[Article] Not-so-smart cards

[Thomas Ralph]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/notsosmart-bus-and-rail-cards-2301148.html

[Mark Gleeson]

I hate to say it but we have pressured Irish Rail to come up with a solution

Not perfect but no more ticket replacements will be needed

[Colm Moore]

Just to check. Is this two separate smart cards, not a smart card and a mag stripe card?

[Mark Gleeson]

It is two distinct smartcards

[drumcondra commuter]

If I have a non-functioning Annual Rail and Bus card right now, can I replace it with this new two card system? Or do I have to wait until January when my new card would have been issued?

p.s. good to see you on the telly last night Mark.

[Mark Gleeson]

You have to wait until your current ticket expires.

If you bought the ticket directly they can do some class of offset and issue you a ticket for 12 months from Sept 1st less the value remaining on the existing ticket. Its not really practical for taxsaver customers

RTE naturally cut the sentence which said, DB and IE have indicated that they could provide a single card but are prohibited by contract from doing so. The smartcard in the video is actually mine!

We have had several rounds of correspondence with the Taxsaver office in IE and have always found them outstandingly helpful.

Anyone with a Heuston side ticket giving trouble should get it replaced, major changes were made recently which might clear the problems there. As always avoid use of the on bus ticket validator, show the driver the ticket.