Residents may have noticed changes to the Opal card top up machine at Lithgow train station lately.
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The machine no longer accepts cash payments.
This was brought to the Lithgow Mercury's attention after a disgruntled passenger missed his train because he had to go to Lithgow Newsagency and Stationery to top up his card.
"We can't accept this, what if I had a serious appointment that I missed," the man, who did not wish to be named, said.
The Opal machine at Lithgow station showed the least use of cash payments on the Opal network, according to a Transport for NSW spokesperson.
Since the later stages of 2018, Transport for NSW has been reviewing usage of top up and ticket machines across the network.
"Changes to payment methods at selected top up machines have been made to align top up options with customer demand and to improve reliability of equipment," a transport for NSW spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said Transport NSW wants to focus on improving customers access to digital information and services including digital top up services.
"We've seen a shift in the way customers plan and pay for their travel," the spokesperson said.
"More and more customers are choosing to top up online."
At the Lithgow station, credit card payments are still available.
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"We also encourage customers to try topping up online or via the Opal Travel app, or set up auto top up, so they are always ready to travel."
For those who forget their Opal card they can now tap on using their credit or debit card to pay for a single trip fare.
Transport for NSW spokesperson said they had recently expanded contactless transport payments to the entire Opal train network to try and make it convenient for those who had forgotten their Opal card.
"It will also offer another payment option for irregular public transport users to purchase one off single trip fares," they said.
According to a Transport for NSW spokesperson, customers who regularly used cash at the Lithgow top up machine were notified of the phasing out of cash payments.
"If customers need to top up their Opal card with cash or obtain an Opal card, they still have the option of visiting a nearby Opal retailer," they said.
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