Half-price travel for under-24s in budget 2022

Peregrine

This is really positive. While most people don't list cost as the primary reason for not using public transport more often, it's a more common reason among young people. This could save that cohort up to several hundred euro per year.

https://independent.ie/business/budget/restructured-leap-card-will-see-half-price-travel-on-public-transport-for-under-24s-40939569.html

I do wonder if this applies to people on student Leapcards aged 24 and over. The article is very poorly written so it's a bit difficult to say.

Deedsie

Being rolled out on intercity and Mainline trains. Dont think leapcards could be used on these trains before?

Do intercity trains have the required technology to work with leapcards? Tag on/off etc

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118008943#Comment_118008943

I could be wrong, but perhaps it will be that you buy the ticket in the app and then you load it on your leap card, rather then tag on/off.

Jamie2k9

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118009268#Comment_118009268

Indeed Irish Times has better info:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/public-transport-fares-to-be-halved-for-19-to-23-year-olds-1.4698212

"The Department of Transport hopes the card used will be an update of the Leap Card which will include age identification, and which can be uploaded to a smart phone."

I am going to assume the 50% discount will apply off the standard walk up intercity fares and in reality students traveling with Irish Rail will likely see no changes because the student fares online are probably cheaper or equal to half the adult fare as is. Student single on Intercity start from 10.99 online, that would be about 18.00+ (returns best value at TMV) if you purchase a single on the day so I am not sure you will see fare drop more.

I guess those who don't attend college or don't have a student card will benefit.

bikeman1

It will be a huge benefit for students in Dublin making ad hoc journeys which I would guess is quite a lot.

It is also great for those who are starting out in work. They can hop on a bus into town for €1.12 or €1.25 at the going fares, which is a huge help for that age range.

I know if that was in place when I was that age, it would have a very positive effect on my finances.

bk

"The Department of Transport hopes the card used will be an update of the Leap Card which will include age identification, and which can be uploaded to a smart phone."

That sounds like the new feature in iPhones (I assume Google has something similar) that allows transit authorities to add their transit cards to Apple Wallet, so that your phone can act as a virtual leap card, with all the functionality of a Leap card, but without needing the physical card.

This is a bit different to supporting contactless payments (credit, debit cards, Apple/Google Pay).

The former is more useful for kids, students and those with monthly/weekly taxsaver type tickets. The latter is more useful for more general day to day users.

Hopefully they support both for all users.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207958

Peregrine

Students to get the 50% discount on Bus Éireann PSO services from next week (in addition to the temporary 20%). Youth card still being developed to be launched next month.

Peregrine

Young Adult Card launching on May 9th. The 90 minute fare will be €1 for the remainder of 2022 with the additonal 20% discount. The fares determination report has all the details:

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Fares-Determination.pdf

devnull

Why not just call it Young Adult Leap? Just having another product outside the Leap Card banner just seems clumsy.

Peregrine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118944168#Comment_118944168

I'm fairly sure it will be a personalised Leap Card like the personalised Child Leap Card.

Peregrine

The application portal for Young Adult Cards is now open. Discount kicks in tomorrow for existing Student Leap Card holders (which, I imagine, is a significant number of those eligible for the new YAC).

https://leapcard.ie/en/NavigationPages/CardPurchase.aspx