Opal 2.0: Sydney public transport’s $820m overhaul

The NSW government will spend an extra $82m overhauling the public transport ticket system, including the introduction of a digital card.

Announced on Tuesday, the Opal 2.0 scheme has been budgeted an extra $82m, taking the entire investment to $820m. The state government says the funds are for additional reform and the original 2.0 project is still within budget.

Details of the expanded revamp announced on Tuesday include a new Opal app with better real-time information, and 5000 digital information screens on buses.

Commuters will be able to pay with an Opal card in the digital wallet on their phones.

The tech systems will be developed this year, the hardware will be installed next year and the facelift is scheduled to finish in 2028.

Transport Minister John Graham says a key issue to fix is empty “ghost buses” that are nowhere to be seen despite displaying on the app.

“Opal was introduced more than six years before the first metro service even ran in Sydney. It’s time for this tech-led transformation,” he said.

“So-called ‘ghost buses’ have been a bugbear for Sydney commuters, and this solution is going to end that era once and for all.”

The first major milestone of the overhaul has been reached, with German-headquartered INIT to make the ticketing system.

From its warehouse in western Sydney, Trapeze Group will make the bus information screens and tracking tech. The firm has previously filled contracts for NSW Ambulance and Yarra Trams.

Trapeze executive David Eason said Sydney deserved reliable networks.

“The NSW government has set a bold and progressive vision for the future of bus operations,” the firm’s Australia head of transport systems said.

“Passengers across greater Sydney and outer-metropolitan areas deserve a predictable, reliable, and easy to use bus network that connects communities.”

The contract with INIT includes installing 25,000 new Opal readers on the train, metro and bus networks.

The broader Opal 2.0 overhaul will update the Opal app, bringing with it automatic fare adjustments if a passenger is overcharged, the ability to add Opal cards to a digital wallet, better data about how full a train or bus is, and the option for event ticket holders to scan the event ticket QR code for free public transport.