Opal Card, questions

edfrane on 03/04/2014 - 22:23

I've been looking into the opal card, if it was any cheaper for me. Which it is cheaper by $1.70 per a week.
But going through the ordering a card set-up. I realized, you can get multiple cards with different names, such as word card, or personal card, and have a separate balance on each card.
I'm wondering, if those cards are linked in any way.
Such as the rule, you only pay for 8 trips a week, then the rest is free. If i took 8 trips with one card, then i used the other card, would it take into consideration the other cards trips, and grants a free trip?

Also, unrelated with the multiple opal card.
With the 8 rule, if i took 8, 10km trips, then the 9th trip(meant to be free) was a 40km, would i be charged extra or remain uncharged?

Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • airzone on 03/04/2014 - 22:46
    +1

    It's on a card by card basis… Otherwise what would stop my company from setting up an account and most people getting free travel lol! I think even the deposit is too.

    Once you are on the 9th trip, it's free. You could travel around Sydney a few times if you like…

    • retiredfeline on 03/04/2014 - 22:49

      What airzone wrote.

      Also remember the travel week starts Monday, unlike weekly tickets which were for 7 days.

    • edfrane on 04/04/2014 - 10:36

      True, that makes sense.

      Ah, sweet. Thanks
      Also is the card only for my use, or could I lend it?

      • retiredfeline on 04/04/2014 - 11:05

        I don't see anything in the terms of use about personal use but maybe I missed it. In future they will sell unregistered Opal cards which are not tied to an identity so I don't see why they would need to check your identity in the general case. However in future there will be concession Opal cards and they require proof of eligibility. E.g. you can't use your daughter's child card.

  • CyberMurning on 04/04/2014 - 00:16

    also the 8 trips rule doesnt need to be the same. so take short trips if possible! during lunch time

  • Archi on 04/04/2014 - 09:30

    I work out my trip to work from Hurstville to mascot. change at wolli creek.

    trip 1.
    Hurstville - mascot = $4.10/trip

    trip 2.
    Hurstville - wolli creek - mascot = $3.30 + $3.30 = $6.60/ trip (that's exiting the station at wolli creek and coming back in again)

    to get 8 trips to work…with trip 1 will cost 8x$4.10 = $32.8 (4 days travel)
    to get 8 trips to work…with trip 2 will cost 8x$3.30 = $26.4 (2 days travel)

    so if I take trip 2 to work… I pay less to do the same trip to work. a little extra time but save a
    considerable amount of money per week.

    EDIT*
    I didn't realise that the exit and entry is timed.. such that if you enter the same rail station as you exited within an hour the trip still counts as continuous…

    Darn… I thought I was onto a winner.

    • retiredfeline on 04/04/2014 - 10:02
      +1

      I didn't realise that the exit and entry is timed.. such that if you enter the same rail station as you exited within an hour the trip still counts as continuous…

      Yes, it's a feature. It allows people to make a transfer even exiting the station for < 1 hour and do errands. It even allows you to say take a trip to the city, do errands < 1 hour, and return for a single fare.

      • Archi on 04/04/2014 - 10:09

        it really isn't a feature if it's worked out like I have it's more a benefit to me… so actually its more like to deter people like me taking advantage of that specific trip to work…

        • retiredfeline on 04/04/2014 - 10:29

          Yeah, I'm sure they looked at your travel habits and said let's put in a feature that prevents Archi from doing that. ;)

  • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2014 - 00:31

    Anyone know whether Opal cards can be used by concession travellers?

    The Opal.com.au website is down at the moment (unsurprisingly lol) so I can't look that info up.

    • retiredfeline on 05/04/2014 - 00:39

      No concession Opal cards are available yet. But nothing to stop you from using a full-fare Opal card.

      • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2014 - 00:53

        So how does it work? You buy a card, load money/credit onto it, and after tapping on and off it calculates the fare and automatically deducts it when tapping off?

        So I presume it calculates and deducts at full-fare rates?

        So pensioners and students can't use the current Opal cards without being charged full-fare?

        • retiredfeline on 05/04/2014 - 00:56
          +1

          Sure, you get charged full fare like everyone else. So it is probably more advantageous to use paper tickets for now if you are a child or pensioner.

        • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2014 - 00:58

          Cool. Cheers for the info :)

        • airzone on 05/04/2014 - 19:57
          +2

          BTW, concession cards are coming.

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 11/04/2014 - 20:42

    Here's a trick that will help if you live a decent distance from the city.
    Monday, travel into work, say parramatta to the city. $4.70. Then during lunch take a trip from town hall to wynyard (or similar) $3.21 (off peak). Return back home,, $4.70 (for parramatta).
    Repeat on Tuesday and Wednesday. Your return trip home is now trip number 9 and is free. Same for Thursday and Friday.

    From parramatta it's a minor saving. From Penrith or campbelltown it gets bigger…

  • Givemethemoney on 31/08/2014 - 14:50

    I am wondering how the free travel bonus really works.

    If you take the same form of transport (say train) on Monday-Friday for work, can you then take regional train trip to places like Bathurst, etc; ferries around the harbour; and buses for free on the weekend?

    • carwashhair on 04/09/2014 - 09:51

      Yes. Make your 8 trips, and then all transport on opal-accepted forms is free.

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