Introducing the new Buy & Go app

23 May 2024
A hand holding a mobile phone with the Adelaide Metro Buy and Go app opened.

Our new app puts buying tickets for Adelaide’s public transport in the palm of your hand!

Visiting Adelaide? Only use public transport now and then? Leave your metroCARD at home? The new Adelaide Metro Buy & Go app offers a new easy way to buy your tickets and get around Adelaide on a bus, train or tram.

Simply download the free Buy & Go app from your app store to buy Regular, Concession and Student Singletrip and Daytrip tickets plus 3-Day Visitor Passes – anytime, anywhere.

Buy & Go ticket prices are the same as metroCARD fares, and you can use them on any Adelaide Metro bus or tram, and to transfer to trains departing from the Adelaide Railway Station. The tickets you buy are stored for up to 12 months in the app’s wallet until you are ready to use them. You can use one ticket to travel alone, or up to five tickets to travel with others – perfect for families!

Download the app

Using the new app is as easy as ‘Buy’ and ‘Go’.

To ‘Buy’:

  • Once you've downloaded the app, create and verify your account, linking it to your email address. (Note: Buy & Go accounts are separate from metroCARD accounts).
  • Select your tickets from the Buy Tickets section. Buy & Go tickets are non-refundable, so choose carefully and check as you confirm. Remember, if you choose a Concession or Student ticket, you’ll need to carry proof that you’re eligible for those tickets in South Australia.
  • Buy your tickets with a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card. You can link your cards to your account to make your next purchase quick and easy – and update your details any time.

To ‘Go’:

  • Select the ticket(s) you want to use for your trip. Your Purchased tickets are in the app’s My Tickets wallet under the Purchased/Active Tickets tab. (Note: you can only use off-peak tickets during off-peak times: between 9.01am and 3:00 pm Monday to Friday, and all day on Sundays and public holidays.)
  • Immediately before you board, activate your ticket(s) to make them valid for travel. This generates an Active ticket (which includes details about the ticket type and a QR code) and starts the countdown on your ticket’s journey time.
    You can activate just one ticket for yourself, or up to five tickets at a time to create a ‘batched Active ticket’ with one QR code. Batched Active tickets include an easy-to-see summary of all the tickets in the batch – handy to show your bus driver or staff member.
  • Always validate your Active ticket on a smart validator as you board or transfer. First, separate your phone from any other credit cards or metroCARDs. Ensure your Active ticket’s QR code is visible on your phone’s screen. Hold your phone with the Active ticket facing upwards towards the ceiling, then place it flat against the payment panel on the smart validator. When it’s in the right position, the validator’s scanner light will come on and read the QR code.
  • A green tick and a ding sound from the validator means you’re good to go.
  • If you meet a ticket inspector, just show them your Active ticket on your phone, so they can check the QR code. If you’ve transferred near the end of your journey time, you’ll find your Used ticket in the app’s ‘My Tickets’ wallet under the ‘Used tickets’ tab.

The new Buy & Go app is an addition to the range of payment options already available, including metroCARD, Tap and Pay and free travel for Senior Card members. So, choose the option that is best for you!

Poster: Easy ways to pay on buses, with metroCARD options, Tap and Pay and the Buy & Go app.

FAQs