Over 450,000 trips are made on average every weekend across Sydney’s public transport network, according to data provided by Transport for NSW.
A $738 million upgrade of the state’s Opal ticketing system, dubbed Opal Next Gen, was announced in 2022. However, the project has been delayed.
After initially targeting next year for the launch of the upgraded ticketing system, Transport for NSW is now hoping for September 2027.
The project involves replacing 25,000 electronic readers on buses, at train stations, light rail stops and ferry wharves.
An advertisement for the upgrade on the Digital NSW website states: “The new Opal Next Gen ticketing system will leverage new hardware and technology to deliver a more reliable and resilient system.”
