Sydney commuters can now bid farewell to the annoyance of being stuck behind someone struggling to unlock their iPhone during morning peak hour as they try to tap off public transport.

In a move aimed at improving efficiency and reducing delays, the NSW Government has partnered with Apple to eliminate the need for iPhone users to unlock their devices when tapping on and off public transport in the state.

Since 2019, Opal readers in NSW have been upgraded to support credit card taps, enabling passengers to use their payment cards or digital wallets to access public transport services. However, until now, iPhone users had to unlock their devices to authorize the tap, treating the process as a financial transaction.

Related: NSW’s digital Opal card to roll out by end of year

Under the new agreement, passengers utilizing digital payment cards on their iPhones or Apple Watches will no longer be required to enter a passcode or use biometric recognition to unlock their devices. Remarkably, this functionality will even work when the iPhone has run out of battery, ensuring seamless transactions for commuters.

The NSW transport department has already activated this feature on some Opal readers, and it is set to be rolled out across all 25,000 readers encompassing bus, train, light rail, and ferry networks in the coming weeks. To avail themselves of this convenience, passengers will need to update their device’s software, activate express transit mode, and specify the payment card from which Opal readers will deduct fares.

While the initiative brings immense relief to iPhone users, it is important to note that currently, only Apple devices benefit from this enhancement. Samsung devices already offer similar functionality, but it has not yet been extended to all Android devices.

While digital Opal cards have undergone trials by the NSW government, they have not yet been officially introduced. Consequently, passengers holding concessions and senior Opal cards will still require physical cards to access discounted fares.

Despite the exclusivity to Apple users, the NSW government is optimistic that this initiative will significantly expedite public transport by simplifying the process for passengers to exit buses and navigate station turnstiles. The transport department estimates that nearly 2 million public transport users in NSW currently utilize digital credit cards on their devices to tap on and off.

As public transport continues to evolve with advancements in technology, it remains to be seen if other mobile devices and operating systems will follow suit, providing similar streamlined experiences for all commuters across the state.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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