North West Rail Link and Update On Opal Cards Being Introduced To 5 State Transit Buses!

What's happening in our state   AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROJECT POWERING AHEAD NSW Premier Mike Baird has inspected the progress of construction on the North West Rail Link and received a briefing on the $8.3 billion project. The North West Rail Link is Australia’s biggest public transport project and this vital piece of infrastructure will create thousands of jobs and improve the lives of commuters in Sydney’s North West. This crucial project is proceeding rapidly and the first of the four massive tunnel boring machines are due in the ground by October this year – ahead of an end-of-year commitment. At the Cherrybrook railway station site, work is well underway to excavate the “box” area, from which two tunnel boring machines will dig six kilometres to Epping. The tunnelling contract alone will support about 900 jobs. OPAL ROLLOUT EXPANDS TO BUSES IN SYDNEY’S EAST  Opal electronic ticketing will start rolling out on State Transit buses, with five bus routes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to join the Opal network from Monday 28 April. The NSW Government successfully fast-tracked Opal on all Sydney Ferries services and 308 Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink stations, and is now turning its attention to buses. Five bus routes, 326, 327, 355, 361 and L24, will go-live with Opal over a two-week period from Monday. Customers can already use their Opal card on route 333, which was the first State Transit bus to go live with Opal as part of a customer trial. To find ticket sellers, customers should call 131 500 or visit www.transportnsw.info. To order an Adult or Child/Youth card go to www.opal.com.au or call 13 67 25.

NSW Sydney Trains Ticketing System - Old Tickets Have No Plans To Be Phased Out!

This is an interesting response from Opal Customer care. We understand that in other train network ticketing systems the old ticketing countries or rail network of ticketing processes, old tickets cannot be phased out so quickly and the old ticketing system is still sold. Here is the e-mail received by myself: opalcustomercare@opal.com.au	11:27 (12 hours ago)
to me

Dear John,

Thank you for contacting Opal Customer Care.

Opal card will be available at retailers later this year. The station staff will be available to to help customer use their Opal card and educate commuters.

There are no current plans to cease the sale of paper tickets.

Reference Number: 462459

Yours sincerely

Opal Customer Care

Please do not reply to this email.

Should you need to respond, please do so via the Web Enquiry form

found at Opal.com.au/CustomerCare or by calling Opal Customer Care

on 13 67 25 or (13 OPAL) quoting your reference number.

Commuters Still Queuing For Older Tickets In Mount Druitt!

These 2 pictures taken in peak hour at Mount Druitt train station confirms that Opal Cards are not having a big affect in reducing queues for commuters.

We still say that educating people is the important factor and some people do not like automatic change and learning the new technology that goes with it.

We are looking at a way we  can solve these issues and come back to you at a later date as to providing this resolution to the Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs.

Although, this is great for the local Sydney Trains employees in collecting tickets, it  lengths the time that commuters have available time to  catch their trains, loss of sitting down on seats, rushing down the stairs causing potential falls on stairs and platforms.













Click here for previous blog

Opal Cards In Mount Druitt Having Little Affect On Monday & Tuesday Mornings Ticket Window Queuing!

Speaking to a Sydney Trains Transport Officer advised myself that according to  commuter queues at Mount Druitt train station on Monday and Tuesday Morning the queues are getting bigger and longer, that means two possible things, according to local studies:

• That public transport commuters are still purchasing the old  ticketing system as they are concession card ticket holders and they will have to wait until the appropriate Opal electronic ticketing system is launched. Click Here For the Youth/Children Opal Cards
• There has been an increase in  new  people becoming public transport Sydney Trains Commuters.

So far, Opal card cannot be purchased at any Sydney Trains train station only Newsagents and  authorised agent retailers.

I still say it is hard to educate everyone to use this system, unless proper promotion , via  delivering mail to each resident in Mount Druitt, Greater Sydney and Sydney. What do you think?

Opal Cards Can Now Be Ordered For Youths And Children!

Now you can apply for an Opal Card if you are a Youth and for Children.

This is a slow release of  The Opal Card for all  befits and reasons, to ensure there is no hiccups with the new integrated electronic ticketing system. We believe Seniors and Pensioners will be released at a later date.

Further news is from a NSW Sydney Trains Officer by December 2014, there maybe no ticket office in train stains and maybe no staff for ticketing selling, ticket handling and assisting with information with Opal Cards! These are rumors but we will find out. The front line people of NSW Sydney Trains are the one that can provide increase usage of public transport, they they promote  commuters to catch public transport. Did you know that

Click Here For Opal Cards- Youths/Childrren

Have You Ever Wondered What Happens With Remaining Expired Rail Tickets?

Here are collected tickets at Mount Druitt Train Station -
ready to be  recycled!

I hadn't until a Sydney Trains  Officer explained to myself that all the tickets in the exit part of the barriers are cleared at night and  environmentally placed in recycling bins, to be recycled.

Did you know that? I  now know that. 'You cannot teach an old dog tricks' - you can with me!

In fact as more Opal cards are issued there will be less of the paper tickets, how long do I think it will take for them to disappear up to 2 years. This concept is good for the environment as it is not wasting these tickets! The NSW Government should be congratulated for this!

In Mount Druitt Not Many Commuters Using The Opal Card As Yet But......

Speaking to a Transport offer from Sydney Trains, it appears there is a low usage of commuters using the Opal Card, that was launched recently.

This may be attributed to a few things: that there really wasn't a great publicity campaign on the day of the launch at Mount Druitt to promote commuters to use it - I had only witnessed one person handing information flyers. Also a lot of commuters use buses and are waiting for the launch of the expansion of the Opal Cards to buses later on this year.  Lastly there are a lot of people that may not be even aware of it being available!

Again , it all goes back to adverting in the TV Media. and  with the printing press - NSW Government should consider this!

NSW For Transport Opal Cards - A Great Improvement For The Community!

The NSW Governments introduction of a major overhaul of the states public transport ticketing system is gradually been implemented and can be seen as a great improvement for Mount Druitt, Western Sydney and Sydney.

In fact it is showing  that what is being done now could have been done by previous NSW Governments. Every member of the current State Government should be proud of this wonderful electronic ticketing system that will  be serving extensively on multi-modes of public transport. No more wasting time for change to purchasing fares, queuing up minutes on minutes for tickets. To be fair, cost factors may have prevented this to occur. The current NSW for Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian is leading the new revolution in making life easier with ticket purchasing and travelling on  public transport, providing this sweeping new technological change.

The Opal card at present only allows a commuter with a credit card or debit to purchase  and be issued with a card, currently for western Sydneysiders  to use this facility on the Sydney Trains Network -  ( T1 Line - for Mount Druitt commuters being launched as from 28th February 2014).  For myself, I will have to wait in line as I personally do not believe in credit/master/debit card for fear of fraud and believe in the old saving accounts. Although, I might be in the minority of commuters, the opportunity will come for myself to purchase a card paying cash at local stores and I believe Woolworth Stores, later on before the end of year. The only problem is I would be saving $3.60 per week on the new Opal card and because I prefer paying cash I will not be able to save  money as per other commuters, yet I understand the Opal Card is being introduced in different stages. Maybe the NSW Government could look at reducing the currently weekly tickets to match Opal weekly tickets for a temporary time until cash is accepted in Mount Druitt, Western Sydney. This is just a request!


My only concern is if a commuter forgets to tap on or go on and is charged   a default fare up to $8.10 on trains - this needs to be explained to commuters. What happens is there is a malfunction with the Electronic Ticketing System - will commuters be charged a default charge?

Mount Druitt Is Part Of Opal Card in Western Sydney For Trains Only

This is good news for Mount Druitt and for other train stations in Mount Druitt. 'Tap & Go' is the way to go!

The new electronic ticketing system called 'Opal Card' is being launched in Mount Druitt as from 28th February 2014. Are you ready for it, let us know. Mount will join the modern technological age of easy travelling. let's us hear about what you have to say? 

I don't know about you but I am excited!


Click Here for Opal Card details

Mount Druitt Trial Of The Opal Cards Coming Soon On Multi Tickets!

Trial Tap & Go Electronic Ticketing Machine
at Mount Druitt train station

Well  we need to prepare ourselves on the new Opal Card ( Electronic Ticketing System) that Sydney Trains is releasing on their network. Is everyone ready for it?

They will be so easy to use 'Tap and Go'! How's that?

You will have to apply for them?
Click Here to Apply For an Opal Card

Although it is not advertising or pamphlets provided to commuters at Mount Druitt train station - it appears it will be  later on in the year as per   NSW for TRansport Opal Press Releases so far - click here

Watch Out For 'Tap & Go Opal Cards'

This is how easy it will be swipe you Opal Card, once you are issued with one by the end of 2015, on train stations:

Do you think you will be ready for it? There is so much positives to come from this new innovation: less queuing for purchasing tickets, more chance to catch your train, get home early or get to work early, friends or family.

What are your thoughts. let us know?

Commuters With Large Notes Expect Change!

What is frustrating with commuters who travel on buses, is when  they are providing the driver with a $50 note or even a $100 note.

The fare could be $2.20 and they expect to get the change from the $50.00 or $100.00. So this brings me to what happened tonight when a young gentleman, wanted to got to Emerton and offered to pay $50.00  towards his fare. The  bus driver advised, ' You can't do that!'

The young gentleman  said, ' I have just come from New Zealand, i don't have small coins, can't I get to Emerton'

I explained that he would need to acquire loose change from a local open shop, and asked that you wouldn't pay for public transport buses the same way  in New Zealand, would you!' 

He then left the 755 Busways bus as he was explained the next Emerton bus will be around 15 minutes later and it will be 758.

I suppose what can you say? Commuters with  large notes should realise the bus driver may not even have that much in the tin - and I have been told they don't  have a large float. Don't worry the Opal ticketing system that will be introduced within the next 18 months, will mean payment will be made via direct debit from commuters bank or financial institution accounts or you can pay cash at various stores and outlets.