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Maximum journey times

Your Opal journey has a maximum allowed time, depending on the type of transport and location. Exceeding this time may result in additional charges.

If you tap off after the maximum journey time:

  • Your previous tap on will be considered an incomplete journey.
  • At train stations or wharves with gates, you'll be charged two default fares:
  1. One for the incomplete journey that took too long.
  2. Another for the subsequent tap off, which the Opal system treats as a new, unstarted journey.

If this occurs at an ungated location (like light rail stops, most wharves, and many train stations), you might also face two default fares:

  • One for the incomplete journey that exceeded the time limit, which the Opal reader will identify.
  • The next tap on will be seen as a new journey, and this tap on can be reversed. If not reversed, a second default fare could be charged.

Journey type

Criteria

Maximum journey time

Suburban

Train journeys taken using Sydney Trains.

Examples:

  • Penrith to Chatswood
  • Campbelltown to Berowra
  • Newtown to Bondi Junction

5 hours

Outer metropolitan

Train journeys within outer metropolitan areas of Greater Sydney operated by NSW TrainLink trains which do not cross into or depart from the area covered by Sydney Trains.

Examples:

  • Gosford to Wyoming
  • Nowra to Wollongong
  • Bathurst to Lithgow
  • Goulburn to Moss Vale

5 hours

Intercity / Commuter services

Train journeys that make one crossing into or out of the area covered by Sydney Trains are provided with one extra hour.

Any Sydney Trains or Intercity NSW TrainLink service through any of the following stations: Emu Plains, Macarthur, Waterfall and Berowra.

Examples:

  • Newcastle to Central
  • Central to Lithgow

6 hours

Exceptions for very long train journeys

Rules

  • Must enter and exit the area covered by Sydney Trains as part of the journey.
  • The train journey needs to pass through any two of the following stations: Emu Plains, Macarthur, Waterfall or Berowra.

Type 1: Most long train journeys are provided with two extra hours (e.g. Wollongong to Newcastle or Moss Vale to Katoomba)

Type 2: Train journeys greater than 350km (e.g. Scone to Bathurst or Goulburn to Dungog)

7 hours (Type 1)

16 hours (Type 2)

Journey type

 Criteria

Maximum journey time

Bus

For buses a maximum journey time applies to any bus trip that includes an implied transfer.

An implied transfer is only applicable to bus and is designed to ensure that you will not be out of pocket in the following situations:

  • The bus route ends in a 'loop' and you remain on board to reach your destination
  • A driver crew change occurs part way through the trip along the bus route
  • The driver start the new bus trip early (before you tap off)
  • The driver starts the new bus trip late (after you tap on)

In these situations, the bus fare will be calculated as normal.

For any other trips, the only rule applied is that you tap on and off the same bus.

4 hours

Journey type

Criteria

Maximum journey time

Journey requiring transfer at Circular Quay

Any ferry journey that involves a transfer (1 only) at Circular Quay

4 hours

Gated wharf to gated wharf
  • Circular Quay - Darling Harbour Wharf
  • Darling Harbour Wharf - Circular Quay
  • Circular Quay - Circular Quay
  • Darling Harbour Wharf - Darling Harbour Wharf

Note: Excludes Manly Wharf

1 hour

Same ferry route/service

All services that do not meet any of the above criteria

Note: All services west of the Harbour Bridge (river services) are treated as the same route (i.e. tap off / on is not required at stop over wharf)

3 hours

Journey type

 Criteria

Maximum journey time

Light rail services

 Maximum journey time for all light rail services

3 hours