NTA Publishes 2024 Fares Plan Changes

Glaceon

Drogheda, as well as Gormanston and Laytown, are some of the big winners with this review. It has always been the case that once you went from Balbriggan to Gormanston, you were in intercity territory and the fare jumped up significantly. A day return from Drogheda to Dublin by train is €19.50 at the moment, it will drop to €12 (€6 each way) once this comes in.

Does this include Bus Éireann too? If so, it does mean an increase on the 101/X bus routes (from €5.04), although it doesn't really affect me now as I get the train the vast majority of the time.

While nothing has been said of it, I could see the Enterprise skipping Drogheda entirely once this comes in, or at least the €6 ticket not being valid on it. But maybe I'm wrong.

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121669011#Comment_121669011

Bus to Bray then the Dart will still be €2 as far as I can tell - the document is a bit vague but my reading is that all (non-Xpresso) Dublin City bus services are still €2 and include the 90 minute transfer, even if they go outside the City zone. The City zone is only really relevant for rail and regional bus services.

Dart from Bray to Dublin is €2, Greystones is €3.90, nearly twice the price. It's the only current Dart station falling outside the City zone. The removal of the annual rail-only ticket (€1150) will mean an increase for anyone who is still using that as well. The all-modes ticket is €1400 but in my experience rail commuters generally only use rail so won't get €250 worth of extra use.

I feel they should have started this fare restructuring with the principle that no Leap fares would increase. The local Green TD campaigned for Greystones to be included in the cheaper zone 5 to get the fare down from €4 to €3, less than a year later it's being bumped back up again. it's a terrible look with a Green minister for transport.

Macy0161

Said TD was on the Commuter this morning, albeit from Bray! I don't want to overegg the cost pudding (frequency is a lot to do with it too), but it is one of the factors why no one I know from where I live in the mountains who commutes by dart/ rail from Greystones, despite it being significantly nearer.

Kittykat67

Hi not sure where to ask this question. I just got my first leap card, is it OK to keep it in my phone or will that affect it. I know some types of cards the mobile phone makes them stop working but does this happen with a leap card? Thanks

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121670367#Comment_121670367

It is fine, your phone shouldn't impact the Leap card.

Kittykat67

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121670442#Comment_121670442

Perfect thanks for your help.

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121670442#Comment_121670442

Seems that old type of magnetic cards would be more sensitive to phone. I would rather avoid keeping cards too close to phone, but you might be right to say and newer types of cards are more resilient.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121672243#Comment_121672243

Yep, magnetic strip cards would be impacted, in particular magsafe on newer iphones could demagnetise them.

Leap cards use NFC that work in a completely different way and wouldn't be impacted. For years I kept my Leap card in the back of my phone case without issue.

Though in a couple of years, when they roll out the next gen ticketing, then you could have issues with card clashes on readers. But then most will probably just use their phone instead of the Leap card.

B2021M

Does anyone know the effective date of the fare changes in Dublin (e.g. the proposed 960 euro annual ticket)?

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122210688#Comment_122210688

Before the end of Q3. Nothing more precise than that.

Probably sometime in September.

B2021M

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122210702#Comment_122210702

Thanks

LXFlyer

The first phase of fare changes arising from the 2024 fares determination will be implemented from 23rd and 24th June.

https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/first-phase-of-2024-fares-determination-to-take-effect-from-23rd-june/

The second is likely to happen at the end of September as per the fares determination report.

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Fares-determination-v4.6.pdf

For whatever reason, it's not liking the links…

First phase of 2024 fares determination to take effect from 23rd June

10TH JUNE 2024

The first phase of the Transport for Ireland 2024 fares determination for Public Service Obligation (PSO) services that was announced earlier this year will take effect from Sunday 23rd June.

Discounted TFI 90-minute €2 fare remaining in place

Most of the discounted fares introduced in 2022, including the €2 TFI 90-minute fare in Dublin, are remaining in place.  The TFI 90 €2 fare  allows TFI Leap Card users free transfer between Dublin Bus, Luas and most DART, commuter rail and Go-Ahead Ireland services in Dublin. It has been a huge success. It has also has contributed to the increase in passenger numbers recorded across the city’s network.

The adjustments in the first phase of the strategy include the removal of some cash period tickets in Dublin on Luas and Rail services.

Short journey fares will increase slightly

Short journey fares will increase slightly for Luas and Dublin Bus services from 23rd of June and for Irish Rail services on Monday 24th of June.  It will mean a 20 cent increase for TFI Leap Card users for short journeys with fares going from €1.30 to €1.50.  Cash short fares will change from €1.70 to €2.

A new flat town fare of €1.50 for Leap Card users

A new flat town fare of €1.50 for Leap Card users is being implemented on regional town bus services in Athlone, Balbriggan, Carlow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan and Sligo.  The cash fare for these town services will change to €2.

Tickets purchased using a TFI Leap Card or via the TFI Go App continue to offer the best value fares. Half-price fares continue to apply to young adults aged 19-25 years who hold a valid Young Adult Leap Card and students aged 26 years and above who hold a valid Student Leap Card.

Phase 2 later in the year

Phase two of the strategy will take effect later this year and will aim to make fares more equitable and easy-to-understand. The cost per kilometre travelled will become more consistent and will be related to the straight-line distance between the origin and destination of journey. The second phase will also involve the implementation of the new Dublin City Zone and the new Dublin Commuter Zone, a significant reduction in Leap Card multimodal caps, and the introduction of Leap travel credit at all Dublin Commuter Zone rail stations. Overall, the fares changes are not projected to increase fare revenue but represent a rebalancing of fares so that they are fairer and more consistent across the board.

For more information check out: Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Luas

AngryLips

Does the fare changes affect student tickets? If it does then wouldn't they want it in a bit sooner than end of September so that it's done in time for the back-to-school rush?

feargantae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122242497#Comment_122242497

Yes, student/young adult fare is half of adult, so if the adult fare goes up so does the student.

Eg Bus Éireann town services were 55c for students (€1.10 for Adults) and will now be 75c since the Adult fare is now €1.50.

StreetLight

On the day the revised fares came into play, an enquiry on the Dublin Bus Twitter/X page asked if fares had changed. The reply from Dublin Bus was that they had and to check the Dublin Bus website for more information. They only problem was that the website was still showing the old fares and had still not been updated the following day.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122296427#Comment_122296427

They appear to have been updated now as does the Leapcard website.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122296427#Comment_122296427

They appear to have been updated now as does the Leapcard website (which was also showing the old fares early this morning).

Kinda basic stuff to be honest.

feargantae

I wonder why the NTA have never bothered to implement capping outside of BÁC? On the old Bus Éireann busses when you paid with Leap it'd say "Cap €9999.99"

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122300342#Comment_122300342

Capping will be rolled out in the provincial cities as the new BusConnects networks start to be implemented, hopefully from next year.

feargantae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122300510#Comment_122300510

What about town services like Athlone or Carlow? Hopefully it applies to them too.

It also seems a version of the TFI90 fare is already in place as tickets stay valid for 90mins and you can switch services during this time.

AngryLips

Bumping this thread. NTA said they'd make these changes 'later this year' but it is disappointing to see no changes rolled out in time for the crucial back-to-school/back-to-college season. I guess we'll see if they can deliver it ahead of January when the bulk of annual taxsaver tickets get renewed.

howiya

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122653186#Comment_122653186

Brother lives in Newbridge. Apparently it's looking like March 2025 for the changes there.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122653186#Comment_122653186

It was supposed to happen at the end of September, but the NTA informed the Oireachtas Transport Committee a few months ago that it would now be at least January 2025, due to unforeseen software issues that Irish Rail’s ticketing equipment provider was experiencing.

Gold7

When are all the Tickets Machines and Leap Card Scanners on Dublin Bus and Go Ahead ever going to be replaced. I have been up in Belfast in the last couple of days on Translink's Metro busses and they all have new Machines in place and even a new scanner for both Debit cards and I Link Cards (a bit like the Leap Card). The NTA really need get a move on with this and get it set up.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122654353#Comment_122654353

A contract has been awarded earlier this year by the NTA for a completely new back office system across PSO operators, and this will incorporate new ticketing equipment.

Likely end of next year or early 2026 before we see it rolled out though.

Van.Bosch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122654302#Comment_122654302

does this include the annual new all mode ticket for €960?

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122654513#Comment_122654513

Yes, annoyingly.

All of the second round of changes are held back until they can resolve this, as it is a revenue neutral set of changes overall.

feargantae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122301209#Comment_122301209

Just to add to this, it seems TFI90 is definitely working on some town services. Tap on, charged €1.50 (€0.75 for YA/S) and any further busses within 90mins are free.

Wonder why the NTA aren't advertising this?

howiya

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122654287#Comment_122654287

End of April 2025 the latest for this now