Free travel day on train and metro services
Travel will be free for passengers on all train and Metro services on the Opal network on Monday 26 May.
The NSW Government has implemented this fare free travel day to acknowledge the inconveniences and extra travel costs resulting from the disruptions caused by power supply issues on the network this week.
From 12.01am to 11.59pm on Monday 26 May 2025, travel will be free on all Sydney Trains, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services on the Opal network.
Opal gates and readers at train stations will be turned off during this fare free period meaning customers will not need to tap on and tap off.
However, passengers on all other services including, bus, ferry, and light rail must tap on and off as normal as fares will continue to be charged.
Opal benefits will still apply to all paid journeys where customers tap on and tap off.
Regular fares will apply to travel on all regional train and coach ticketing including TrainLink services.
Transport for NSW will automatically refund any heavy rail customers that are charged a fare during the fare free day back to the Opal card or credit/debit card that was used to tap.
Passengers who use Park&Ride commuter car parks will still be able to access free parking to travel on the Opal network.
What you need to know
From 12.01am to 11.59pm on Monday 26 May 2025:
- Travel will be free on all Sydney Trains, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services on the Opal network.
- You will not be required to tap on or tap off for any train or metro service.
- Opal gates and readers will be turned off at stations during the fare free period.
Customers on all other services including bus, ferry, and light rail, must tap on and tap off as normal and fares will continue to be charged. The fare free day only applies to train and Metro services on the Opal network.
Opal gates and readers across the Opal rail network will be turned off on the fare free day, meaning passengers will not need to tap on and tap off at Airport stations.
Opal benefits like the weekly travel cap and transfer discounts still apply to all paid journeys (bus, ferry and light rail) during the weekend. However transfer discounts will not be provided if you are transferring to or from train or metro service as fares will not be charged.
You must complete a journey by tapping on and tapping off to count towards your Weekly Travel Reward or intermodal transfer discounts.
Transport for NSW and the Opal team are working hard behind the scenes to ensure gates and readers at Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link and Sydney Metro stations are turned off in time for the free fare day.
Automatic refunds:
- If you get a default fare during the fare free period, Transport for NSW will automatically refund any Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink and Sydney Metro customers. This applies to the Airport station access fee. The refund will go back to the Opal card or credit/debit card that was used to tap in the following 7-10 days.
- To query a charge for your Opal network travel, visit Opal fare adjustments and refunds or send an enquiry via Feedback.
You will not receive the $2 ($1 concession) travel credit if you use an On Demand service in conjunction with an Opal train service. The On Demand travel credit is applied when you have taken a paid Opal trip (i.e. tapped on and tapped off) within 60 minutes of travelling on an On Demand service.
If you use one of our Park&Ride commuter car parks, you’ll still be able to access free parking if you are travelling on the Opal network. Park&Ride car park boom gates will remain open during the fare free weekend for train and metro services.
Passengers using a booked NSW TrainLink ticket will not be refunded. The fare free day only applies to train and Metro Opal network services.
Integrated tickets include free public transport, including those with special event buses. Customers can show their event ticket to transport staff at the station or when boarding services.