Topped-up or newly added tickets
You can top up or add new ticket types to your Solent Go travelcard here.
Topping up your Solent Go travelcard means buying the same types of tickets online that were previously on your travelcard.
Adding a new ticket means adding a new ticket type online to the travelcard which was previously not on your travelcard.
Buying tickets online does not automatically load them to your travelcard – this is a separate process.
If you wish to add tickets for a different bus zone or ferry operator to your existing Solent Go travelcard in the future, you can buy these online and upload them onto your Solent Go travelcard using the Solent Go app or at point of boarding at Hythe or Gosport ferry or their ticket offices.
If you have selected to upload your top up or new ticket using the Solent Go app, you will be able to upload these onto your Solent Go travelcard within a few minutes after having purchased the ticket online.
If you have selected to upload top up tickets at Gosport Ferry or Hythe Ferry or have selected to upload your top up bus tickets at any of the participating four bus operators, we recommend leaving 24 hours between topping up online and travelling, however in most cases you can top up by 9pm the night before you want to use your ticket and it will be ready to use the next day. This is to allow our equipment to receive this information overnight and to ensure the top up occurs successfully when you use your travelcard.
There are a variety of collection methods available to upload top up or newly added tickets to your existing Solent Go travelcard. Here is a list of where and how tickets can be uploaded to your existing travelcard. The Solent Go Android app will require an Android enabled device running KitKat (version 4.4) or later and capable of using Near Field Communication (NFC).
1) Solent Region or Southampton City Bus Tickets
You can upload New Tickets to your existing Solent Go card:
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
- At point of boarding or ticket office at Gosport or Hythe Ferry
and
You can upload Top Up Tickets to your existing Solent Go card:
- On Emsworth & District Bus
- On Wheelers Bus
- On Xelabus
- Bluestar Bus
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
- At point of boarding or ticket office at Gosport or Hythe Ferry
Please note that the above bus companies are the only ones which can upload Top Up Tickets and the time period starts from the time it is uploaded. After the ticket is loaded it can then be used with the other participating operators.
2) Portsmouth City Bus Tickets
You can upload New and Top Up Tickets to your existing Solent Go Card:
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
- At point of boarding or ticket office at Gosport or Hythe Ferry
3) Hythe Ferry
You can upload Tickets to your existing Solent Go Card:
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
- At point of boarding or ticket office at Hythe Ferry
4) Gosport Ferry
You can upload Tickets to your existing Solent Go Card:
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
- At point of boarding or ticket office at Gosport Ferry
5) Wightlink
You can upload Tickets to your existing Solent Go Card:
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
- On a Wightlink Ferry Ticket Vending Machine
6) Red Funnel
You can upload Tickets to your existing Solent Go Card:
- Through the Solent Go NFC Android app
General information about uploading tickets
If you have access to an Android Smartphone with Near Field Communication (NFC) you can download the Solent Go application to load your ticket(s) to your Solent Go travelcard.
If you are unlikely to travel with one of the bus operators above to upload bus top ups, we strongly recommend that you purchase your travel tickets from your most frequently used operator.
A range of travel tickets are also available to purchase directly from participating operators - details of the operators can be found under the travel information section.
Please be aware that you will need to leave your card on the card reader or validator equipment for slightly longer when you are first loading a top up made online. This is necessary to allow the card to fully update.
