Cork City buses to introduce 90-minute free transfer Leap fare from next month
A new distance-based fare structure is also being introduced in a new commuter zone outside the city zone that will extend to some 30km from the city centre.
However, plans to introduce a new 'tap-on tap-off' payment system on the bus fleet around the same time have been delayed due to technical and software issues, the Irish Examiner has learned.
It follows the adoption of a new fares policy and two new fares zones for Cork by the board of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The fares will be introduced in three phases from next month, with the flat 90-minute Leap card fare introduced first, applying initially to Cork City bus services only.
The second stage, scheduled for later this year, will see a flat 90-minute Leap card bus and rail fare, applying to city bus services and to rail services between Kent, Little Island and Glounthane stations. The fare will be set higher than the bus-only 90-minute fare in stage one, which will then be discontinued.
And next year, stage three will see the introduction of distance-based commuter bus fares in the new Cork Commuter Zone, which is outside the city zone and extends 30km from the city centre to include the rest of the commuter train stations, including Midleton and Mallow, as well as commuter bus services operating in the area that extends to just south Fermoy, and takes in Bandon and Kinsale.
However, plans to install a pole-mounted Leap card validator system on buses to allow passengers board and pay without having to go to the driver have been delayed over technical and software issues.
The new fares structure, similar to the TFI 90-minute fare that operates in Dublin across the capital's bus and Luas network, is seen as a vital part of the BusConnects project. The fare changes will apply to the existing bus network before the Cork BusConnects network is introduced, from next April.
Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said they will have a real impact.
'They're the first stage of the overall BusConnects programme that people will actually experience. They'll make a real difference to passengers and services here and now, where people will really feel it,' he said.
'In the next five to 10 years, we need to draw more people onto public transport in preparation for high-frequency commuter rail, BusConnects and eventually the Luas. Public transport has to be the go-to choice for commuting in the city in that time period.'
Despite the delay in the introduction of the tap-on, tap-off payment system, Mr Moran said once it's introduced, it will mean faster boarding.
'That's going to help with queuing times at busy stops like St Patrick's Street, Kent Station and Clontarf Street. It means in overall journey times, a bus driver can travel faster too along a route.'
Read More
Is more congestion in Cork City an inevitability?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Navan Town Bus network expands with new stops in Meath
The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann have announced a significant expansion of the Navan Town Bus Service, with new stops on routes NV1 and NV2. The changes will take effect from Saturday, July 27, and aim to improve public transport access across the town, especially in growing residential areas. Route NV1 (formerly N1) will be extended eastwards to include new stops at Carne Wood, Johnstown Village, and Dunville. As part of this realignment, the Kilcarn Bridge stop will no longer be served by this route. Route NV2 (formerly N2) will now reach new stops in Navan's northeast, serving Belcourt, Blackcastle Demesne, and Blackcastle Estate. The frequency of both NV1 and NV2 routes will remain unchanged, operating every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday, and hourly on Sundays between 08:30 and 22:30. All buses on these routes are now fully accessible with low-floor access, ensuring a more inclusive service for passengers with mobility needs, parents with buggies, and older adults. John Nott, Head of Public Transport Service Planning at the NTA, said the upgrade directly addresses the town's growth and rising transport needs. "As Navan and Johnstown develop, it is essential that public transport keeps pace. These service improvements represent a significant milestone in delivering a more connected, reliable, and accessible transport network for local communities,' he said. Adrian O'Loughlin, Senior Regional Manager, East at Bus Éireann, noted the continued popularity of Navan's bus services. He said: 'These improvements will positively impact passengers travelling for work, leisure, health and education. Demand for our services in Navan is high and we have seen considerable growth in recent years, delivering over 111.6 million passenger journeys last year.' Meanwhile local councillor also welcomed the news. Independent councillor, Alan Lawes, said: 'The bus service expansion is very welcome as Dunville is a very busy estate and in Old Johnstown, there are new houses being added there as well.' 'This is good as we are trying to encourage more people to use public transport so extra services are always welcome.' 'There will be a lot of students who would also benefit from the new services. It will be convenient for them,' he added. Councillor Emer Tóibín (Aontú) said: 'This is a much needed development for residents in the are who have been calling for better public transport links for years.' "It is a step in the right direction towards making Navan a more connected, accessible, and sustainable town.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
AstraZeneca says new facility in Dublin on target for 2026 completion
Drug maker AstraZeneca has announced plans to invest $50bn (€42.6bn) in the US over the next five years amid the looming threat of US president Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The firm said the investment will fund a new "state-of-the-art" manufacturing facility in Virginia - set to be its largest single manufacturing investment in the world. It will also expand research and development (R&D) and cell therapy manufacturing in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana and Texas. In 2021 AstraZeneca said it was investing €300m to establish a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility for small molecules in Dublin. Those plans are unaffected by the US announcement, a spokesperson told the Irish Examiner. "In line with our plans, the construction of our synthetic drug substance commercialisation facility in Ireland is scheduled for completion in 2026," said the spokesperson. The US announcement marks the latest by a global pharmaceutical giant to expand its footprint in the US as Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 20% on drug imports in an effort to increase manufacturing in America and drive down costs for Americans. AstraZeneca said the mammoth investment will create tens of thousands of jobs across the US, "powering growth and delivering next-generation medicines for patients in America and worldwide". The Anglo-Swedish group, which is listed on the FTSE 100, said the investment will also help it towards the group's target of reaching $80bn (€60bn) in revenues by 2030, with half of this is expected to come from the US, it added. Despite being headquartered in the UK, America is AstraZeneca's largest market, where it employs more than 18,000 staff and makes 42% of total group sales. It already has 19 R&D, manufacturing and commercial sites across the country.
Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Irish Times
Fingal County Council declares NTA planning application invalid
Fingal County Council has declared a planning application by the National Transport Authority for a 'strategic' park-and-ride facility near M1 as 'invalid'. The 733 space car park in Lissenhall, just north of Swords, was to encourage commuters to leave their vehicles and take buses into the city and forms part of the NTA's wide park-and-ride strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The council rejected the application, invalidating it as the site notice, application form and newspaper notice descriptions did not match. The application was also deemed not to include details of a planned on-site wastewater treatment system. In the decision letter, Fingal County Council also said a series of proposed developments were judged to be drawn to an incorrect scale, had incorrect elevations or had photos which 'do not appear to be reflective of the drawing plans and elevations'. The developments the council took issue with include a proposed bus shelter, bike lockers, a bike shelter, toilets and an ESB substation. A spokesman for the NTA said the reasons for the rejection 'are all minor such as inconsistency in the wording of the site notice and newspaper advertisement and some issues with the scaling of drawings submitted'. The spokesman said the NTA is addressing the issues and will resubmit the application 'in a matter of days'. In the application, the NTA sought permission to build 733 car parking spaces, which would be made up of 522 standard spaces, 37 spaces for mobility-impaired users, 72 spaces designated for electric vehicles and an additional 72 space futureproofed for electric vehicles. Based on a 6.74 hectare site located at Lissenhall Little, just west of the junction 4 of the M1 motorway into Dublin, the facility would include 3 bus bays as well as passenger shelters in a bid to 'enhance accessibility and convenience for users'. To enable active travel, the development would include bike shelter and lockers. The proposed Lissenhall park-and-ride development was expected to serve as a short-term interim solution which would eventually be replaced by a considerably larger, 3,500 vehicle car park nearby to service the planned Dublin metro system once constructed. Revealing the plans in response to a parliamentary question in February, the NTA said the development is planned as an 'interim solution to reduce vehicles entering the city before the commencement of operation of the Metrolink'. It said the project would 'intercept car trips where people are reliant on private cars at an early viable point in their journeys thereby reducing the distances travelled by private car with a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions congestion.'
