NSW Allows Credit Card and Smart Device Payments for Trips on Ferries, Light Rail

Thursday 15 March 2018 @ 11.14 a.m. | Legal Research

The NSW Government has notified the Passenger Transport (Opal and Other Fares) Amendment (Approved Payment Devices on Ferry and Light Rail Services) Order 2018 (NSW) (‘the Order’) on 12 March 2018 in order to allow the use of credit cards, smart phones and smartwatches to pay for trips as alternatives to the Opal card.

Legislative Amendments

The Order amends the Passenger Transport (Opal and Other Fares) Order 2016 (NSW) in order to:

  • omit the definition of 'approved payment device', and replace it with the definition contained in Passenger Transport (General) Regulation 2017, which provides for credit cards and other payment devices approved by Transport for New South Wales;
  • include provisions relating to fare amounts for light rail trips and ferry trips.

Background

Following a trial on ferry services between Circular Quay and Manly, the technology has been expanded to ferry services across the city and the light rail network between Central Station and Dulwich Hill. However, passengers using this method to pay for the trips will not receive the benefits of using an Opal card.

The government has noted that the aim is to promote convenience and efficiency during travel.As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, Transport Minister Andrew Constance said:

“Contactless transport payments make purchasing one-off fares quick, easy and seamless. What we are about is trying to provide convenience for tourists [and] convenience for people who might have left their Opal card at home or misplaced their Opal card.”

The Government is hoping to introduce contactless payments for the train network by the end of 2018, and buses shortly after that.

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Sources:

Passenger Transport (Opal and Other Fares) Amendment (Approved Payment Devices on Ferry and Light Rail Services) Order 2018 (NSW), as published on TimeBase LawOne.

Simon Thomsen, ‘You can now catch Sydney ferries using your credit card,’ Business Insider Australia, 12 March 2018.

Matt O’Sullivan, ‘Credit card payments for trips expanded across ferries, light rail,’ Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 2018.

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