OPAL card holders who want to travel on the more than 1,100 buses that do not yet accept the ticketing smart card may be able to travel for free, Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian confirmed today.

Drivers on State Transit and private buses have been told to “use their discretion” and let commuters holding the Opal, and who do not have an old-style paper Travel 10 tickets, to ride for free.

media_camera A commuter using one of the million Opal cards issued so far on a NSW bus service. Photographer: Helen Melville

Close to 80 per cent of buses in the city, the Hunter and the Illawarra, now accept Opal cards. It will not be rolled out on all 5,000 buses until the end of the year.

Ms Berejiklian said where Opal is not yet accepted, the old paper tickets are still in force.

But if there is any confusion, drivers have been told to use their discretion if an Opal card holder gets on a bus that is not Opal-ready, and let the passenger ride for free, she said.

“We know that bringing in a new system isn’t easy,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We knew there would be challenges along the way as our customers have to adapt and I’m really grateful for the patience customers have shown.

“We don’t mind if people get a free trip here or there as the system is rolling through on the buses because we know we are in transition and our aim is to get as many people on to the system as efficiently and quickly as possible.”

media_camera While nearly 80 per cent of the busesin the city, Hunter and Illawarra now accept Opal cards drivers of buses that don’t have been told to use their discretion.

Ms Berejikilan said she was thrilled “that it’s only early October and we’ve done nearly 4,000 buses already.”

The Minister announced that from today, another 285 buses in the Inner West and 200 in South West Sydney now have Opal access.

She said one million Opal cards, which can also be used on all suburban and intercity trains, all Sydney Ferries have now been issued.