Paper tickets, like the Pensioner Excursion Ticket, were phased out on New Year’s Day, leaving the Gold Opal card as the best way for seniors and pensioners to get around on trains, buses, ferries and light rail. 

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said Gold Opal customers can travel across the entire public transport system for no more than $2.50 a day.

The Opal card, which customers use to tap on at the start of their journey and off at the end, has daily and weekly fare caps.

The fare is automatically deducted.

Mr Constance said the only paper tickets still available for public transport were single and return adult and concession tickets for trains, ferries and light rail, and single adult and concession tickets for buses.

Local member Paul Toole said Opal cards were best purchased in Bathurst at the Bathurst Service NSW Centre (formerly the RTA), where staff can help customers sign up. They can also be purchased at Coles, or the 7-Eleven at Kelso. 

They can also be purchased online at www.opal.com.au or by calling 13 67 25 (13 OPAL). 

Purchasers need to confirm their eligibility with their NSW Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession card or DVA NSW War Widow/ers card.

Mr Toole said Bathurst area residents would now be able to use their Opal cards to travel on the Bathurst to Lithgow NSW TrainLink coach services.

Anyone using the coach service to travel from Bathurst to Lithgow to connect with a NSW TrainLink Intercity rail service will be able to use their Opal card for the entire trip now.

“At the moment, customers who use the daily Bathurst Bullet train service to Sydney can travel the whole way on their Opal card,” Mr Toole said.

“However, many customers who use the coach service from Bathurst to Lithgow train station to connect with more frequent rail services have been hit with two fares – one for the coach leg, and one for the train journey from Lithgow onwards.

“Residents have expressed their concerns to me about the different rules, and now everyone will be able to use their Opal card on any journey they make from Bathurst to Sydney and return on a NSW TrainLink coach service.”