Fare vending machines are located on each ION station platform.

Fare vending machines can be used to:

  • Get an EasyGO fare card
    Purchase a new EasyGO fare card. Cost of the card is $5. 
  • Load your card
    Add passes or stored value to your EasyGO fare card
  • Purchase a ticket
    A ticket is good for 120 minutes, starting from the time it is purchased.
  • Check your balance or history
    See your balance and any products on your card, or view your recent transaction history
  • Purchase a multi-ride card
    This limited-use paper card can be loaded with 5 -15 rides. Perfect for occasional riders and visitors! 
  • Pay your fare
    Pay to ride GRT with your EasyGO fare card, ticket/transfer, cash, credit or debit
Buy a ticket to ride ION

A ticket is good for 120 minutes, starting from the time it is purchased.

  1. Press "Buy fare product".
  2. Press "Ticket".
  3. Enter the number of tickets you wish to purchase and select "Pay".
  4. Select your method of payment and whether you want a receipt.
  5. Your ticket, any change and receipt will be dispensed into the slot below.

Process of buying a ticket to ride ION
 Get a new EasyGO fare card

New EasyGO fare cards cost $5.

  1. Select "Buy fare product".
  2. Select "New EasyGO fare card".
  3. Select whether you would like to load a pass, stored value (minimum $0.05) or just issue the card.
  4. Select the month of the pass or enter the amount of stored value you would like to load and press "Pay".
  5. Select your method of payment and whether you want a receipt.
  6. To pay with cash, insert coins or bills into the machine. To pay with credit or debit, press the Credit/Debit button and follow the prompts on the payment terminal.
  7. Your card, any change and receipt will be dispensed into the slot below.

Process of buying a new EasyGO fare card
 Load stored value
  1. Place your card in the holder.
  2. Press "Reload your card".
  3. Press "Add stored value".
  4. Use the up and down arrows to enter the amount you want to load.
  5. Press "Pay".
  6. Select your method of payment and whether you want a receipt.
  7. To pay with cash, insert coins or bills into the machine. To pay with credit or debit, press the Credit/Debit button and follow the prompts on the payment terminal.
  8. Wait until the machine dings and the screen says "Please take your card and receipts". Then you can remove your card.

Process of loading stored value
Buy a monthly pass
  1. Place your card in the holder.
  2. Press "Reload your card".
  3. Press "Add pass".
  4. Press "Monthly pass".
  5. Select whether you want to load this month or next month's pass
  6. Select your method of payment and whether you want a receipt.
  7. To pay with cash, insert coins or bills into the machine. To pay with credit or debit, press the Credit/Debit button and follow the prompts on the payment terminal.
  8. Wait until the machine dings and the screen says "Please take your card and receipts". Then you can remove your card.

Process of buying a monthly pass
Buy a day pass or group pass
  1. Place your card in the holder.
  2. Press "Reload your card".
  3. Press "Add pass".
  4. Press "Day pass".
    5. Select whether you want to buy the pass and use it right away, or buy it and use it later.
  5. Select your method of payment and whether you want a receipt.
  6. To pay with cash, insert coins or bills into the machine. To pay with credit or debit, press the Credit/Debit button and follow the prompts on the payment terminal.
  7. Wait until the machine dings and the screen says "Please take your card and receipts". Then you can remove your card.

The group pass is the same product as a day pass, but allows unlimited trips for up to five people, of any age, travelling together on any one day.

Learn more about the day pass

Process of buying a day pass
 Check your balance or history
  1. Place your card in the holder.
  2. Your balance and any passes loaded on your card are displayed at the top of the screen.
  3. Press "Card details and history" to see your 10 most recent transactions.

Process of checking balance and history

Pay for your ION trip

You can pay for your ION trip at the platform card reader or the fare vending machine.

  1. Place your card in the holder.
  2. Press "Pay your fare".
  3. Press "Pay your own fare".

Process of paying a single fare
 Pay for a group to ride ION
  1. Place your card in the holder.
  2. Press "Pay your fare".
  3. Press "Pay for a group".
  4. Enter the number of people you want to pay for.
  5. Press "Pay".

Process of paying a group fare

Purchase a multi-ride card

These limited-use paper fare cards can be loaded with 2-15 rides. Perfect for occasional riders and visitors! Each ride includes a 120-minute transfer.

  1. Press "Buy fare product".
  2. Press "Multi-ride card".
  3. Use the up and down arrows to enter the number of rides you wish to load on your card and press "Pay".
  4. Select your method of payment and whether you want a receipt.

Your card, any change and receipt will be dispensed into the slot below.

Process of buying a multi-ride card

Troubleshooting the fare vending machine

No valid product found
You'll see this error message if you try to pay or validate your fare and you don't have a valid transfer, pass or enough stored value on your card. You'll need to add more products to your card.
Machine out of service

If the machine is out of service, please use another machine or load your card online or in person at GRT customer service. 

There are two fare vending machines on centre platforms.

For one-way stations, here is the closest alternate fare vending machine:

Alternative machines when one is out of service
StationClosest fare vending machine
Willis Way Waterloo Public Square
Waterloo Public Square Willis Way
Kitchener City Hall Victoria Park
Victoria Park Kitchener City Hall
Frederick Queen
Queen Frederick