MyCiTi commuters are set to experience a major upgrade to the city’s public transport payment system as the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate has announced that would be replacing validators on buses and at stations from 2 December 2025.

The phased programme, scheduled to run until 30 January 2026, will reportedly introduce modern devices designed to accommodate more convenient, future-focused payment methods.

According to the City, the current validators have reached their end-of-life and needs to be replaced with modern versions that can support updated technology.

Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said the new equipment will streamline the boarding process by replacing the separate ‘IN’ and ‘OUT’ bus validators with a single unit.

“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.” added Quintas

The validators will be replaced in phases from 2 December 2025 until 30 January 2026. All work is reportedly 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

Quintas added that the new validators will also replace information terminals at stations, enabling commuters to check card balances and transaction histories without needing to visit a kiosk.

Quintas added that this update will however come with several important changes. Single-trip cards will no longer work and will be phased out, with the last day to purchase them being 12 November 2025, and the final day to use them 3 December 2025.

Occasional users can instead buy a myconnect card loaded with a 1-, 3- or 7-day Day Pass, or with Mover points, which the City has emphasised remain a more cost-effective option than the outgoing single-trip cards.

Customers with old ‘standard’ value on their cards from before 2022 should also note that from 4 December 2025, this value will no longer be accepted for MyCiTi fares.

Although loading money as standard value was discontinued in 2021, remaining balances have continued to be accepted. Commuters can still use this value to travel before the cut-off date or at any shop that accepts card payments thereafter. This change does not affect Mover points or Day/Monthly Pass holders.

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