Opal card
Encyclopedia
Opal is the name of the contactless smartcard ticketing
system that is planned to be introduced on public transport in Sydney
by 2012. The smart card is expected to replace the existing Automated Fare Collection System
on all CityRail
, Sydney Buses, Western Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries
and Newcastle Buses & Ferries
services along with incorporating all private-sector bus and ferry operators into the integrated ticketing system.
, rolled out between 1988 and 1993.
A replacement system called Tcard, based on smart card technology, was first announced by the New South Wales Government
in 1996, with hopes of a system to be in place before the 2000 Summer Olympics
. The contract was awarded to ERG Group
, but was delayed until 2002 due to a lawsuit from the losing bidder Cubic Transportation Systems
who was labelled 'dishonest' by the presiding Supreme Court of NSW judge.
The development and rollout of the system was beset with difficulties, leading the Government to terminate the contract in 2008.
On 29 August 2008, the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation (PTTC) released details of an Expressions of Interest for the second attempt at the project, open to other Smart Card providers. On 12 April 2010, the NSW Government announced that a new contract had been awarded to the Pearl Consortium, whose members include the Commonwealth Bank, Cubic Transportation Systems Australia
and Downer EDI Engineering Power
.
It was announced on the 13 September 2011 that the new name for the system would be called Opal after 665 names were considered. The Transport Minister
, Gladys Berejiklian
said the name Opal had been chosen because it was uniquely Australian, short, and easy to say. As well as being Australia's national gemstone, the black opal is the State’s gemstone
symbol.
Electronic ticket
An electronic ticket is a digital ticket. It may be issued by an airline, in road, urban or rail public transport, and in entertainment.-Airline ticket:...
system that is planned to be introduced on public transport in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
by 2012. The smart card is expected to replace the existing Automated Fare Collection System
Automated Fare Collection System
The Sydney automated fare collection system is the name given to three interoperable automated ticketing systems for buses, trains and government-run ferries in and around Sydney, Australia.The system was introduced between 1988 and 1993...
on all CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
, Sydney Buses, Western Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries is an agency of the New South Wales Government Department of Transport, providing ferry services on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River in Sydney, Australia....
and Newcastle Buses & Ferries
State Transit Authority of New South Wales
The State Transit Authority of New South Wales is an agency of the Government of New South Wales based in Sydney, Australia operating bus and ferry services. The STA is part of transport minister Gladys Berejiklian's portfolio...
services along with incorporating all private-sector bus and ferry operators into the integrated ticketing system.
Tcard
Sydney has used a number of automated ticketing systems since the opening of the Eastern Suburbs Railway in 1979. At present, government-run buses, trains and ferries use the Automated Fare Collection SystemAutomated Fare Collection System
The Sydney automated fare collection system is the name given to three interoperable automated ticketing systems for buses, trains and government-run ferries in and around Sydney, Australia.The system was introduced between 1988 and 1993...
, rolled out between 1988 and 1993.
A replacement system called Tcard, based on smart card technology, was first announced by the New South Wales Government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
in 1996, with hopes of a system to be in place before the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. The contract was awarded to ERG Group
ERG Group
Vix Technology is an Australia-based technology company which designs, supplies and operates mobility solutions for the public transit industry, including Automated Fare Collection Systems , intelligent transportation systems and passenger information systems .Vix has four main areas of...
, but was delayed until 2002 due to a lawsuit from the losing bidder Cubic Transportation Systems
Cubic Transportation Systems
Cubic Transportation Systems is an American public corporation providing automated fare collection equipment and services to the mass transit industry...
who was labelled 'dishonest' by the presiding Supreme Court of NSW judge.
The development and rollout of the system was beset with difficulties, leading the Government to terminate the contract in 2008.
Revival
On July 3, 2008 after 3 months of a terminated contract and a $200m lawsuit by ERG it was revealed that the a smartcard system project had been revived by cabinet. This decision also required the state government to change the structure of its fare system to suit the new system.On 29 August 2008, the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation (PTTC) released details of an Expressions of Interest for the second attempt at the project, open to other Smart Card providers. On 12 April 2010, the NSW Government announced that a new contract had been awarded to the Pearl Consortium, whose members include the Commonwealth Bank, Cubic Transportation Systems Australia
Cubic Transportation Systems
Cubic Transportation Systems is an American public corporation providing automated fare collection equipment and services to the mass transit industry...
and Downer EDI Engineering Power
Downer EDi
Downer EDI is an Australian Stock Exchange Top-100 company that provides comprehensive engineering and infrastructure management services to the public and private transport, energy, infrastructure, communications and resources sectors, across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific...
.
It was announced on the 13 September 2011 that the new name for the system would be called Opal after 665 names were considered. The Transport Minister
Minister for Transport (New South Wales)
The New South Wales Minister for Transport has responsibilities which includes bus and ferry policy, contracting and regulation, rail policy, fares and concessions, and taxi and hire car policy and regulation...
, Gladys Berejiklian
Gladys Berejiklian
Gladys Berejiklian MP , an Australian politician, is the Minister for Transport in the O'Farrell Government. Berejiklian is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Willoughby for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003.-Early years and background:Berejiklian was born in...
said the name Opal had been chosen because it was uniquely Australian, short, and easy to say. As well as being Australia's national gemstone, the black opal is the State’s gemstone
symbol.
See also
- List of smart cards
- mykiMykimyki is the contactless smartcard ticketing system being introduced on public transport in Victoria, Australia. myki is designed to replace a number of ticket systems in Victoria, primarily the Metcard and V/Line ticketing systems...
- Melbourne's smartcard ticketing system - SmartRiderSmartRiderSmartRider is Transperth's contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport in Western Australia....
- Perth's smartcard system - Translink go cardTransLink Go cardThe go card is an electronic smartcard ticketing system developed by Cubic Corporation and currently used on the TransLink public transport network in South East Queensland. To use the go card users hold the card less than 10 cm away from the reader to "touch on" before starting a journey, and...
- Brisbane's smartcard system