How to buy and top up go card in South East Queensland, Australia, Usage, Go Card Types, Fares, Expiry Date
Go card
Translink’s go card is an electronic ticket that allows for quick, easy, and convenient travel in South East Queensland. Use your go card on all Translink bus, train (including Airtrain), ferry, and tram services in Brisbane, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast.
Benefits of Go card
- At least 30% cheaper than a single one-way paper ticket.
- convenient to manage
- easy to top-up and use
- available for adults, children, concessions, seniors.
Types of Go Card
- Adult : Children, students, pensioners, seniors, and veterans of the armed forces all qualify for concessions that reduce adult fares by 50%.
- Children : When they touch on and off with a child go card on the weekends, children between the ages of 5 and 14 travel for free.
- Seniors and pensioners : For retirees and seniors, it’s One, Two, Free. If a holder of a Seniors Card +go, Senior Go Card, or Green Pensioner Concession Go Card makes two paid trips in a day, they can travel for free the rest of the day.
Procedure to top up the card/register
Register your card and protect your travel balance :
You can feel more at ease if you register your go card. Your travel balance will be protected if your go card is lost or stolen as soon as TransLink is notified by calling 13 12 30. Through your online account, you can also block your card.
Top up card
- Top up at fare machines with cash or debit card by selecting ‘add value’ from the go card menu and follow the instructions. The maximum you can top up is $200.
- Go card location: Top up at selected retailers, plus attended train stations where you see the ‘top up’ sign. Search online for your closest location. Simply present your go card along with your payment.
- Phone : Call 13 12 30 to top up your go card balance. You will need your 16 digit go card number and a valid credit or debit card.
- Online : Visit the website. Once your go card is registered, log into your secure account and top up.
| Adult | Child | Senior |
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| Concession | go for Business | Visitors and tourists |
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Touch on and touch off
- You can feel more at ease if you register your go card. Your travel balance will be protected if your go card is lost or stolen as soon as TransLink is notified by calling 13 12 30. Through your online account, you can also block your card.
- For an adult card, the go card reader will show a green light and one beep, and for a concession card, it will show an orange light and two beeps.
- The card reader will display the remaining travel credit on your Go Card when you touch it.
- The card reader will display the fare deducted and your remaining travel balance when you take off.
Go Card Fares
| Adult | Senior Concession Child | |
| Refundable Deposit | $ 10 | $ 5 |
| Minimum Starting Balance | $ 5 | $ 5 |
| Card issuance Fee | $ 5 | $ 5 |
How does it work?
- Your go card applies a fixed amount when you touch on at the beginning of each journey.
- Your go card calculates the correct fare and updates your balance when you touch off at the end of your journey.
- The card reader shows your travel balance as well as the fare that has been deducted from it for the trip.
- Prior to your trip, always make sure your travel balance is positive.
- When using your go card to travel, it is against the law to touch anything, and failure to do so could result in a fine.
What is the expiry date?
- Adult and senior cards are programmed to expire 10 years from the date of issue.
- Child go cards expire on the child’s 15th birthday
- Concession go cards are programmed to expire 14 days from the date of issue unless proof of concession is provided at selected retailers.
How to check the Go card balance?
- Visit the website or login
- view your balance and travel history
- Your fare is automatically calculated and deducted from your card balance
Where to Use a Go card?
When you are travelling , you can use go card :
- buses across the entire network
- trains in South East Queensland
- ferries in Brisbane and some ferries in Moreton Bay and Townsville
- trams—known as the G:link—on the Gold Coast.
- You can travel on most of our services in South East Queensland using your go card, except those in Toowoomba and in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Visitors & tourists Go card?
- Travel three or five consecutive calendar days on all Translink bus, train, ferry or tram services.
- Includes 2 journeys on Airtrain services to anywhere on the TransLink network.
- For further information check here.