Using Smartlink
Using Your Smartlink Card on the Bus
- Hold your Smartlink Card to the target on the ticket machine reader tray with the front of the card facing upwards.
- The machine will bleep once and the green light will light up. The display will show ‘Adult’ or ‘Child’. For an MJ Card the card type will be displayed eg. City Zone. The display will also show the number of journeys remaining (MJ Card) or the expiry date (Travel Card).
- If your card is a MJ Card, the machine will automatically deduct one journey from your MJ Card. The machine will also issue you with a ticket showing the number of journeys (MJ Card) or the expiry date of the card (Travel Card). The ticket must be retained for inspection.
- If the red light appears, remove your Smartlink Card. Then hold it to the target and try again.
*To remind you to top up your card in time, the machine will also print a reminder on your ticket when there are just 3 journeys remaining on a MJ Card or 3 days validity on a Travel Card.
Smartlink MJ Cards are transferable and can be used by two or more people travelling together provided there are sufficient journeys stored on the card. If two or more people are travelling together on one Smartlink MJ Card, simply wait 3 seconds and then repeat Step 1 for each person travelling. The machine will automatically deduct one journey for each person.
Smartlink Travel Cards can only be used by one person per journey, but can be transferred to someone wishing to travel at a different time.
Remember, it is not possible to buy cards or top up on board the bus.
Card Swapping
You can swap your MJ Card for a Travel Card or vice versa by taking the card to the Metro Kiosk, Donegal Square West providing you have a journey balance of zero (MJ Smartlink) or no remaining validity (Smartlink Travel Cards).