Public Transportation in Sydney: There is One for Free?

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Published by Koskosan Australia at 09/09/2023

Common Public Transportation Options for International Students in Sydney

Although these three modes of transportation are not the only ones in Sydney, they are definitely popular and chosen by the majority of people including international students.

Train

With up to 170 train stations in the metropolitan area of Sydney, going from point A to point B with a train seems enjoyable. Those stations are spread evenly in the city centre and less busy areas. There are also those close to universities like the University of Sydney and tourist attractions such as the Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Trains, as the public transportation is called, is the most popular one with more than 45% of public transportation users using it. The costs to board Sydney Trains vary depending on the distance. For instance, a single 10-kilometre trip costs an adult $4.60, while travelling for 65 kilometres or more costs $11.20.

Bus

If there is a place which does not have a nearby train station, buses are the answer. Buses in Sydney are used by 41% of public transportation users, so this mode of transportation is just a tiny bit less popular than Sydney Trains.

For the fares, buses in Sydney cost you $4 for less than three kilometres, $4.70 for up to eight kilometres, and $6.10 for farther distances. There are many routes the buses cover, for example, Mona Vale to Sydney CBD, Liverpool to Parramatta, and other routes throughout Sydney.

Tram

By the number, fewer people use trams or light rail as a mode of public transportation due to its limited network. Despite that, it still can be a great method to travel between busy areas like Sydney CBD, Sydney Opera House, and UNSW Sydney. Travelling with light rail costs the same as doing it with buses.

Tips on How to Save Money on Public Transportation in Sydney as an International Student

As a student, you have to be careful with your money. For that, these hacks will help you spend less than you normally do for public transportation in Sydney for international students.

Use an Opal Card

An opal card is like a membership for public transportation in Sydney. It can be used to go around the city with trains, buses, trams, and ferries. If you use this contactless smartcard, you can save almost $1 per trip or even more if you travel long distances.

You can get an Opal card by visiting its retailers or online through its website. Before ordering the card, prepare at least $20 for its minimum initial top-up if you choose to create an Adult Opal card. Other kinds of Opal cards are Child Opal, Concession Opal, and Pensioner Opal.

Use Free Campus Transportation

If you happen to study in a university that offers a free mode of transportation, you should utilize it to go to places that are in its routes. For example, the University of Sydney provides three bus routes, two are from Fisher Library to Redfern train station, and the other is from Camperdown to Australia Technology Park.

Choose Accommodation Near Public Transportation

This particular tip is for you to save money on public transportation in a different way. Living near a place where you can use a mode of public transportation straight away will save you time and energy. As a result, you just need to pay for the transportation fares instead of buying unnecessary refreshments.

Travel Off-Peak Hours

Unlike the majority of workers, students usually have more flexible schedules. That means you do not have to travel during peak hours when workers are going home or to their workplaces.

If using an Opal card can already save you about $1, using public transportation outside of peak hours can save you another dollar or more. Plus, travelling off-peak hours can give you more moving space inside the public vehicle you are boarding.

No matter what public transportation in Sydney for international students that you choose, you must always be cautious with your safety. Despite the great overall quality of Sydney’s public transportation, it is still a public facility used by people you are not familiar with.