Phone, credit card payments set for Opal

The NSW transport minister says he's open to expanding public transport payment to credit cards and smartphones.

Sydney commuters could soon be tapping on and off public transport services with their smartphones, watches or credit cards.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance signalled the government was considering expanding alternate payment methods for Sydneysiders after a successful Opal card trial in Manly.

"Opal is an enormous success ... but we can now take it to a new level so people have choice," Mr Constance told reporters on Sunday.

"So they can use their iPhones, their smart watches and of course contactless payment through credit card."

Mr Constance said offering different payment methods would not require a technology overhaul, with the current payment system already equipped to scan credit cards.

"There's an inbuilt chip that already exists in the hardware, so we've got the hardware available, what we want to do is provide people with choice," he said.


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Source: AAP


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