Upcoming Validator Replacement: What You Need to Know
The validators in stations and buses are reaching end-of-life and will be replaced.
The validators in buses and stations are reaching end-of-life and will be replaced in phases from 2 December 2025.
The validators look different but work like the existing ones. One key difference is on buses, where the separate IN and OUT validators will be replaced by a single device. This means that the single, replacement validator on the bus will be used to both tap in and tap out.
These devices are also being used to replace info terminals at all stations by 20 November 2025. Passengers can use the replacement info terminals as they currently do to view their card balance and transaction history without needing to visit a kiosk.
How it works on the bus
Current Validator - In
Tap In on IN validator
Current Validator - Out
Tap Out on OUT validator
Single Replacement Validator
Tap In and Tap Out on the same validator
A phased approach to replacement
The replacement of validators in buses and stations is planned in phases from 2 December 2025 until 30 January 2026. All work is planned after hours and at off-peak times to minimise disruption.
2 December 2025
Replacement validators will be activated at one station gate in each of the following stations: Stadium, Granger Bay, Refinery, Sandown and Janssens.
4 December 2025
Replacement validators will be activated on the first ten buses.
5 January 2026 until 30 January 2026
All other remaining validators in buses and stations will be activated.
How to tap while the upgrade is underway
You may encounter a mix of old and replacement validators while installation is ongoing. The system supports both, so use the single replacement validator where these are already installed. Otherwise continue to use the old separate IN/OUT validators.
- On buses with two validators: Continue to tap in on the IN validator and tap out on the OUT validator.
- On buses with the single replacement validator: Use this same validator to tap in and to tap out.
- At stations, continue to tap in and tap out on any old validator or replacement validator in order to enter or exit.
IMPORTANT PRODUCT CHANGES
