Public Transport in Sydney 2026 — Trains, Buses, Ferries, Light Rail and the Opal Card

Public Transport in Sydney 2026

Sydney's public transport network — operated by Transport for NSW — encompasses trains, the Sydney Metro, buses, ferries, and light rail serving the Greater Sydney region. While Sydney has a reputation as a car-dependent city, its rail network is actually quite extensive and the Opal card makes multi-modal travel seamless. This guide covers public transport in Sydney in 2026.

Opal Card

• The Opal card is Sydney's reloadable contactless transit card; used on Sydney Trains, Sydney Metro, buses, ferries, and light rail; tap on and tap off at every journey start and end
• Daily fare cap: $16.80 (Mon-Sun); weekly fare cap: $50 — after which further travel on weekdays is free; significant saving for commuters
• Contactless bank card/phone: Visa and Mastercard contactless (and Apple/Google Pay) now accepted on most Sydney public transport; same fares and caps as Opal

Sydney Trains and Sydney Metro

• Sydney Trains: 8 suburban lines (T1-T9) radiating from the City Circle; connects the CBD, inner suburbs, and outer western, northern, southern, eastern, and Illawarra areas
• Sydney Metro: Automated driverless metro; Metro City & Southwest (M1) runs northwest from Tallawong through Chatswood, the CBD, and southwest to Bankstown; Metro West (under construction); Metro Northwest already operational Rouse Hill-Chatswood

Sydney Buses and Ferries

• Buses: Extensive network covering suburbs between train lines; Blue Mountains, Northern Beaches (including B-Line express), and eastern suburbs are largely bus-dependent
• Ferries: Operate across Sydney Harbour; Circular Quay is the hub; popular routes to Manly (F1 — 30 mins), Watsons Bay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, and more

Getting to Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith)

• Sydney Airport train stations (International and Domestic terminals) on the Airport Line (off T8); approximately 13 minutes from Central Station; airport station surcharge of $17.83 each way applies (in addition to standard zone fare)

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