well above inflation.

But Mr Constance said it was important that price shocks were not too drastic for commuters and he described the changes in Opal fares from July 3 as a "modest increase".

"We just believe that 4.2 per cent per annum is too heavy a burden on commuting families across the network," he said.

Last year he announced a freeze on fares until this July and kept in place existing fare bands for the state's Opal ticketing system.

It helped offset opposition to the government ending passengers' entitlement to free travel on public transport after eight paid journeys in a week, which was replaced with half-price fares.

Patronage on Sydney Trains' network has risen by 10 per cent over the past year, resulting in overcrowding at peak travel periods.

Despite the surge in people taking public transport, Mr Constance said the government had "seen circumstances" in recent years where revenue had declined.

"So we have to obviously keep pace with inflation, which is what we're doing in this circumstance," he said.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has estimated that only a quarter of the cost of providing public transport is covered by customers, while the remainder is from taxpayers.

Mr Constance said the announcement would also put to rest Labor's "shameless fare scare campaign" of recent weeks, accusing Opposition leader Luke Foley of "running around western Sydney telling porky pies about transport fares".

However, Mr Foley said he was glad the government had linked Opal fare increases to inflation, and he called for it to adopt a similar approach for Sydney's toll roads.

Despite the latest fare changes, Adult Opal card holders will still gain a $2 "transfer discount" when they switch modes of transport within an hour, while holders of Child and Youth, and Concession cards will retain a $1 discount.

[ozbob]

https://vimeo.com/134754495

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Sydney commuters using unregistered Opal cards to underpay fares by more than $1 million

COMMUTERS are using a loophole to evade their fares by more than a million dollars — and transport bosses are letting them get away with it.

The Sydney rail rort could, at least in part, be stopped by closing the barriers at stations but even commuters underpaying by more than $10 are being let through every time.

More than a year after the NSW Government cracked down on Opal card loopholes that allowed people lower cost or even free travel, canny travellers have still found a way to circumnavigate the system.

The trick is to use unregistered cards and go into a negative balance.

The NSW Audit Office said that last year the number of Opal cards with negative balances increased to 363,000 leaving the government $1.3 million out of pocket. The year before the figure wasn't even $500,000.

"Unregistered Opal cards with negative balances cannot be recovered unless the passenger tops-up the card," said a 2016 report from the NSW Audit Office.

"Negative balances may not be recovered if customers purchase additional cards and discard the negative balance cards."
A combination of unregistered Opal cards and negative abalone is costing the NSW Government millions.

Public transport users can tap on so long as they have enough on their cards for the cheapest possible fare — off peak that's just $2.36. Once they reach their destination they can exit through the gates even if the actual fare was substantially higher.

As Opal cards are free, users can simply throw the card away and start afresh with a new Opal.

This is unlike in Melbourne where new Myki cards cost $6 each.

If passengers don't register their Opal, the transport authorities have no way of knowing who used it.

In most cases the negative amount may only be a dollar or two. But there are two stations where sneaky travellers are making substantial savings.

All fares to the privately run Sydney Airport stations include a "station access fee" of $13.80 for a non-concession adult on top of the usual fare. This means even the cheapest off peak ticket from the CBD to the airport is more than $16.

But if a customer with just the minimum possible fare of $2.36 taps onto the network they can then tap off at the airport saving them the $13.80 plus any ticket more than the minimum. Extraordinarily, the barriers will let them through.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance made a plea for customers to play fair.

"Put simply this is fare evasion and people should always travel with enough balance to get where they need to go," he told Fairfax.
Opal cards with a negative balance can still be tapped off.

However, it might be hard to persuade travellers to be honest at the airport.

There is no other public transport option from most parts of Sydney to the airport forcing people onto the train. Many see the access fee as a rort designed to fill Government and corporation coffers.

The Government receives around $50 million in fee revenue from the Airport Link Company who run the airport stations.

In 2014, the Government rejected a call by a cross party parliamentary committee to lower the cost of train travel to the airport.

Then Transport Minister, and now Premier, Gladys Berejiklian said, "It would take a lot of convincing for me to divert this money away from other important public transport services across the state."

In response, NSW Greens Transport Spokeswoman, Dr Mehreen Faruqi said the fee was a tax on people who worked at the airport.

"Around $4 million a month collected from this tax goes back to the Government out of the pocket of low-income workers, such as retail workers, cleaners and hotel workers," she said.

The NSW Audit Office pointed out that negative balances represented less than 0.1 per cent of total Opal annual revenue. However, fares collected only covered 21 per cent of the cost of the trip.

Last March, the Government shut down a string of other Opal low price loopholes.

Up to that point, tapping a card at different stops many times in quick succession would soon get card holders to eight trips, after which all travel was free for the rest of the week.

Travellers with time on their hands had been jumping off the bus and back on another to score extra journeys, or taking short trips to increase their tally in the public transport ticketing system.

"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," said Minister Constance at the time.

Later that year, the Government also got rid of the free trips commuters that even those not gaming the system, were trying to reach.

News.com.au contacted Transport for NSW for comment.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd/status/882875686528049152

[verbatim9]

^^Excellent stuff! Wish Qld had this inplace prior to the Commonwealth Games. "Next Generation Ticketing". Oh well

[ozbob]

^^Excellent stuff! Wish Qld had this inplace prior to the Commonwealth Games. "Next Generation Ticketing". Oh well

I share your frustration with the mediocrity that passes for ' last class public transport ' delivered by a bumbling TransLink/TMR incompetents!

Beyond embarrassing,  it needs urgent reform!  PTQ where are you?