'Makes life so much easier': NSW residents no longer required to unlock phone to tap on or off public transport
Panicking to unlock your phone as your bus stop approaches may soon be a thing of the past, with new technology unveiled today set to make tapping on and off New South Wales public transport significantly easier.
The introduction of Express Mode, available on all devices with Apple Pay, is about to speed up commuting, eliminating the need for travellers open their phones at all when boarding or disembarking.
The new technology was installed on every Opal reader around the state - some 25,000 - starting with ferries and light rail, then train stations, and then the thousands of readers on buses, which finished this week.
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Panicking to unlock your phone as your bus stop approaches may soon be a thing of the past. 9News
"Commuters in the Hunter, Illawarra, Blue Mountains and everywhere in between will benefit from being the first public transport users in Australia to benefit from the mass roll out of this initiative," NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
"It will make life so much easier for the almost two million transport passengers who use contactless payments with a digital wallet in NSW.
"We're embracing the future of travel, putting our state in line with global cities such as New York, London and Hong Kong.
New technology unveiled today is set to make tapping on and off New South Wales public transport significantly easier. AAP
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"Think of your phone as your public transport passport.
"We know it can hold things up when you're trying to quickly scan your face or finger to unlock your device at the reader."
Express Mode for Apple pay is supported on all iPhones and Apple Watches running iOS 16.4 or later.
Aussies wanting to make use of the new update should add their card to Apple Pay, then set an "Express Travel Pass" card in settings.
It's estimated over 65 per cent of contactless card taps Opal network are made using a digital wallet, with Apple Pay representing the vast majority of these.
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