Public transport in Australia: breaking down the basics

Smiling young woman waits for bus on busy street in Sydney, enjoying time outdoors with friends

Public transport in Australia is used by people, of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds. Credit: South_agency/Getty Images

Australia Explained

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Like in most countries, public transport in Australia is the cheapest way to get around. It includes trams, buses, trains and ferry services. And each state or territory has its own transport network. However, navigating Australia’s public transport system with ease requires knowing the basics around how it works and what to expect.

Key Points

Every state operates its own public transport network, so rules and rates differ
Pre-paid smartcards are available in all major cities and payment options may include contactless bank card transactions
Ticketing compliance and safety are checked by staff and the use of CCTV cameras in all transport networks

Is public transport available anywhere in Australia?
What is the pre-paid card for public transport in the city I live in?
How do I use a smartcard?
Can I pay with my bank card for public transport in Australia?
What can authorised officers check for in stations and on board?
What are some public transport offences?
What happens if I get a fine?
What is the etiquette for using public transport in Australia?
Do I have to keep quiet when using public transport in Australia?

Is public transport available anywhere in Australia?

Most Australians travel to work by car.

It’s a statistic produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) since 1976, when it first started asking the question.

Professor John Nelson is Chair in Public Transport at the University of Sydney’s Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies.

He says Australia’s sprawling cities and large distances between them, makes it hard to serve rural areas by public transport.

“Because even as you travel out of Sydney, you see that the properties become very spread out.”

But in densely populated urban areas and metropolitan cities, public transport is in many ways faster, cheaper and even essential for some users.

Compared to car ownership, including fuel and maintenance costs, public transport is the most affordable way to commute in Australia’s metropolitan cities. Credit: Getty/Scott E Barbour

What is the pre-paid card for public transport in the city I live in?

Every state or territory has its own transport network, with major cities and towns operating on a smart card ticketing system for cashless payments.

The pre-paid card used in each state or territory capital is:

How do I use a smart card?

Smart card systems are generally easy to navigate, Prof Nelson says.

But in case you haven’t used one before, here’s what you need to know.

“It’s usually about the size of a credit card, you can preload it with value and use it to access the public transport system, be that bus, train, tram or ferry.”

On how to use it, the clue is often in the name.

“Tap on and tap off. Sometimes there'll be what we call a gate or a barrier where you have to tap your card. In other cases, a payment pole with a card reader,” Prof Nelson explains.

To avoid a ‘card clash’ keep your public transport smart card separate from your bank card, ensuring you don’t get charged twice when tapping on the card reader. Credit: Getty/Yanran Li

Common features of smart cards include concession rates for youth and pensioners, discounted fares for trips on public holidays and during the weekend, as well as daily and weekly pricing caps.

Can I pay with my bank card for public transport in Australia?

Depending on where you travel, you may be able to pay cash for tickets. For example, cash is still accepted in Western Australia.

But paying with your bank card for public transport is becoming increasingly common across the country.

“Not all states and cities have that facility yet,” Howard Collins, Coordinator General for Transport for New South Wales explains.

“But in NSW for example, 60% of all our transactions now are ‘using your bank card’.”

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“More and more people are using their credit or debit card, sometimes their watch or their phone to tap on and off.”

When scanning your bank card on a card reader for a ticket check, the compliance officer can only see your payment information, Mr Collins adds.

“So, there's no worries about addresses or other information on your credit or debit card.”

Public transport offences include not acceptable behaviours when commuting, like putting your feet on the seat. Credit: Getty/zetter

What can authorised officers check for in stations and on board?

Authorised officers conduct ticket and safety checks, while CCTV cameras are installed on board and in stations.

People should feel confident to approach public transport staff for safety matters, Charlotte Hayes says.

She is the Executive Director of Customer Strategy and Communications at Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority.

“Our security personnel are here to help.

“So, if you either witness antisocial behaviour or are subject to untoward behaviour you are safe to go and speak to a security officer,” Ms Hayes says.

What are some public transport offences?

Public transport offences include ticketing and behaviour offences for which you can be fined or charged.

Examples applying across Australia include:

travelling without a valid ticket, or
without proof of your concession entitlement
smoking and drinking alcohol
putting your feet on the seat

What happens if I get a fine?

If you get a fine and you feel you’ve been wronged, you can seek legal help or dispute it through your public transport agency.

Copped a fine? Here's what you need to do to pay it and avoid the hefty consequences of non-compliance

“There's a team that look at infringements. Go to your agency’s website, and you can find out how to appeal the infringement,” Ms Hayes explains.

“Don't just put the fine in a drawer and forget about it.

"Because those fines can escalate and […] it impacts your credit, your ability to get a driver's licence and other serious things.”

What is the etiquette for using public transport in Australia?

Common rules and expectations when using public transport across Australia are:

Not disturbing the driver
Giving up your seat for those in need
Allowing passengers get off before boarding
Keeping bags off seats
Avoid eating strong-smelling food

Do I have to keep quiet when using public transport in Australia?

Keeping conversations and music low is expected for commuters across Australia’s networks.

Remember that sharing the space means sharing the noise with other commuters, Ms Hayes says.

“It's those bits of etiquette that make sure the public transport system works for everybody.”

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And always check if you’re in a space designated as ‘quiet’, Prof Nelson from the University of Sydney advises.

‘That means no loud conversation, no taking phone messages.

“Quiet coaches tend to be pretty well respected, and people shouldn't be surprised if a complete stranger turns around and says ‘can you stop talking? You're in a quiet coach.’”

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Transcript

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SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways across Australia.

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You're listening to Australia Explained, an SBS audio podcast helping you navigate life in Australia.

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Like in most countries, public transport in Australia is the cheapest way to get around. It includes trams, buses, trains, and ferry services, and each state or territory has its own transport network.

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[Train station announcement.]

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This is Australia Explained, and I'm your host, Maram Ismail.

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In this episode, you'll learn some public transport basics that long-time residents often take for granted, things like what to expect when a ticket inspector approaches you or which commuter behaviours are considered unacceptable.

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How do you travel to work? The Australian Bureau of Statistics has been asking this question for the national census since 1976. Using a car as an (A) driver has remained the number one response for almost 5 decades now. It is estimated that only 1 in 4 Australians uses public transport for their daily commuting.

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And for those living in regional areas, public transport services can be limited, but in densely populated urban areas, public transport is in many ways faster, cheaper, and in many cases it is more convenient or even essential.

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Most major cities and many towns operate smart card ticketing and payment systems. Professor John Nelson, chair in public transport at the University of Sydney's Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies, explains how these systems work across Australia.

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So, Opal in Sydney, it's not yet a New South Wales-wide payment card, but it's primarily the Greater Sydney area. The same applies in Western Australia, where the Smart Rider card is used in the Greater Perth area. In Melbourne it's called the Myki card, and in Brisbane and South East.

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Queensland, it's called the Go card.

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Systems for cashless payments are fairly easy to navigate, Professor Nelson says. But in case you haven't used one before, here's what to expect.

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It's usually about the size of a credit card, and it's something that you can preload with value and you use

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it to access the public transport system, be that bus, train, tram, or ferry. It's very simple to use. Sometimes there'll be a gate or a barrier where you have to tap your card for the barrier to open. In other cases, there may simply be a payment pole with a card reader to tap on and tap off.

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Discounted rates for trips on public holidays and weekends are common across Australia's public transport networks. Many systems also apply pricing caps such as a daily maximum, a weekly cap, or both. Howard Collins, coordinator General for Transport,

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for New South Wales explains how this works on the Opal network.

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What it allows you to do is to travel around all modes on public transport, works out the cost for your journey, and then there's a daily maximum, then the rest of your travel for the rest of the day is free.

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And if you travelled for a week, the maximum fare you'll ever pay for any journey you made in Opal is $50.

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But remember to always check what rules apply where you live or travel. For example, paper tickets or e-tickets are still required on some regional buses and trains, including in parts of regional Victoria. In some

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places such as Western Australia, cash can still be used to buy tickets, and in jurisdictions using contactless payment systems, commuters can also tap on and off using their bank card. Mr Collins again speaking about New South Wales.

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A lot of people nowadays use their own credit or debit card, their own bank card.

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And 60% of all of our transactions now are using your bank card. Now, not all states and cities have that facility yet, but as I said, nowadays more and more people are using their own bank card, sometimes their watch, sometimes their phone.

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And if something goes wrong, if you forgot to tap on or off, use the wrong card, or the machine isn't working, speak to staff or check your transport authority's website for advice on what to do next. Ticket checks are conducted by authorised officers who will identify themselves and ask you to hand over your smart card or bank card to

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scan on the reader. When scanning a bank card, officers can only see ticketing information. Mr Collins says.

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When you give them your credit card, they don't have any access to your banking information. All they know is where and how you tapped on or off or you completed a transaction. So there's no worries about addresses or other information on your credit or debit card.

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It's worth checking if you are eligible for concession fares, including students, pensioners, and some visa holders, but you must carry a proof with you, as eligibility rules differ between states. Public transport offences that you can be fined or charged for include ticketing and behaviour offences. These include travelling without a valid ticket or without proof of concession entitlement. They also cover behaviours such as smoking,

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drinking alcohol or putting your feet on seats. If you receive a fine and believe it was issued unfairly, you can seek legal advice or dispute it through your public transport authority. When fines are left unpaid, they can escalate to collection agencies and lead to a range of penalties.

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Charlotte Hayes, communications director at Western Australia's Public Transport Authority, explains how this process works in Western Australia.

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There's a that look at our infringements, you just have to go onto our website and you can find out how to appeal the infringement. You know what I would say though is please don't just put the fine in a drawer and forget about it because those fines can escalate to what we call the fines enforcement register, which means that it's out of our hands and it impacts credit, it impacts your ability to get a driver's licence.

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And in emergencies or during service disruptions, follow announcements and

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staff instructions and use onboard intercoms or help points if you need immediate assistance. Across Australia, public transport networks are equipped with CCTV cameras on board and at stations, along with uniformed staff to help ensure a safe and fair journey for everyone. People should feel confident approaching staff about safety concerns, Ms Hayes says.

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In some countries, security personnel, you know, may not be trusted.

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Or they've had very bad experiences with them. Our security personnel are here to help, and that's their primary role is to keep people safe, to keep them moving. And so, you know, I would say if they either witness antisocial behaviour or themselves are subject to untoward behaviour, you are safe to go and speak to a security officer.

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Most public transport services in Australia offer priority seating, step-free access, and assistance for people living with disabilities,

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older people and parents with prams, though facilities can vary by location. And finally, etiquette services are usually busiest during weekday morning and afternoon peak hours when standing is common and allowing people to board and exit first is expected. Simple expectations like not distracting the bus driver or offering your seat to someone who needs it are widely understood. But what about the less obvious rules?

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Such as noise levels, first always check whether you're in a designated quiet carriage. Professor Nelson advises.

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New users should understand that if you see a coach designated as a quiet coach, that means no loud conversation. That means no taking phone messages, and the signage will usually be backed up by announcements. Quiet coaches tend to be pretty well respected, and people shouldn't be surprised if a

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a stranger turns around and says, Can you stop talking? You're in a quiet coach.

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Even outside quiet carriages, sharing public transport means being mindful of others. Ms Hayes says.

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Not having your headphones, you know, blaring the latest Metallica album is good. We don't have quiet carriages here in Perth, but not everyone wants to listen to the true crime podcast that you are listening to, so things like that, it's just the basic level of etiquette that we would expect.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Australia Explained, written and produced by Zoe Thomaidou, hosted and mixed by me, Maram Ismail. Australia Explained managing editor is Roza Germian.

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This was an SBS audio podcast. For more Australia explained stories, visit sbs.com.au/Australiaexplained.

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Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au.

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