New smart gates now operating at Adelaide Railway Station

20 Feb 2026

New smart gates have replaced the old turnstile gates at the Adelaide Railway Station.

The new gates accept:

Paper MetroTickets are no longer accepted.

Customers with unused paper MetroTickets can bring them to the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre (7:00 am to 8:00 pm daily) to have them transferred onto a new or existing metroCARD.

New metroCARDs cost $5.00 (regular) or $3.50 (student or concession).

How the smart gates work

You can use any gate showing a green arrow above the gate. Gates showing a red cross are not available.

You can use the same ticket for your entire journey, including:

  • boarding
  • passing through the gates
  • transferring to another bus, train or tram.

Validating your ticket at the new gates

metroCARD or Tap and Pay:

  1. Separate your chosen ticket option from your other payment cards or devices.
  2. Hold your metroCARD, Seniors Card or bank card or digital wallet over the payment panel.
  3. A green tick will appear on the screen and the gate doors will open away from you.
  4. Go through the gate.

Buy & Go app:

  1. Separate your phone from your other payment cards or devices.
  2. Set your phone screen brightness to maximum so the QR code can be scanned easily.
  3. Hold your phone over the payment panel with the QR code facing up.
  4. Use the red flashing light as a guide to position your phone under the scanner.
  5. A green tick will appear and the gate doors will open away from you.
  6. Go through the gate.

The new gates include clear audio and visual signals to confirm successful validation.

If you are behind another person, you don’t need to wait for the gate doors to close after them. You can tap or scan your ticket as soon as the gate’s screen shows the purple ‘Welcome’ message. If you get a green tick, the gates will stay open, and you can go straight through.

If you have any issues, speak with an Adelaide Metro team member nearby.

Safety features

The new smart gates are already used across many public transport networks in Europe and North America. 

They include safety features such as:

  • sensors that ensure customers and their belongings are clear before gates close
  • lights and sounds that alert staff if assistance is needed.

The standard gates are the same width as the former turnstiles (600 mm), and two wider special access gates (900 mm) have been added at either end of the gate line.

Special access gates

Please use the special access gates if you are travelling with a mobility device, using a pram, have bulky items, or travelling in a group.

These gates are wider and have payment panels that are easier to reach from a seated position. The QR code scanner is positioned at the same height as standard gates.

If you are travelling with someone who does not need a ticket (such as a child under 5, a carer or companion) or with an assistance animal, a staff member can assist you at the special access gates.

More information:

For more information, call our InfoLine on 1300 311 108 or visit the InfoCentre, both open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

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