By Matt O'Sullivan
The final bell has tolled for the NSW public transport system's remaining paper tickets.
Marking the end of an era, the last paper-based tickets in circulationsingle and return adult and concession tickets for buses, trains, ferries and light rail - will no longer be sold nor accepted in Australia's most populous state from August 1.
However, a single-trip Opal ticket will be introduced as a method of last resort for infrequent users, such as tourists. Users of those tickets will pay a 20 per cent premium to fares paid with Opal smartcards.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the premium for the new single-trip ticket was designed to encourage people to sign up to Opal cards.
It is the end of the line for paper tickets for NSW's public transport system.Credit: Nic Walker
"NSW is not alone in setting a premium for single-trip tickets with electronic ticketing systems, like in Brisbane or London, encouraging customers to travel with smartcards," he said.
"We are moving from a single-based paper ticket to the new single-trip Opal. This provides cover for those who do not have an Opal card."
Mr Constance said infrequent users such as tourists could apply for an Opal card before they came to NSW or use the new single-trip tickets. Dispensing machines for tickets are available at tourist hotspots such as Sydney's Taronga Zoo.
About 350 top-up machines for Opal cards have been installed at train stations, ferry wharves, light rail stops and major bus interchanges over the past year.
Opal cards are now used for about 95 per cent of trips on public transport in NSW.
The government will also trial the use of credit and debit cards next year on the state's Opal card system, which is modelled on London's Oyster card.
Mr Constance said contactless payment for public transport was "something that would be of enormous benefit to Sydney commuters".
About 95 per cent of public transport trips in NSW are now made using Opal cards.
More than 7.5 million Opal cards have been issued since the introduction of the state's $1.4 billion electronic ticketing system began in 2012.
The latest changes mark the completion of the switch from two ticketing systems to one.
The government stopped selling 57 types of magnetic paper tickets to commuters at the start of the year, including MyBus Travel Ten, MyMulti Weekly and Pensioner Excursion. People who still hold unused paper tickets after August 1 will be able to apply online to redeem them.
The electronic ticketing system has helped reduce fare evasion across the state's transport network to about 5 per cent, from 11 per cent in 2012.
About 70 per cent of passengers pass through stations that have gates.
In a significant shake-up to the state's ticketing system in May, the government ended free travel after eight paid journeys in a week, deciding instead to charge 50 per cent of the fare on those trips to commuters.
As part of those changes, commuters who change modes of transport in one journey - switch from a bus to a train, for example – will get a $2 rebate against the cost of paying twice from September 5.
A freeze was also placed on fares until July next year and existing fare bands for the ticketing system were retained.