Yahoo Finance Commuter win as government SLASHES Opal fees
Good news for New South Wales train, bus and ferry users: the weekly fare cap will be reduced to $50 a week from $63.20, meaning daily commuters could save up to $13.20 a week.
The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the move to reduce the cap by 20 per cent would benefit 55,000 commuters who will save up to $686 a year.
“Public transport is a significant cost for regular commuters and we want to make it more affordable,” Berejiklian said.
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The new cap will come into effect from 1 July 2019, Transport Minister Andrew Constance said, claiming the reduced fares will prompt more people to use public transport to get to work.
Other Opal benefits including the $2.50 Gold Opal cap, the $2.70 Sunday Cap and the Opal Transfer Discount will stay in place.
How will it work for me?
This is how the new cap will affect certain routes:
Weekly Cost | Today | From 1 July | Yearly Saving |
Penrith to Town Hall | $60.84 | $50 | $563 |
Waterfall to Town Hall | $60.84 | $50 | $563 |
Engadine to North Sydney | $60.84 | $50 | $563 |
Seven Hills to Wynyard | $60.84 | $50 | $563 |
Panania to Chatswood | $60.84 | $50 | $563 |
Tuggerah to Central | $63.20 | $50 | $686 |
Kiama to Sutherland | $63.20 | $50 | $686 |
Meadowbank to Barangaroo (Ferry) | $63.20 | $50 | $686 |
Olympic Park to Parramatta (Ferry) | $54.09 | $50 | $212 |
Leppington to Blacktown | $60.84 | $50 | $563 |
The NSW government is gearing up for a state election this Saturday 23 March.
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