VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Good news if you ever ride transit as TransLink is upgrading its ticket vending machines to accept the new loonies and twoonies.

The transit authority says it took some time to make upgrades because they weren’t sent “test coins” fast enough.

TransLink’s Drew Snider explains how the changes will be done in phases. “At least one ticket vending machine [will be changed] in each of the 10 busiest stations – King George, Metrotown, Stadium Station, and likely Granville and Waterfront.”

He adds, because the changes will take some time, make sure you have the old coins with you when you ride transit. “If you have a new coin and you’re going on the Expo-Millennium line, make sure you swap it out before you try to use the ticket vending machine.”

The Canada Line stations will be fixed as well. Snider says the incoming Compass Card will also accept the new coins.

Within the next couple of weeks, every machine on every line will be up to snuff. By the fall, the machines will also be able to accept the new polymer bills.