Planning your journey
Having the skills to be able to plan your journey on public transport is a great way to increase your confidence in using public transport and to be able to adapt if there are any disruptions during your trip.
To learn more about planning your journey, select the link relevant to your needs:
You can use digital tools to plan your trips.
See our range of digital tools available
If you know what trip planning tool you would like to use, go directly to the help section, to learn how to you your tool of choice.
If you have a disability, we have some tips to help you travel smoothly in NSW. You'll find information on travelling with assistance animals, using mobility aids, and which concessions are available to you. getting discounts.
See the Accessible travel page
If you are worried about experiencing any issues or disruptions to your trip, you can create a backup plan and carry it with you.
Things to consider when planning your trip
If it is the first time you are travelling to your destination, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
If you are eligible for concession travel, you need to have the right Opal card to get the concession rate.
Check your eligibility for concession
If you are using an Opal card, make sure to top up your card with sufficient credit to make your trip.
Top up your Opal card
If you don’t qualify for concession travel, you can use either an Adult Opal card or your visa/debit card to pay an Adult fare.
Before you head out, check the weather forecast so you are prepared. This way, you'll know what to expect and can decide if it's a good day for travelling, especially if the weather is expected to be bad or severe.
You can find weather forecasts on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Knowing what the weather will be like can also help you choose the best route for your trip.
Trip planning tools often have useful alerts that can assist you in making travel decisions.
This website provides a list of all features found at every station, stop or ferry wharf.
You can check what accessible features of the stations and stops you will be accessing during your trip.
Learn more about accessibility on public transport.
On the day you are travelling, it's a good idea to see if there are any disruptions that might affect your trip. This could include trackwork or stoppages along your planned route.
You can check for any disruptions to the network at transport alerts.
This is really important if there are severe weather conditions or if you are planning to catch a train on weekends. This is when track maintenance is usually planned and buses may replace trains on certain train lines.
If you will be travelling with a support person or companion, make sure to confirm their availability. You may be able to get free travel for your support person.
Plan for the worst and expect the best! Create a backup plan you can refer to in case of disruptions.
Things to do after planning your trip
Save your trip details by:
- Set up your trip plan on your phone by using a trip planning app.
- Keep the trip plan details open or saved on your phone or print your route details and take it with you.
If possible, do a walk through of your trip plan
You may want to consider doing a walkthrough your planned trip before your actual trip. You can do this either physically or virtually using most trip planning apps.
Get help planning a trip
Walk through the steps involved in planning your journey: