At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Sydney students, Centrelink customers, apprentices, seniors and pensioners who want to know which discounted Opal fare applies and what the most they can pay in a day is
- What to do now
- Check whether you are on Concession fares (daily cap $9.65 Monday to Thursday) or Gold Opal fares (daily cap $2.50), and carry your proof of entitlement card
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against three Transport for NSW fare pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Eligibility rules and how to apply sit on separate Transport for NSW pages that this guide does not cover; check them before you apply
- Cost
- Concession cap $9.65 a day Monday to Thursday, $4.80 on Fridays, weekends and public holidays, $25 a week; Gold Opal cap $2.50 a day
- Help
- Transport for NSW fares pages at transportnsw.info
The most a Concession Opal customer pays is $9.65 a day from Monday to Thursday, and the most a Gold Opal seniors and pensioners customer pays is $2.50 a day on any day. Fares and caps below are as published by Transport for NSW on 9 November 2026.
This guide uses three Transport for NSW pages: Concession Opal fares, Senior and pensioner Opal fares and Opal peak and off-peak fares.
Who pays Concession fares, and who pays Gold Opal fares?
| Fare | Who it is for, according to Transport for NSW |
|---|---|
| Concession | Eligible tertiary students, Centrelink customers, and apprentices and trainees |
| Gold Opal (senior and pensioner) | Eligible seniors, pensioners, asylum seekers, DVA Gold Card holders, and NSW war widows and widowers |
For Gold Opal fares, Pensioner Concession Card holders and NSW or ACT Seniors can choose between an Opal card and Contactless Concessions. Interstate seniors and asylum seekers must apply for a Gold Opal card. DVA Gold Card holders apply at transport.nsw.gov.au/CECApply.
How do I pay a Concession or Gold fare?
For Concession fares you need a Concession Opal card, or a contactless debit or credit card or device linked to your concession entitlement. For Gold fares on your own contactless card, Transport for NSW says to create a Transport Connect account online and link your concession; you get the same fares and benefits as with an Opal card.
In both cases you must carry your proof of entitlement card. If you do not, you must pay an Adult fare, using an Adult Opal card or contactless payment, or buy an Opal single ticket for the Gold fare case, to avoid fines. Tap off at the end of your trip too: if you do not, you are charged a default fare, which is the maximum possible fare for your trip, though never more than the daily cap.
What is the most I can pay in a day or a week?
| Cap | Concession | Gold Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | $9.65 a day | $2.50 a day |
| Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | $4.80 a day | $2.50 a day |
| Week (Monday to Sunday) | $25 | No weekly cap listed; the daily cap applies |
The Opal week runs from Monday to Sunday. The Sydney Airport station access fee is not included in the daily or weekly caps, though Transport for NSW says there is a separate weekly cap on that fee.
What are the fares per trip?
Metro, train, bus and light rail share the same distance bands on both pages.
| Distance | Concession peak | Concession off-peak | Gold Opal | Gold Opal off-peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 km | $1.65 | $1.15 | $1.65 | $1.15 |
| 3 to 8 km | $2.24 | $1.56 | $2.24 | $1.56 |
| 8 km or more | $2.88 | $2.01 | $2.50 | $2.01 |
Concession ferry fares are $3.67 for 0 to 9 km and $4.60 for 9 km or more. The Newcastle Stockton ferry is $1.65, or $1.15 off-peak. The ferry table on the Gold Opal page did not display in the copy of the page this guide used, so check that page for Gold ferry fares.
When are peak and off-peak times?
Peak times apply Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays. You get a 30% discount on metro, train, bus and light rail on Fridays, weekends, public holidays and outside peak times, and your fare is worked out from the time you tap on. There is no off-peak discount with an Opal single ticket.
| Service | Morning peak | Evening peak |
|---|---|---|
| Metro and train | 6:30am to 10am | 3pm to 7pm |
| Intercity trains | 6am to 10am | 3pm to 7pm |
| Bus and light rail | 6:30am to 10am | 3pm to 7pm |
The morning peak can vary at some intercity stations depending on where you tap on; Transport for NSW has a station look-up for that.
What about ferries run by private operators?
Private ferries do not accept Opal single trip tickets. Some accept Opal cards through OpalPay, and you should look for an “OpalPay accepted here” sign. OpalPay fares differ from regular Opal fares and do not count towards Opal benefits.
For adult fares and how Opal benefits work, see our other Sydney Opal guides: how to pay for Opal fares, and for park and ride, our Park&Ride guide for Mount Druitt, Schofields and Seven Hills.
Sources
- Transport for NSW: Concession Opal fares (checked 9 November 2026)
- Transport for NSW: Senior and pensioner Opal fares (checked 9 November 2026)
- Transport for NSW: Opal peak and off-peak fares (checked 9 November 2026)
Featured image: an Opal card reader at the Rozelle Bay light rail stop, photographed in October 2019 (photo: Nick-D / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Transport for NSW. Fares and caps can change; check the Transport for NSW pages before you travel.