The Opal Card gets a top up machine

Today the first of over 300 Opal card top up machines was switched on, providing yet another option for customers to top up their cards.

Initially, these cards accept Visa/MasterCard/EFTPOS for top ups only, with machines accept cash to follow, and finally there will be machines that dispense ‘disposable’ Opal card tickets.

To start with, the machines are rather simple – you can only use them to check your balance, and top up with preset amounts. There’s no option to show a transaction history (e.g., the last 10 transactions as stored on the card), or top up a custom amount.
They also require you to insert your card – there’s no fancy PayPass or payWave support here.

The receipt printed by the machine is a standard EFTPOS receipt, but also has your (unobfuscated!) card number on the bottom.
It’s also missing your card balance which does appear on the ePay receipts from a retailer.

The first two machines have been installed at Leppington and Edmondson Park stations, with Penrith, Parramatta, Strathfield, Central, Bondi Junction, Chatswood and Olympic Park stations next on the list.

More information is available on the Opal.com.au website