Australia: Cubic’s Opal System Wins Australian Infrastructure Award

Cubic Transportation Systems announced March 19 its Opal smart card system won an Australian national infrastructure award for excellence in design, delivery and use.

The 2014 Smart Infrastructure Award was presented to the New South Wales Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure Warren Truss.

Speaking at an Infrastructure Partnerships Australia dinner in Sydney, Truss said the Opal Card project was a worthy winner, with its smarter technologies contributing to better service outcomes.

“The Opal Card project involves the introduction of an electronic transport ticketing system throughout the Greater Sydney region, including the design, development, supply, implementation, commissioning, operation and support of the smart card-based ticketing system,” said Truss.

Accepting the award on behalf of the NSW Government, Berejiklian said Opal is already proving popular with customers and is pleased to see the project recognized at a national level by the national infrastructure sector.

“The rollout of Opal is a major step forward for Sydney and this national award reflects the progress we’ve made using smart technology to deliver big wins for customers,” she said.

The Opal card is being deployed across the greater Sydney area and is already available at 120 train stations, on all Sydney ferries and on two bus routes. By the end of 2014, 40 ferry wharves, more than 300 train stations and more than 5,000 buses will have Opal operating, with light rail coming on line in 2015.

“This award is in recognition of the countless hours all of those involved spent working toward the completion of this historic project,” said Cubic Transportation Systems’ managing director for Australasia Tom Walker.  “This project has been a very challenging and complex task. The fact that it’s going well and winning awards is a testament to the professionalism of all involved. We are honored to join the NSW Government in receiving this award.”

This is the fourth major accolade for the Opal project. Last year the unique Opal standalone card reader developed specifically for Sydney took out the Transport category of the Sydney Design Awards, as well as an Australian International Design Award and a Powerhouse Museum Design Award.