Opal cards ditched for credit or debit cards in transport shake-up

Commuters will be able to ditch their Opal cards and use their credit or debit cards to catch trains in a massive shake-up of the fare system.

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Commuters will be able to ditch their Opal cards and use their credit or debit cards to catch trains in a massive shake up of the fare system.

People will also be able to use their mobile phone, tablet, watch or other device that has payment capability to pay their fare across the rail network.

These devices must be linked to a American Express, MasterCard or Visa card to be used.

The change is in place from today across trains, ferries and light rail.

It will be rolled out on buses mid next year.

Michele Looije from Newtown uses her Opal card.

Fares purchased on debit or credit cards will cost the same as fares on an Opal card.

Seniors and concession holders will still have to use their Opal cards to get discounts.

At the announcement today Transport Minister Andrew Constance challenged the big banks and credit card companies to use the scheme to offer their customers incentives.

“The banks are now going to have some competition among each other to benefit their customers. We have seen MasterCard Monday in terms of Transport for London where they did provide discounts for their customers so here’s a bit of a challenge to them — let’s see what products they can offer their customers as a result of their system and some benefit they can derive,” he said.

Contactless customers will also be entitled to daily, weekly and Sunday travel.

The scheme is an Australian-first and is similar to the system used in London.

Mr Constance said the change was a win for tourists and people who forget their Opals.

Opal is used for 14 million trips a week.

Contactless customers will also be entitled to daily, weekly and Sunday travel caps but the weekly travel discount, concessions and the transfer discount will still only be available through Opal.

Transport for NSW is also working with Eftpos to enable them to use the service.