[Colm Moore]

http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=1261

Some rail fares to increase from 4th January 2012 by Corporate Communications

Iarnród Éireann advises customers that some rail fares will increase on 4th January 2012, following a decision by the National Transport Authority to approve average increases ranging from 6 to 6.7%.

These increases follow from the reduction in funds available to subsidise public transport announced in the Budget.

The new Leap Card (a smartcard card which will operate across all public transport providers) will give commuters and travellers an option to pay lower fares. The Leap card is now available.

The Authority has approved increases for Iarnród Éireann averaging 6% on DART and 6.7% on Commuter services. A significant discount on cash fares will continue to be available for customers using the new Leap Card. This discount ranges between 16% and 19% for single fares.

The following fare types will increase from 4th January 2012:


Dublin DART Commuter Fares

• Adult and Child Single, Day Return, 3 Day and 7 Day tickets together with all Weekly and Monthly fares.

• Schoolchild Single and Return tickets.

• Some Adult, Child, Schoolchild and Scholar epurse fares on Smartcards will be increased. Epurse fares apply to both the IE Smartcard and the Leap Card, but will be in all cases lower than cash fares.

• Rail/Luas and Rail/Bus/Luas fares will also be adjusted from this date.



Cork/Cobh Commuter Fares

• Adult and Child Single & Day Returns and Adult, Student and Child Weekly and Monthly fares.



Commuter Season Tickets

• Adult, Student and Child Weekly and Monthly fares will increase in all zones.

• Annual Tickets and Monthly Season Tickets issued under the Taxsaver scheme will be increased from Thursday 1st March 2012. Rail/Bus Tickets

• Fares increases to combined Bus and Rail tickets in the Dublin and Cork Commuter areas and Medium, Long and Giant Hop tickets will take place in February 2012.


Intercity fares will be subject to a separate decision by the National Transport Authority, and any increase in these will be advised in due course.

For further information on the fare increases approval, please consult the NTA Website.