Two state members are working hard to bring the Opal message to the public as preparations continue to retire a number of old paper tickets from September 1.
Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, said getting an Opal public transport card "has been made even easier with a pop-up kiosk now available at Westfield Penrith Plaza".
"I encourage people to pop by the kiosk and have a chat with an Opal staff member to find out how easy it is to obtain and use an Opal card," Mr Ayres said.
In the Mountains there is a group of mostly newsagencies and petrol stations selling the cards including Glenbrook Newsagency, 7-Eleven Blaxland, Blaxland News and Office Mart, Springwood Newspower, Lawson Friendly Grocer, Wentworth Falls Newsagency and Post Office, Leura Newsagency, Top End Newspower in Katoomba, Katoomba Newsagency, Blackheath Newsagency, United Blackheath (petrol station) and the Friendly Grocer, also in Blackheath.
Member for Blue Mountains Roza Sage said there had been "such enthusiasm among commuters in taking up the Opal card".
"Now that retailers and pop-up kiosks are in operation in the Blue Mountains it is even easier to get an Opal card and continue to top it up.
"Commuters who don't want an account-linked Opal card can obtain unregistered cards from kiosks and retailers if they want to travel anonymously. They can then continue to top up at retailers as required."
Mrs Sage said there would be "plenty of additional information about how to get a gold senior/pensioner Opal card when it becomes available later this year.
She confirmed pensioner excursion tickets would still be sold after September 1.
"Seniors and pensioners can continue to purchase paper tickets and will be able to continue to do so well after the gold Opal card rollout. Those eligible for the gold card can be reassured that fares will remain capped at $2.50 a day under Opal," she said.
Mr Ayres said customers were embracing the modern ticketing system and more than 500,000 Opal cards had now been issued.
The Opal kiosk in Penrith Plaza is on the ground floor at the western end of Westfield Penrith Plaza and will be open in August and September and operate during the centre's opening times from Thursday to Sunday, including late night Thursday shopping.
Over the coming months, the number of retailers offering Opal is expected to increase significantly.
Opal retail stores can be found via www.retailers.opal.com.au, cards can also be ordered from opal.com.au or by calling 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).
