The region will have workers checking every ION fare machine to make sure it's working properly after many reports from riders of problems with the system.

Peter Zinck, director of transit services for the Region of Waterloo, said the "vast majority" of transactions go smoothly but there are some "problematic machines" and issues differ depending on the day.

"There isn't a systematic issue with ticket vending machines or platform vending machines," Zinck said.

Stations that seem to have had the most problems include Uptown Waterloo and Willis Way, where there have been issues for riders using credit or debit cards, as well as the northbound ticket vending machine at the Block Line Station. Zinck said that machine in particular "is the most problematic we've had."

There is not one single problem, Zinck said. Sometimes it's a communication issue between the machines and credit and debit cards. He also said the cold weather may have impacted some machines.

"We expect by the end of this week to be in great shape addressing a number of the issues," Zinck said.

'Are any of these ever functioning?'

Riders have taken to social media to express their frustration with the system.

One Twitter user named @johannabee tweeted at Grand River Transit on Dec. 5 saying it was the fourth time she had attempted to replace a lost card and the fare kiosk was not working.

"Are any of these ever functioning?" she questioned.

Hi <a href="https://twitter.com/GRT_ROW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GRT_ROW</a>, the FareCard reader at the South end of the Borden <a href="https://twitter.com/rideIONrt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rideIONrt</a> platform is inoperable. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wrLRT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wrLRT</a> <a href="https://t.co/6RYqlkNa8U">pic.twitter.com/6RYqlkNa8U</a> —@Canardiain

<a href="https://twitter.com/GRT_ROW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GRT_ROW</a> In an amazing twist, that payment pillar at Borden is still completely dead. <a href="https://t.co/0yxPdVTOZZ">pic.twitter.com/0yxPdVTOZZ</a> —@jamesdnicoll

Other photos online will show an application error on machines where people are supposed to tap before boarding the LRT. The message says the machine has encountered "a serious error and must shut down."

'Do your best to pay'

He said one problem they see is a number of incomplete transactions at the ticket vending machines and it's because the fare card needs to be presented twice by the customers. To combat that, they're looking at adding a card holder.

Zinck said regional staff are still learning the system and crews are getting used to the equipment.

"I think our customers are learning a little bit about it as well," he said.

Zinck said the region does not yet have a sense of how much revenue is being lost to people who give up trying to pay for their trip on the ION and get on anyway.

"We're upping our metrics in terms of tracking transactions that don't go through the system to get a better idea of that," he said, adding he hopes people are trying different machines on the platform to pay their fares.

"We would expect people that would not be able to complete a transaction may perhaps look at another machine on the platform. We try to keep one ticket vending machine and one platform validated fully functional," he said.

On some station platforms, there is just one ticket vending machine. Most platforms, Zinck says, have two, giving riders a second option to pay their fare.

If the fare machines aren't working, Zinck suggested riders could have also have an alternate method of payment, such as cash if the debit or credit card machine doesn't work. He also noted people can load fare cards online, although there is a bit of lag time between doing that and the money showing up on the card.

He added if people cannot pay, they should be prepared to explain to a fare inspector why.

"Do your best to pay and if you have an issue come prepared to explain it and we'll assess that as we go," he said.