Leap Card transfer fares

cgcsb

Any guesses as to when we'll have a fully integrated system i.e. simple zone based fares covering all operators with no charge for changing service or changing mode?

Leap has been out for 3 years now, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a standard European system by now or very close to it

LXFlyer

I suspect that given the current financial predicaments in which the operators face, anything that diminishes farebox revenue is likely to be further down the line.

I think major overhauls are unlikely in the short term - already the Irish Rail fare zones are only being changed on a phased basis so as not to impact significantly on the company's revenues or on customers.

AlekSmart

cgcsb wrote: »

Any guesses as to when we'll have a fully integrated system i.e. simple zone based fares covering all operators with no charge for changing service or changing mode?

Leap has been out for 3 years now, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a standard European system by now or very close to it

This very feature needed to be NUMBER ONE on the list of "Stuff" that the ITS Implementation Group began it's work with.

Instead,the ITS group decided,with FULL foreknowledge to embark upon a totally different and disparate course which has led us to todays impasse.

Had the ITS group began with Integration as it's Initial target then we would today have a FAR better Leapcard system.

However,for whatever mysterious reason,the ITS did'nt adhere to commonsense,so we have what we have...a sortofa,kindofa,ITS system which is good in parts....:rolleyes:

LXFlyer

Alek you seem to be in a vacuum with regard to the financial position of the companies.

Right now anything that could impact negatively on overall revenue is likely to be on hold - while it is desirable I suspect that the bottom line is that they can't risk revenue being reduced further.

The government is still reducing subsidies and I suspect anything along these lines will be something that is done very gradually.

AlekSmart

lxflyer wrote: »

Alek you seem to be in a vacuum with regard to the financial position of the companies.

Right now anything that could impact negatively on overall revenue is likely to be on hold - while it is desirable I suspect that the bottom line is that they can't risk revenue being reduced further.

The government is still reducing subsidies and I suspect anything along these lines will be something that is done very gradually.

Nope Lxf,no vacuum at all...I'm as aware as you about financial constraints.

What I am less complacent about,is the lack of accountability at the highest levels on the manner in which the ITS programme was progressed.

My point is that decisions of the most basic importance,the ABC's of Integration as a concept were ignored from the outset by the ITS under the direction of the Dept of Transport and thus the Government.

As you quite correctly point-out,the two greatest successes in ITS,Oystercard and Octopus were not overnight instant-successes,however their developmental curve was already well documented when the ITS group BEGAN their Leapcard setup.....:(

My banging-on about it will not solve the issues at all,but I'm not content to allow people to point fingers at the Front-Line Operators and their staff,for shortcomings which the Highest Level Management actively conspired to impose from the outset.

Just as with the Anglo-Irish trial,whereby a very significant judgement from Judge Nolan has placed the actions of The former Financial Regulator,Paddy Neary,very firmly back on the table,we should be afforded the courtesy of an explanation as to why our Flagship ITS project did NOT take advantage of it's technological head-start.

Ireland had an almost perfect co-ordinated Public Transport infrastructural base in the CIE group operations at the commencement of ITS,fully under the control of the State,thus allowing a high-degree of direction to be excercised...which had it been availed of,could well have seen ITS Leapcard today being THE mode of payment for ALL Irish Public Transport......:eek:

Missed Opportunity ? ...You Bet !!! :rolleyes: