Attention all MyCiTi commuters: As from 2 December 2025, the City will start replacing the validators in its buses and at the stations. These devices will be able to support modern and convenient payment methods in future. The replacements will be done in phases and should be complete by the end of January 2026 if all goes as planned.

‘Our validators at the MyCiTi stations and on the buses are reaching their end-of-life and much like a mobile phone that needs to be replaced after a certain period, we now need to replace these validators with the modern version. For now, the new single validators are only replacing the old separate "IN" and "OUT" machines on the buses and streamlining the boarding process for commuters.

‘Customers can, however, look forward to more convenient and modern payment methods in the future as these validators support contactless bank cards and QR codes for example. Cities around the world are upgrading public transport validator systems in line with improved technologies and innovations. Replacing dated equipment will offer commuters more payment options, which will improve flexibility and convenience, and ultimately, access,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

The validators will be replaced in phases from 2 December 2025 until 30 January 2026. All work is planned for after hours and during off-peak times to minimise the disruption for customers entering the stations and boarding the buses. 

• As of 2 December 2025, customers will notice replacement validators are activated at one station gate in the Stadium; Granger Bay; Refinery; Sandown and Janssens stations
• Around 4 December 2025 replacement validators will be activated on the first ten buses
• Between 5 January 2026 and 30 January 2026 all of the remaining validators in buses and stations will be activated

Customers may encounter a mix of old and new validators while the installations are still under way, the single replacement validators are to be used to tap in and out where these are already installed. Otherwise commuters should continue to use the old separate IN and OUT validators.

At stations, customers should continue to tap in and tap out on any old validator or replacement validator in order to enter or exit.

These devices are also being used to replace info terminals at all stations where commuters view their card balance and transaction history without needing to visit a kiosk.

A few minor changes to note:

With the replacement validators, the single-trip cards will no longer work and will be phased out.

• Occasional users can still purchase a myconnect card with a 1, 3 or 7-day Day Pass offering unlimited travel or with Mover points, which is still a cheaper option than the single trip cards were. The last day to buy the old single trip cards will be tomorrow, 12 November 2025 and the last day to use these cards will be 3 December 2025.

All customers who still have the old ‘standard’ value on their card (not mover points) from prior 2022 should note that after 4 December 2025 this value will no longer be accepted for payment of MyCiTi fares.

• Loading money as the Standard value was discontinued in 2021, but remaining balances have still been accepted up until now.
• Customers can use this value to travel before 4 December 2025 or at any shop accepting card payments thereafter. This change does not affect passengers with Mover points or one of the Day/Monthly pass packages.