Opal public transport network
ACT Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris says concession travel on the NSW Opal public transport network is now a whole lot easier for seniors from the ACT , removing limitations on the travel period previously offered to travellers .
Transport Canberra , in partnership with Transport for NSW , has developed a new process that automatically validates ACT seniors ’ eligibility for concession travel in NSW .
Transport for NSW is removing the 60 day expiry on around 880 existing eligible ACT seniors ’ Gold Opal cards . ACT seniors are now able to get a Gold Senior / Pensioner Opal card that does not expire , as long as they remain eligible .
If you are over 60 , a permanent resident of the ACT and working 20 hours or less each week you are eligible for an ACT Seniors Card .
ACT Minister for Veterans and Seniors Gordon Ramsay says , “ Flexibility around transport is an essential part of being an age-friendly city , continuing to develop transport around the way that people live . This arrangement / agreement is another demonstration of our commitment and value for older Canberrans .”
CEO of COTA ACT Jenny Mobbs says , “ Seniors with an early ACT Seniors Card ( i . e . one that has six numbers , as opposed to nine in the current cards ) will need to apply for a card upgrade in order to apply for an Opal card . New , replacement and upgraded ACT Seniors Cards are available from the COTA ACT office in Hughes , at ACT Libraries and ACCESS Canberra shopfronts .
Existing ACT seniors who already have a Gold Senior / Pensioner Opal card are being reminded of the benefits of registering their card :
• The balance can be protected if the card is lost , stolen or damaged ;
• Customers can request a replacement Opal card , for free , and transfer the balance to the replacement card ; and
• Customers can check their travel history .
New applicants can apply for a Gold Senior / Pensioner Opal card at opal . com . au , and benefit from concession travel capped at $ 2.50 a day in Sydney , the Blue Mountains , Hunter , Illawarra and the Southern Highlands ( excluding the Sydney Airport Station access fee ).
For more information please visit transport . act . gov . au or call the Transport Canberra Information Line on 13 17 10 .
St Margaret ’ s News 4 November 2016