There will be changes to Opal prices from 6 July 2020. These changes are designed to reward commuters for travelling off peak and help manage social distancing measures during shoulder peak periods.
Key Changes Include;
- A temporary 50 per cent discount for off-peak travel on bus, train, metro and light rail services between July 6 and September 6
- A new $8.05 all day travel cap will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday.
- An increase in fares for peak 0-3km bus and light rail journeys to $3.20 (currently $2.24, a 42% increase)
- Changes to the definitions of peak travel times;
- 6:30am–10am on Sydney Trains, Sydney Metro, light rail and bus (currently 7am-9am)
- 6am-10am on Intercity Trains (currently 6am-8am)
- 3pm-7pm on Sydney Trains, Intercity Trains, Sydney Metro, light rail and bus (currently 4pm-6:30pm)
Currently, shoulder peak and Sunday services make up some of the most crowded services on the network. By increasing the cost of services at these times, the government hopes to shift travel patterns and smooth the level of loading across the entire off peak period.
The 50 per cent off-peak discount will remain in place for 3 months. After this, a permanent 30 per cent discount for off-peak travel will be introduced on bus and light rail for the first time, in line with current off-peak fares for train and metro.
Transport NSW Blog 
it’s really annoying and a total rip off to have had a 42% jump in bus fare right in the middle of winter. I dont mind the 30 minute walk in summer, but is just a little too far to walk in freezing cold and rain. Why are short-trip users (my trip is 2.5km by bus) having to subsidise fares for people travelling 10 or 20 times further? Why do the longer distance travellers always get the discount?
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