Public transport fare rise to be kept to a minimum, new Opal app to bundle with Uber
The NSW government has indicated it will keep any increase in public transport fares next month to a minimum due to concerns about the rising cost of living.
With a decision on Opal fares imminent, Transport Minister David Elliott sought to assure commuters on Friday that ticket prices for the next 12 months would be considered with “their hip pocket in mind” amid surging inflation.
“We’re very conscious of the cost to families ... and I’m also very conscious of the fact that we’re going to get people back on public transport again,” he said. “Rest assured that the government is very, very conscious of the cost of living.”
NSW Transport Minister David Elliott says the government is “very, very conscious” of the cost of living.Credit:Steven Siewert
The state’s pricing regulator will advise the government on the annual rate of increase to fares from July. Last year, the increase in ticket prices was pegged to the rate of inflation, resulting in a 1.5 per cent rise – much lower than the regulator’s recommendation of a 5 per cent jump.
The NSW government will also spend $568 million on a major upgrade to the Opal ticketing system, which senior transport officials say has been pushed to its limit and is now “very old technology”. The Opal system was progressively rolled out over several years from 2012, ending paper tickets.
It is also expected to announce on Saturday funding in the upcoming state budget for preliminary work on fast-rail lines, including one from Sydney to Newcastle and the Central Coast. Federal Labor also promised during the recent election campaign to set aside $500 million for a fast rail link to Newcastle in its first federal budget.
Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
As part of the planned ticketing system upgrade, about 10,000 people over the next year will trial an app known as Opal Plus, which will allow users on their mobile phones to bundle access to public transport, Uber and other ride-share, electric bike rentals, taxis and parking.
Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes said the roll-out of the next generation of the Opal system was about increasing the way people could access different forms of transport, especially between their homes and train stations and bus stops.
“It’ll be like a subscription service – like a Netflix for transport,” he said.
“When you’re on the tram or on the light rail, or on the train, you’ll be able to order your ride-share or your e-scooter or your e-bike as a way to get you to and from home rather than having to rely on private motor vehicles.”
Stokes said the technology would reduce the need for families to have a second car to shuttle people between their homes and stations. “It’ll revolutionise our transport system ... [and] make a real difference to people’s family budgets,” he said.
He assured people that they will still have the option to use plastic Opal cards.
Late last month senior government officials told a budget estimates hearing that the existing Opal system had been pushed to its limit after a decade in use, and any modifications to it were “very, very challenging” and expensive.
The existing contract for the Opal ticketing system with technology company Cubic is due to expire in 2024.
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