The State’s public transport ticketing system is to be upgraded following an allocation of funding in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
Announced by Treasurer Matt Kean, the Opal system upgrade is to allow travelers to add their Opal card to their digital wallets.
Mr Kean said the OpalNext Gen upgrade would also enable the trial of a new world leading ‘Mobility as a Service’ app, Opal Plus.
Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport, Rob Stokes said 10,000 people would be selected to take part in the 12-month trial, which would allow subscribers to bundle together public transport, rideshare, ebike rental, taxi and parking.
“This app will revolutionise the way we travel in NSW because it factors in first and last mile journeys, making it simpler and easier to leave the car at home and get from door to door,” Mr Stokes said.
“Opal Plus will free up people to choose their own adventure when it comes to transport, laying the ground work for an even more intelligent transport system that puts the citizen at its heart.”
Minister for Transport, David Elliott said the funding allocation to Opal Next Gen would see services tailored to better meet the needs of commuters.
“This state-of-the-art new Opal system will enable commuters to travel from A to B a whole lot easier, it will allow families to seamlessly plan, book and pay for a range of different transport services in one place,” Mr Elliott said.
“The current Opal system has delivered an exceptional service for nearly a decade, but it is time to take it to the next level.”
