As of mid-February 2021, all ticket vending machines will be removed from SASA-operated bus routes in and around the city of Merano/Meran. This means that it will no longer be possible to purchase a ticket on board any of the inner-city buses no. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 as well as on services along the routes 210, 212, 213, 217 and 221.
SASA, the operator, has recently modernised a large portion of its fleet and launched a series of brand-new, environmentally friendly vehicles. Ticket vending machines in their previous form will no longer available on the new buses, because their technology is being discontinued. The vehicles in question will be easy to recognise by a "No ticket machine" sticker on the front set of doors.
Unlike on regional and Citybus services, tickets are not available from the driver when boarding a SASA bus in or around Merano/Meran. Passengers are therefore advised to purchase their tickets before the start of their journey – or directly sign up for a much more convenient and cheaper Südtirol Pass or Euregio Family Pass.
With the public-transport ticketing system constantly being improved and developed further, the near future will see new technologies to check in and validate tickets introduced all over South Tyrol – and all buses will be fitted with a uniform range of new devices.