[Colm Moore]

http://www.transportforireland.ie/in...cketing-scheme

Integrated Ticketing Scheme
Calling Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Commuter Rail Users

We are calling for 500 customers, aged 16+, to assist in the final testing phase of the new integrated ticketing scheme – Leap Card. It allows you to pay for travel on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Commuter Rail with one smartcard. It’s due to be introduced in the Greater Dublin Area in the coming weeks but you could be among the first to use it!

If you are interesting in participating in this testing phase please click the link below from Friday 18th November 2011 to apply to take part. If your application is successful you will receive a Leap Card Topped Up with €20 Travel Credit. Then you can use the card instead of buying single/return tickets for your normal travel. We will send you a short questionnaire by email to get your feedback about your experiences using the card.

In line with international best practice for introducing smartcard technology, Leap Card is being rolled out on a gradual basis and this testing phase is the final stage in advance of the introduction of the card to the market.

(Link Coming Soon!)

Note this link will become active on Friday 18th November.


Background Information

In 2011, the National Transport Authority took over responsibility for the completion and delivery for the Integrated Ticketing Scheme (ITS) in the Greater Dublin Area. The Scheme will allow customers to use a single smart card to pay for their travel on public transport within and around Dublin. The smart card will help make journeys on public transport easier as coins will no longer be required to pay for single tickets. Customers will simply touch their card to a reader at the gate or point of entry and exit (entry only on bus), benefiting from improved convenience and speed in the ticketing process.


Customer Benefits of ITS Smart Cards

• Flexible – the same smart card can be used on multiple transport operators
• No need to have the correct change or carry cash
• Reduced boarding times on buses
• Shorter queues for tickets at Luas and Irish Rail Ticket machines
• Fast, secure and convenient transactions
• Reusable – the card can be topped-up with travel credit (or period tickets in the future)

Transport Operator Benefits of ITS Smart Cards

• Reduced cash management
• Facilitates easier transfers between services
• Improves transport services by making them easier to use
• Tamper proof storage of transaction activities
• Decreased levels of fare evasion and fraud loss
• Reliable and proven technology in volume production
• Provides a tool to implement creative and flexible fares
• Accurate data for service planning purposes

Interim Smart Card Schemes

A number of interim single transport operator smart card schemes are currently in place on the following transport operators: Luas, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail (for DART and Commuter Rail services).

As a result, each of these operators now has smart card acceptance infrastructure in place and in use, and customers are becoming familiar with using smart cards. These schemes will migrate, over time, to the single ITS smart card after its launch. Added functionality and products will be phased-in following the ITS launch, as is explained below.


Current Status..

Testing

The new scheme underwent a first round of live customer testing in early 2011. This involved testing the card acceptance infrastructure on both Dublin Bus and Luas. An annual Dublin Bus and Luas ticket was loaded onto the test cards and test users were asked to use the card as they normally would in their every-day travel patterns. The back office systems are currently undergoing final testing before the customer launch of the scheme.

The final round of testing is now under way. This round is focusing on the pay-as-you-go element of the scheme. Every time the test user makes a journey, the appropriate fare gets deducted from their test card.


Roll Out Plans

The scheme will be launched when testing proves that the entire system is sufficiently robust. It will facilitate cashless travel on services of participating operators, initially Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Commuter Rail services in the Dublin area. Users will be able to top-up their ITS card with Travel Credit and pay as they go. The scheme will then be rolled out to cover services provided by private bus operators, and Bus Éireann in the greater Dublin area following completion of the necessary development, testing and commissioning of their systems.


Future Developments

Once the Travel Credit aspect of ITS is established, more functions will be added, on a phased basis. This will include the introduction of:

Transfer Rebates – this is where the system will “rebate” your card with a fixed amount of Travel Credit when you transfer between transport modes
Auto Top-Up makes sure you never run out of Travel Credit by automatically topping up your card from your bank account. Once it’s introduced, you’ll be able to activate this online.
A wide range of ticket products such as annual and monthly passes
Cards specifically for Students and Scholars


Project Background

In 2011, the National Transport Authority took over responsibility (from the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA) for the completion and delivery for the Integrated Ticketing Scheme (ITS) in the Greater Dublin Area. RPA is finishing out the remaining work on the development of the system, and the Authority is now directly managing the transport operators’ aspect of the project, and is piloting the use of cards.