A new Opal app, easier ways to save money and the introduction of a digital Opal card will be delivered under the biggest overhaul of the NSW public transport ticketing system since its rollout 13 years ago.
The $820 million investment will deliver much better real-time information on public transport services, including the installation of digital information screens on 5,000 buses for the first time.
This will provide passengers with information on upcoming stops and destination timings – as well as onboard audio announcements.
Passengers waiting at bus stops will now get much better information on the next service, ending the longtime commuter frustration of ‘ghost buses’ that show up on apps and maps but not in real life.
As announced earlier this month, almost a million public transport passengers will shortly be able to claim their concession, pensioner or seniors fares – and the lower weekly fare cap – through contactless technology on their device under the digital upgrade to the Opal network.
Adult fares are capped at $50 weekly, Concessions and Child/Youth at $25, and a $2.50 daily cap is in place for Senior/Pensioner travellers – meaning once you hit those caps, your trips are free. On Fridays, weekends, public holidays and outside peak times, fares are 30 per cent cheaper on metro, train, bus and light rail services.
The project, Opal 2.0, has passed a significant milestone, with contracts now signed with two leading industry suppliers to deliver the ticketing overhaul.
Contractors will install 25,000 new Opal readers across rail, metro, bus, light rail and ferries, replacing the familiar machines passengers have “tapped on” to for more than a decade and have now reached their end of life.
Development of the new system will progress throughout 2026 before the first hardware installations starting in 2027 and completion expected in 2028.
This investment is part of a broader shift to focus on the parts of the public transport network people use every day like buses and heavy rail, alongside new metro lines.
For too long, investment has been concentrated in major metro projects, while reliability and customer experience on existing services has lagged. That is changing.
This upgrade will improve the day-to-day experience for millions of passengers, making services more predictable, easier to use and better connected.
Passenger benefits of Opal 2.0 include:
- Automatic fare adjustment if an incorrect fare is charged, without needing to contact customer service
- Digital Opal cards that can be added to your device of choice
- World-leading and Australian-first Contactless Concessions
- New and improved Opal travel app
- Personalised notifications sent after a passenger taps with advice on trip and fare
- Faster and more accurate patronage data to warn how busy onboard an upcoming service will be
- Information screens on 5000 buses
- Ability for event-goers to scan the QR code on their ticket at an Opal reader to access free transport
- Passenger information screens that display upcoming stops on all Greater Sydney and outer metropolitan buses
- Better real-time bus tracking and patronage accuracy
Following a competitive international procurement process, Transport for NSW has awarded contracts for the Opal 2.0 upgrade.
INIT Pty Ltd will deliver the Account Based Ticketing system. Headquartered in Germany with a Sydney office, INIT has delivered ticketing systems in more than 140 cities worldwide.
Trapeze Group will deliver the Bus Solution. With a workshop in Western Sydney, Trapeze operates in more than 70 locations globally and delivers transport technology across Australia, including for Yarra Trams and NSW Ambulance.
The NSW Government has allocated $77.8 billion over four years in the 2025-26 Budget to support public transport services and infrastructure, and the functions that keep them running.
Opal 2.0 budget remains within budget at $738 million, as previously announced, with new funding for the bus upgrades taking the overall investment to $820 million.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
“At a time when families are under pressure, we are focused on making public transport a more reliable and affordable option for millions of people across NSW.”
“This upgrade is about improving the everyday experience, making it easier to get around, to save money and easier to rely on public transport.
“We are investing not just in new lines, but in the services people use every day like buses, trains and the systems that keep them running.”
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“Opal was introduced more than six years before the first metro service even ran in Sydney. It’s time for this tech-led transformation.”
“So-called ‘ghost buses’ have been a bugbear for Sydney commuters, and this solution is going to end that era once and for all.
Transport Secretary Josh Murray said:
“This is the next frontier of Opal – helping us to achieve a safe, equitable, accessible and integrated transport network.
“The original Opal relied on technology from London’s Oyster system, which was first introduced in 2000. Like corresponding technology from the start of the century such as the Blu-Ray Player and the first Blackberry – it’s time for an overhaul.”
INIT Executive Vice President MENA-ANZ Eyad Tayeb said:
“We are delighted to bring the very latest account-based ticketing technology to NSW.
“Our technology is used in dozens of world class public transport systems across the globe, including playing a critical role in Atlanta and Houston’s hosting of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Munich.
Trapeze Group ANZ Head of Intelligent Transport Systems David Eason said:
“The NSW Government has set a bold and progressive vision for the future of bus operations. Passengers across Greater Sydney and outer-metropolitan areas deserve a predictable, reliable, and easy to use bus network that connects communities.”