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LEAP CARD - Updated Summary of Cards/Functionality Available - October 2014

  • 02-10-2014 01:57PM
    #1
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭


    Once again, I've prepared a summary of products/functionality available on LEAP, which brings together all of the information publicly available. I'm doing this due to reading regular questions on boards.ie, and due to the fact that I think that the level of information available on official sites leaves a lot to be desired in terms of collating the information in one simple location.

    If you do spot something that needs updating let me know.

    I've updated this thread for the additional functionality that has been added recently, including:
    • LEAP now valid on all Galway City Bus services operated by Bus Eireann and City Direct
    • New Cork LEAP website launched
    • Bus Eireann Dublin region now extended to include child and student fares/tickets
    LEAP is shortly to be launched on Cork Suburban Rail services to Cobh and Midleton, and on the new Ashbourne Connect coach service between Ashbourne and Dublin city centre.
    =============================================================================== ==========================


    LEAP CARD – Cards Available:
    • Adult unpersonalised
    • Adult personalised
    • Child LEAP card (4-15)
    • Child LEAP card (16-18) - Personalised
    • Student travelcard - Personalised
    • Visitor LEAP Card (See below)
    • Trainee LEAP Card (See below)
    =============================================================================== ==========================

    LEAP CARD – Summary of Ticket Products Available:

    Leap can be used in two modes:
    • Pay-as-you-go epurse (in most cases offering discounts over cash fares)
    • Period pass offering unlimited travel on one or more modes
    =============================================================================== ==========================


    PAY-AS-YOU-GO E-PURSE:

    · Dublin Bus (All services) - Daily and weekly (Monday-Sunday) capping applies (see below) – Tag on only - May require to interact with driver.

    Note:
    One person holding a LEAP card can pay for a companion on Dublin Bus using the epurse. This applies if the cardholder is using a period pass or the epurse for their own travel.

    · Irish Rail (Dublin Short Hop Zone only) – Daily and weekly (Monday-Sunday) capping applies (see below) – Tag on and off

    Note:
    The Irish Rail Short Hop Zone incorporates all stations from Kilcoole to Balbriggan, Howth, M3 Parkway and Maynooth and from Dublin Heuston to Hazelhatch.

    · Bus Eireann (Greater Dublin Area –excepting 100X and 101) – Tag on only via driver

    · Bus Eireann (Greater Cork Area) – Tag on only via driver

    · Bus Eireann (Galway City Services) – Tag on only via driver

    · City Direct (Galway City Services) – Tag on only via driver

    · LUAS (All services) – Daily and weekly (Monday-Sunday) capping applies (see below) – Tag on and off

    · Matthews Coaches (Bettystown-Laytown-Dublin service) – Tag on only via driver

    · Wexford Bus (All services) – Tag on only via driver - See www.wexfordbus.ie for more fare information

    · Swords Express (All services) – Tag on only via driver

    · Collins Coaches (Dublin-Ardee-Carrickmacross services) – Tag on only via driver

    Dublin Bus, Irish Rail Short Hop, and LUAS pay-as-you-go epurse fares can be found here.

    Information on using LEAP in Cork can be found here.

    Information on using LEAP in Galway can be found here.

    =============================================================================== ==========================

    CAPPING ON PAY-AS-YOU-GO:
    An automated daily or weekly (Monday-Sunday) cap will be applied to all e-purse transactions. Different caps will apply to single operators, or where two or more operators are used as below.

    Single Operator Capping Levels:

    Dublin Bus:
    Daily - Adult €6.90 / Student €5.00 / Child €2.50
    Weekly (Monday-Sunday) - Adult €27.50 / Student €20.00 / Child €8.20

    Note:
    For Dublin Bus Xpresso, Outer Suburban 2, and Nitelink services a maximum of €2.50 (€1.15 for a child) of the fare contributes towards the cap. Airlink, tours and special events are excluded from the cap.

    LUAS:
    Daily - Adult €6.40 / Student €5.00 / Child €2.50
    Weekly (Monday-Sunday) - Adult €23.50 / Student €18.00 / Child €8.20

    Irish Rail (Short Hop Zone):
    Daily - Adult €9.20 / Student €6.90 / Child €3.10
    Weekly (Monday-Sunday) - Adult €35.50 / Student €27.00 / Child €12.00


    Multi-Operator Capping Levels:
    The following caps apply where two or more operators are used.

    Dublin Bus / LUAS / Irish Rail (Short Hop Zone):
    Daily - Adult €10.00 / Student €7.50 / Child €3.50
    Weekly (Monday-Sunday) - Adult €40.00 / Student €30.00 / Child €14.00

    Note:
    For Dublin Bus Xpresso, Outer Suburban 2, and Nitelink services a maximum of €2.50 (€1.15 for a child) of the fare contributes towards the cap. Airlink, tours and special events are excluded from the cap.

    More information on capping is available here.

    =============================================================================== ==========================

    TOPPING UP LEAP CARD E-PURSE

    The LEAP card e-purse can be topped up a number of different ways:

    • At one of over 400 Payzone LEAP card agents around Dublin, Cork and Galway.
    • At any LUAS ticket machine
    • At any Irish Rail ticket machine in the Short Hop Zone
    • Online at www.leapcard.ie - Note that this option requires you to subsequently visit your nominated "load location" to physically load the top-up amount onto the card. Note that online topups cannot be applied to your LEAP card via Dublin Bus or indeed other bus operator onboard ticket machines due to their memory constraints.
    • Via Auto top-up - this is the easiest way of topping up the card. It automatically tops up your Leap Card with funds from your bank account, whenever your Travel Credit balance falls below €10. You can choose to Auto Top-Up by €30.00, €40.00 or €50.00. Note that this requires your card to be registered on the LEAP website and a direct debit to be set up.
    =============================================================================== ==========================

    PERIOD PASSES:
    The following unlimited travel period passes / tickets can be loaded onto a LEAP card, either online (requires you to then visit a payzone outlet) or at a payzone outlet directly:

    Dublin Bus:

    Rambler 5 Day Adult - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Rambler 30 Day Adult - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Rambler 5 Day Student – requires Student LEAP Card - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Rambler 30 Day Student – requires Student LEAP Card - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Rambler 1 Day Family - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Freedom 3 Day Pass (including Airlink and Hop on-Hop off City Tour) - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Airlink Return Ticket - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Hop on-Hop off City Tour ticket

    Annual Bus Only Travelwide Ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only via Validator on righthand side

    Note that where you have more than one product loaded onto the card, you can ask the driver to select which product you wish to use by putting the card on his ticket machine. If you have two versions of the same product (e.g. 2 x 30 Day Rambler tickets), the righthand validator will automatically select the older product.


    Irish Rail Short Hop Zone:

    Annual Rail Only (Short Hop Zone) (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on/tag off


    Bus Eireann Greater Dublin Area:

    Daily (24 hours) Greater Dublin Area zonal unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for 24 hours from date/time of first activation - available for any one of 5 different zones

    Weekly (7 day) Greater Dublin Area zonal unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for 7 consecutive days from date/time of first activation - available for any one of 5 different zones

    There are 5 coloured zones surrounding Dublin (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and Orange) that extend cumulatively out as far as Newry, Monaghan, Cavan, Granard, Longford, Tullamore, Portlaoise and Gorey.

    Child 24 hour/7 day tickets are available in the Red and Green zones only, while Student 24 hour tickets are available in the Red, Green and Blue zones only.

    Monthly and Annual Tickets (requires personalised LEAP card) - Available for each of the Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and Orange zones. Also available via Taxsaver scheme, from your employer. Details at www.taxsaver.ie

    For more information on Bus Eireann zonal tickets in the Dublin Area see here.


    Bus Eireann Cork City/Suburban tickets:

    Daily (24 hours) Cork City/Suburban zonal unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for 24 hours from date/time of first activation - available for any one of 2 different zones

    Weekly (7 day) Cork City/Suburban zonal unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for 7 consecutive days from date/time of first activation - available for any one of 2 different zones

    Monthly and Annual Cork City/Suburban zonal unlimited travel tickets (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only via driver and valid for a calendar month - available for any one of 2 different zones. Also available via Taxsaver scheme, from your employer. Details at www.taxsaver.ie


    There are 2 coloured zones surrounding Cork, the Red Zone for Cork City services 201 to 219 (excluding suburban portion of 215), and the Green Zone which additionally includes Suburban services as far as Carrigtwohill to the East, Ballincollig to the west, Crosshaven to the south, and Cloghroe to the north, covering all of routes 215, 220, 220A, 221, 223, 226, 226A and routes 260 and 261 as far as Carrigtwohill.

    Child and Student options exist for all zones and periods, except that there is no monthly child option for both the red and green zones.

    For more information on using LEAP in Cork, please see here.


    Bus Eireann Galway City tickets:

    Daily (24 hours) Galway City unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for 24 hours from date/time of first activation - available for adult LEAP cards only

    Weekly (7 day) Galway City unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for 7 consecutive days from date/time of first activation - available for adult, child and student LEAP cards

    Monthly Galway City unlimited travel tickets - Tag on only via driver and valid for a calendar month - available for adult, child and student LEAP cards

    LEAP period passes are valid on all Bus Eireann Galway City service (routes 401-410).

    For more information on using LEAP on Bus Eireann in Galway, please see here.


    LUAS:

    Annual LUAS all zone tickets (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on/tag off

    Monthly LUAS all zone tickets (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on/tag off


    Wexford Bus:

    Wexford-Dublin Airport Route:
    Weekly/10 Journey Ticket Adult/Student - Tag on only via driver

    Wexford Local Services:
    1 Day/Weekly Ticket Adult/Child - Tag on only via driver

    Note that adult 1 day/weekly tickets on Wexford local services require a personalised LEAP card.


    Swords Express:

    10 Journey Ticket - Tag on only via driver


    Collins Coaches:

    10 Journey Ticket - Tag on only via driver



    Multi-Operator:

    Dublin Bus/Irish Rail (Short Hop Zone):

    Annual Dublin Bus/Irish Rail Short Hop ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on Irish Rail


    Dublin Bus/LUAS:

    Annual Dublin Bus/LUAS ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on LUAS

    Monthly Dublin Bus/LUAS ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on LUAS - Only available via Taxsaver scheme, from your employer. Details at www.taxsaver.ie


    Irish Rail (Short Hop Zone)/LUAS:

    Annual Irish Rail Short Hop/LUAS ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on/tag off on Irish Rail and LUAS

    Monthly Irish Rail Short Hop/LUAS ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on/tag off on Irish Rail and LUAS - Only available via Taxsaver scheme, from your employer. Details at www.taxsaver.ie


    Dublin Bus/Irish Rail (Short Hop Zone)/LUAS

    Annual Dublin Bus/Irish Rail Short Hop/LUAS ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on Irish Rail and LUAS


    Monthly Dublin Bus/Irish Rail Short Hop/LUAS ticket (requires personalised LEAP card) - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on Irish Rail and LUAS - Only available via Taxsaver scheme, from your employer. Details at www.taxsaver.ie


    Visitor LEAP Card (only available to purchase at Dublin Airport) - Valid for 3 days (including Airlink 747) - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on Irish Rail and LUAS


    Trainee LEAP Card (only available through foreign language schools to registered students) - Valid for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks - Tag on only on Dublin Bus, tag on/tag off on Irish Rail and LUAS


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Carawaystick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    The link for Bus Éireann Galway states you can use leap for single tickets too. It also states the leap fares are 16% lower than cash fares,
    which is EUR1.596
    I'd imagine the leap fare is EUR 1.60, but it seems beyond the wit of either BÉ or TfI to explicitly state this.


  • #3
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Carawaystick wrote: »
    The link for Bus Éireann Galway states you can use leap for single tickets too. It also states the leap fares are 16% lower than cash fares,
    which is EUR1.596
    I'd imagine the leap fare is EUR 1.60, but it seems beyond the wit of either BÉ or TfI to explicitly state this.



    Hence I have it listed in the epurse functionality.

    Yes, I'd agree - it would make sense to quote the single fare, given they are flat fares. I guess the reason is probably because the 410 is included and it is not a flat fare service.

    Incidentally, LEAP adult and child single fares on all Bus Eireann services are all 16% cheaper than adult fares, be it in Galway, Cork or the Eastern Region.


  • #4
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭traco


    Maybe someone can clarify as I can't make head nor tail of this leap card so if someone could help I'd appreciate it.

    Commute is typically Portmarncok to Pearse on the Dart. Weekly 7 day pass is €25.90 Some weeks if on the road there might only be 1 or 2 days in town. Sometimes it might be Dart to Blackrock.

    So is there any savings with the leap card on the €25.90 for teh regular weeks and then usng it for the other random trips?

    Thanks in advance and fair play for putting the time in to clarify things.


  • #5
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    traco wrote: »
    Maybe someone can clarify as I can't make head nor tail of this leap card so if someone could help I'd appreciate it.

    Commute is typically Portmarncok to Pearse on the Dart. Weekly 7 day pass is €25.90 Some weeks if on the road there might only be 1 or 2 days in town. Sometimes it might be Dart to Blackrock.

    So is there any savings with the leap card on the €25.90 for teh regular weeks and then usng it for the other random trips?

    Thanks in advance and fair play for putting the time in to clarify things.


    OK first of all, if you were only taking 10 journeys between Portmarnock and Pearse, then your weekly cost using LEAP in pay-as-you-go epurse mode would be €23.50 (10 x €2.35).

    The benefit of your 7 day ticket is that you have unlimited travel between Portmarnock and Pearse (and stations in between) for 7 days. So you need to decide is that what you need. If you don't take more than the 5 return journeys then you probably should switch to pay-as-you-go.

    If you are taking other occasional trips outside of Portmarnock/Pearse then you should be using LEAP pay-as-you-go for these as the fare will be cheaper than paying cash.

    LEAP will implement a weekly cap (Monday-Sunday) of €35.50 for using the card on Irish Rail in pay-as-you-go epurse mode.

    Ultimately what option is best for you depends upon what your travel patterns are.

    There is a fare calculator here which is helpful:
    http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/dart

    You can try different station combinations and add your weekly fares up. It lists cash and LEAP fares. It will also show you the cost of 7-day unlimited travel tickets for each station combination too.

    Also, if your employer is prepared to do it, you can get monthly/annual tickets and save tax, PRSI and USC on the cost of the ticket - see more info at www.taxsaver.ie


  • #6
    Mike1961
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭Mike1961


    Any idea why the Visitor Leap Card is only available in Dublin airport? You'd imagine there'd be a demand for it for the many tourists travelling in and around the City center.


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  • #7
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Mike1961 wrote: »
    Any idea why the Visitor Leap Card is only available in Dublin airport? You'd imagine there'd be a demand for it for the many tourists travelling in and around the City center.



    I imagine (and this is my opinion) it is to discourage ordinary users (non-tourists) from availing of it.


  • #8
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭traco


    Cheers - I'll look into her schedule and try and get a better handle on it. Sounds like the Leap card might make sense.

    I looked at the annual taxsaver but shes on contract so it could end in June / July, add that to the variation and potentially weeks on the road I don't know if its worth it. Seems to be 12 months for the price of 10.


  • #9
    moxin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭moxin


    Yesterday I checked my balance at a Luas machine(for handyness as I hardly use Luas, used the bus once yesterday). It gave the balance as 6 something but the status said something like "time exceeded". What does that mean and is it a concern?


  • #10
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    moxin wrote: »
    Yesterday I checked my balance at a Luas machine(for handyness as I hardly use Luas, used the bus once yesterday). It gave the balance as 6 something but the status said something like "time exceeded". What does that mean and is it a concern?



    No it just means you left the card in the slot too long without doing anything!!


  • #11
    moxin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭moxin


    lxflyer wrote: »
    No it just means you left the card in the slot too long without doing anything!!

    Its confusing and misleading though, I thought the status was referring to the card like some expiry date on it!


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  • #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Mike1961 wrote: »
    Any idea why the Visitor Leap Card is only available in Dublin airport? You'd imagine there'd be a demand for it for the many tourists travelling in and around the City center.

    The visitor Oyster card is even harder to get hold of. You can't buy it at all in London, it has to be ordered online and delivered to a foreign address.


  • #13
    smellmepower
    Closed Accounts Posts: 829 ✭✭✭smellmepower


    Sister started a FT course in a PLC college a few weeks back and wants to get the student Leap card. The college is small enough and doesn't have facilities on site for getting one like they have at the SU in the universities and such. How would she go about getting one?

    Would Dublin Bus HQ on OCS do them?

    Thanks.


  • #14
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Karsini wrote: »
    The visitor Oyster card is even harder to get hold of. You can't buy it at all in London, it has to be ordered online and delivered to a foreign address.



    Not sure why you'd bother to be honest?


    Other than a few discounts at certain restaurants/retailers, it doesn't offer anything over a standard oyster card which you can buy at any underground station or Oyster card agent.


  • #15
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    smellmepower wrote: »
    Sister started a FT course in a PLC college a few weeks back and wants to get the student Leap card. The college is small enough and doesn't have facilities on site for getting one like they have at the SU in the universities and such. How would she go about getting one?

    Would Dublin Bus HQ on OCS do them?

    Thanks.



    As per the details above - follow the links here for more information.


  • #16
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    lxflyer wrote: »
    Not sure why you'd bother to be honest?


    Other than a few discounts at certain restaurants/retailers, it doesn't offer anything over a standard oyster card which you can buy at any underground station or Oyster card agent.

    Which is what I did during the summer, didn't see much point in it either.


  • #17
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72,409 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    lxflyer wrote: »
    Not sure why you'd bother to be honest?


    Other than a few discounts at certain restaurants/retailers, it doesn't offer anything over a standard oyster card which you can buy at any underground station or Oyster card agent.

    Its got a pretty picture on it :pac:


  • #18
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,869 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Great post, good to have it all in the one spot. Is it just me, or is there no difference between the normal leap fares and the student leap fares (on Dublin bus only)?

    Why would you get a student card if all you did was get the bus?


  • #19
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Great post, good to have it all in the one spot. Is it just me, or is there no difference between the normal leap fares and the student leap fares (on Dublin bus only)?

    Why would you get a student card if all you did was get the bus?

    To avail of the lower daily/weekly cap levels and to be able to purchase student rambler tickets.


  • #20
    Shadow Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭Shadow Man


    Thanks for the great information would you mind helping me out in case I have missed something?

    I am interested in getting the leap card and using it on Bus Eireann, I live in the green zone, and it appears the daily ticket price is €9.90 or €45 for a 7 day ticket.

    I undertand this only covers Bus Eireann services within the Green and Red Zones or by any chance does it include Dublin Bus, Lucas or trains within these zones as well?

    If it doesn't whats the advantage of me buying a leap ticket for €9.90 when I can get a daily one for €9.22 online from Bus Eireann and likewise the 10 journey costs me €41.33?

    Unlimited daily travel appears to be the only advantage of the leap card, but I only use the bus to and from work once each way, can't hop on and off it can only get off ands on at selected stops. 7 days of travel instead of a 10 journey ticket - its seldom I use the bus on a 6th day and if I did, the money I'd save with the online price more than makes up for the extra ticket on the 6th day. I don't think I have ever used the bus twice in the same direction in any one day either.

    With additional BE club discounts I pay approximately €8.25 a day or €37 a week so it makes more financial sense for me to buy online from Buseireann or am I am missing something about the Leap card?


  • #21
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Shadow Man wrote: »
    Thanks for the great information would you mind helping me out in case I have missed something?

    I am interested in getting the leap card and using it on Bus Eireann, I live in the green zone, and it appears the daily ticket price is €9.90 or €45 for a 7 day ticket.

    I undertand this only covers Bus Eireann services within the Green and Red Zones or by any chance does it include Dublin Bus, Lucas or trains within these zones as well?

    If it doesn't whats the advantage of me buying a leap ticket for €9.90 when I can get a daily one for €9.22 online from Bus Eireann and likewise the 10 journey costs me €41.33?

    Unlimited daily travel appears to be the only advantage of the leap card, but I only use the bus to and from work once each way, can't hop on and off it can only get off ands on at selected stops. 7 days of travel instead of a 10 journey ticket - its seldom I use the bus on a 6th day and if I did, the money I'd save with the online price more than makes up for the extra ticket on the 6th day. I don't think I have ever used the bus twice in the same direction in any one day either.

    With additional BE club discounts I pay approximately €8.25 a day or €37 a week so it makes more financial sense for me to buy online from Buseireann or am I am missing something about the Leap card?

    In your particular circumstances, using LEAP for your Bus Eireann trips would not make sense as you're not going to get the benefit of the extra 2 days' travel that the 7 day ticket offers. There are other places within the green zone where LEAP would offer a better discount. It's a hazard of using zones.

    This may change in time as the NTA review fares and try to encourage more users to switch to LEAP.

    However, have you examined monthly/annual tickets? Would your employer be prepared to participate in the Taxsaver scheme? Have a look at www.taxsaver.ie for more info as there would be considerable discounts.

    The Bus Eireann tickets are completely separate from Dublin Bus/LUAS/Irish Rail. You would need to use the epurse or get separate products for them.


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  • #22
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    I think the issue with Bus Éireann is the catchment area for their zones is too big. People just within in them are paying more to commute to Dublin and not getting the value as those just before the next zone. And all the zones are in reference to from there and Dublin. Not from within a Zone or across to the next, if you aren't going the entire way to Dublin.


  • #23
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Dravokivich wrote: »
    I think the issue with Bus Éireann is the catchment area for their zones is too big. People just within in them are paying more to commute to Dublin and not getting the value as those just before the next zone. And all the zones are in reference to from there and Dublin. Not from within a Zone or across to the next, if you aren't going the entire way to Dublin.

    You are always going to have some issues with fares, such as those who live just outside the more heavily subsidised suburban fares network on the railway.

    There's a limit to how big you can make fare zones before the thing becomes unwieldy - sometimes you have to make decisions about them that will inconvenience some people but that will suit the majority.

    That being said, I think that there is a case for having a set of zonal fares such that you have different sets of fares for:

    1) Travel within one zone
    2) Travel across two, three, four or five zones

    That's the way that rail and underground travel is set up for Oyster in London and I don't see why it can't be done here.

    Presuming everyone is going to Dublin is not really the answer.

    At the same time I suspect that the NTA will ultimately need to review the staged fare structure that Bus Eireann uses, and simplify it somewhat so that LEAP does end up offering a discount on all fares.


  • #24
    Shadow Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭Shadow Man


    Thanks for the replies, I thought I had completely missed the point of the Leap card benefits thankfully I hadn't.

    Unfortunately to me it seems like a hidden price increase rather than a discount, if I buy the daily or weekly card as its not practical to avail of unlimited daily travel or the extra 2 days travel on the weekly one either so for the moment I'll keep with the online BE tickets.

    However as lxflyer suggested the taxsaver option would be the best option but will have to wait a little while to see if the company will participate in the scheme in the meantime I'll hope they review the prices for zone travel - one lives in hope.


  • #25
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    Shadow Man wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies, I thought I had completely missed the point of the Leap card benefits thankfully I hadn't.

    Unfortunately to me it seems like a hidden price increase rather than a discount, if I buy the daily or weekly card as its not practical to avail of unlimited daily travel or the extra 2 days travel on the weekly one either so for the moment I'll keep with the online BE tickets.

    However as lxflyer suggested the taxsaver option would be the best option but will have to wait a little while to see if the company will participate in the scheme in the meantime I'll hope they review the prices for zone travel - one lives in hope.

    As I pointed out - that's the problem with zonal fare structures.

    Other people within the zone do benefit from lower fares with LEAP, while your circumstances don't really suit it.

    I suspect that over time that the NTA will revise the cash/online fares so that they are greater than the daily/weekly LEAP fares.


  • #26
    lucernarian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,236 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    Is there any news on when Leap will be extended to ALL Bus Eireann buses in the eastern region? I've often used the 100x, 101 and 100 (though I'm not sure if the latter is a regional service separate to what the NTA calls the greater Dublin area) and its annoying to have to pay x amount when I could enjoy about 20% off or so per journey with leap on the staged fare journeys I take. These were mainly from Dublin Airport I should add.

    Anyway I've checked the leap website and the link to bus eireanns leap info is not working. After some searching, I found the page but it confusingly says that the above routes are included but travel credit cannot be used to purchase Adult single fares on route 100x DAP-Drogheda-Dundalk. Does that mean that 10 journey tickets CAN be bought or even student and child single tickets? Or does it mean that they can be bought while the bus is in Dublin city but once it passes Santry or The Point, leap can't be used??


  • #27
    TheBandicoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭TheBandicoot


    I got a taxsaver Dublin Bus ticket on a Leap card today, but when I tried to use it on the bus it said no valid product. Do I need to activate it or something?


  • #28
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,004 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    TheBandicoot wrote: »
    I got a taxsaver Dublin Bus ticket on a Leap card today, but when I tried to use it on the bus it said no valid product. Do I need to activate it or something?

    Yes.

    You will need to activate it at a Payzone Terminal.

    Your employer should have issued you with a flyer detailing this specific requirement.
    Monthly Taxsaver Ramblers are available from the last week of the preceeding month,so you can have them activated in advance of the due date.

    https://www.leapcard.ie/en/PageSetting/ContentViewer.aspx?Val=hR%2br25waqsyhwNSrPBuo2ni6SS1E7W7YQK%2fyJzy2dfx15d4p8nJfhTm%2b7b4Dzwhs8ezIshL21rkTgEsYDiikauTk5nmRtz%2fjQZPD6sYeciH3nvXByHpVem2BjL5z1ocZmjSHQ%2f1FtRCZPDZi%2fHW0relGYpLdAHP0Gfqr8TwyxVA%3d
    For Luas, DART and Commuter Rail tickets your Leap Card will pick up your ticket as you use the validator in the train station or Luas stop as part of your normal journey.
    For Dublin Bus tickets, it’s necessary to pick up your ticket at a Leap Card agent. Monthly tickets are available for collection from a few days before the end of each month. E.G. If you ordered a monthly ticket for June, it would normally be available for collection from the agent by 25th May.


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #29
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    TheBandicoot wrote: »
    I got a taxsaver Dublin Bus ticket on a Leap card today, but when I tried to use it on the bus it said no valid product. Do I need to activate it or something?

    If its a new one you got for november, why are you expecting it to work in October?

    The payzone thing is only for updating it for any following periods. New cards should have the proper ticket in them when ordered.


  • #30
    TheBandicoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭TheBandicoot


    It's an annual ticket. Not sure on the validity period, but I guess it makes sense that it is starting in November..


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  • #31
    Vahevala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭Vahevala


    I have noticed shops are now charging 50 cent for me to load my taxsaver ticket on to my leap card every month. This has made me so blooming mad. :mad:


  • #32
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,004 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    Vahevala wrote: »
    I have noticed shops are now charging 50 cent for me to load my taxsaver ticket on to my leap card every month. This has made me so blooming mad. :mad:

    Get on to Leapcard Immediately....Their contract with Payzone does not allow for this charge,as the agent has already recieved payment for the service.

    IF the Payzone agents have issues with the rate which they have agreed with Leapcard then their problem is with LEAPCARD and NOT Leapcard USERS.

    This sort of shytt is EXACTLY why I have so many issues with the NTA and it's handling of the Intrgrated Ticketing Programme.

    If Payzone continue with this,then end the contract with whatever agents are making these charges and install a Validator/Terminal adjacent to the premises so that as Leapcard Customer Numbers increase,the Payzone Agent concerned can watch these folks NOT coming into his/her Shop as they load the product.

    Totally unnecessary stuff and needs to be slapped down ASAP !


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #33
    Vahevala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭Vahevala


    AlekSmart wrote: »
    Get on to Leapcard Immediately....Their contract with Payzone does not allow for this charge,as the agent has already recieved payment for the service.

    IF the Payzone agents have issues with the rate which they have agreed with Leapcard then their problem is with LEAPCARD and NOT Leapcard USERS.

    This sort of shytt is EXACTLY why I have so many issues with the NTA and it's handling of the Intrgrated Ticketing Programme.

    If Payzone continue with this,then end the contract with whatever agents are making these charges and install a Validator/Terminal adjacent to the premises so that as Leapcard Customer Numbers increase,the Payzone Agent concerned can watch these folks NOT coming into his/her Shop as they load the product.

    Totally unnecessary stuff and needs to be slapped down ASAP !

    Thanks Alek. I just rang leapcard and they told me it is up to the shops discretion so I guess in future, I will be more selective where I go to load the ticket in future.

    It is absolutely crazy in my opinion. :(


  • #34
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,004 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    Vahevala wrote: »
    Thanks Alek. I just rang leapcard and they told me it is up to the shops discretion so I guess in future, I will be more selective where I go to load the ticket in future.

    It is absolutely crazy in my opinion. :(

    What a Cop-Out on Leapcard's part !

    They should be pressurized into inserting a NO-SURCHARGE requirement into their Payzone Agents Contract.

    This is just sloppy,lazy administration on Leapcard's part...exactly the sort of approach which facilitates people into going back to cash !!!

    Time for them to Roll-Out the Leapcard Walk-In locations and also the use of NON Payzone facilities for Loading Top-Up's onto Leapcards. (ATM's,Phone Booths,RTPI Poles,...ANYWHERE except greedy Payzone Agents who really DO need to be identified,to further teach them a lesson !)

    :(


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #35
    moxin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭moxin


    Vahevala wrote: »
    I have noticed shops are now charging 50 cent for me to load my taxsaver ticket on to my leap card every month. This has made me so blooming mad. :mad:

    This info might help you, in my local area which is riddled with convenience shops who do Payzone, the Centra's charge extra. The Spars do not. This is for both Leap and the Gas card. As a rule when I topup either card, I always buy something in the Spar as a way of thanking them for their time in not charging me to use Payzone.


  • #36
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,476 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    Simple solution replace the ticket machines on Dublin Bus with new, more modern ones which can handle the application of online top-ups.

    You won't need to go near a payzone outlet then.


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  • #37
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,004 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    bk wrote: »
    Simple solution replace the ticket machines on Dublin Bus with new, more modern ones which can handle the application of online top-ups.

    You won't need to go near a payzone outlet then.

    Unlikely in the medium term,however the Leapcard NFC app will offer this functionality to users when it is rolled out.

    I still cannot fathom why they won't use the pre-existing hardwired (and expanding) RTPI pole network.


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #38
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,476 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    AlekSmart wrote: »
    I still cannot fathom why they won't use the pre-existing hardwired (and expanding) RTPI pole network.

    To be honest, it would probably cost more to retrofit the RTPI poles then it would to simply replace the Dublin Bus ticket machines!

    Specially when you take into account maintenance and vandalism costs.

    Actually the cost of this new NFC smartphone app probably isn't much less then the cost of replacing the DB ticket machines!


  • #39
    AngryLips
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,809 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    lxflyer wrote: »
    PERIOD PASSES:
    The following unlimited travel period passes / tickets can be loaded onto a LEAP card, either online (requires you to then visit a payzone outlet) or at a payzone outlet directly

    Hi can someone help me with this - I tried to claim my one month DB/Luas ticket against my personalised Leap Card this morning at an Irish Rail ticket machine but didn't have much luck. Does anyone know what option I'm meant to select to have the pass applied? I know at a Payzone outlet you just ask for a statement so when I was at the machine I selected the option for history but no ticket was applied to my card. I ended up having to top up just to get to work :(


  • #40
    TheBandicoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭TheBandicoot


    My understanding is that the ticket is loaded when you scan at the validator either on the barrier, or the purple poles- not on the ticket machine.

    Incidentally, my card worked today on the bus, so yeah, was only valid from November on.


  • #41
    AngryLips
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,809 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    TheBandicoot wrote: »
    My understanding is that the ticket is loaded when you scan at the validator either on the barrier, or the purple poles- not on the ticket machine.

    Incidentally, my card worked today on the bus, so yeah, was only valid from November on.

    You have a monthly ticket that worked on the bus today and you didn't need to validate the card elsewhere to have the monthly ticket loaded first? That wasn't my experience a month ago.

    I asked the person at the ticket desk of Heuston station and he told me to load it at the ticket machine. It doesn't sound right that I have to validate the card card as though I was making a Luas or IR journey before I can use the ticket on the bus.


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  • #42
    TheBandicoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭TheBandicoot


    AngryLips wrote: »
    You have a monthly ticket that worked on the bus today and you didn't need to validate the card elsewhere to have the monthly ticket loaded first? That wasn't my experience a month ago.

    Sorry, I was referring to this post I made last week. It is a yearly taxsaver ticket, it was already loaded on the card but I didn't realise of course it wouldn't work until November.


  • #43
    TheBandicoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭TheBandicoot


    AngryLips wrote: »
    It doesn't sound right that I have to validate the card card as though I was making a Luas or IR journey before I can use the ticket on the bus.

    Pretty certain this is the case. Your options are to tag on at an Irish Rail/Luas location or pick up from a shop with Payzone.


  • #44
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    TheBandicoot wrote: »
    Pretty certain this is the case. Your options are to tag on at an Irish Rail/Luas location or pick up from a shop with Payzone.

    This is correct - it needs to touch a "live" terminal to get updated.

    Dublin Bus ticket machines do not have sufficient memory to store this kind of information.


  • #45
    AngryLips
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,809 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    lxflyer wrote: »
    Dublin Bus ticket machines do not have sufficient memory to store this kind of information.

    It was an IR ticket machine I was using. I'll use the Luas/IR validators instead next time.


  • #46
    TheBandicoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭TheBandicoot


    I do agree it would be nice if Irish Rail and Luas ticket machines could be made to support tagging on/off(for the common situation where the validators are out of action) and picking up Leap products. Haven't heard anything about this happening though.


  • #47
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,615 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    AngryLips wrote: »
    It was an IR ticket machine I was using. I'll use the Luas/IR validators instead next time.

    I know that - I was explaining why you have to go to a Payzone agent or a IE/LUAS validator and can't use a DB ticket machine.


  • #48
    AngryLips
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,809 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    TheBandicoot wrote: »
    I do agree it would be nice if Irish Rail and Luas ticket machines could be made to support... picking up Leap products.

    I should have known that there was something too logical about being able to collect your monthly/annual leap ticket from an IR/Luas ticket machine :rolleyes:


  • #49
    Vahevala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭Vahevala


    Just to follow up on my last post about the 50 cent cost. I have followed up with Payzone and they told me that this is something that they do not condone.

    If someone else has got charged like I did, send an email to info@payzone.ie and give them the name of the retailer and the address and they will follow up with the retailer.


  • #50
    Geuze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,262 ✭✭✭✭Geuze


    Just to clarify:

    I recently travelled:

    Luas - Four Courts to Connolly = 1.45
    DART - Connolly to Blackrock = 2.00


    So next year that multi-modal journey will cost me (1.45 + 2.00) - 1.00 discount = 2.45?

    (Please ignore any fare increases due in answer)


  • #51
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    Depends on what they'll do as the discount on their service and for multi mode service.

    Such as the way capping varies so much between'em.


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