where/how to pay with leap card for Irish trail

murfilein

so I've read the sticky, but i need to be absolutely clear on it.

can i just go to the train station (carrigtwohill in my case) and swipe in with my leap card and get on the train to cork city? i don't need to book anything in advance, or do i?

also, does carrigtwohill-cork city count as short fare? it's not really clear from the Irish rail website

mikeybhoy

Yes just make sure you tag on and tag off

murfilein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119005607#Comment_119005607

sorry, but what do you mean with tag on/tag off?

excuse my ignorance, I've never taken the train in Ireland...

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119006075#Comment_119006075

Just touch the Leap card at the gates to enter the station/platform and then touch again at your destination when you exit the station/platform. If you forget to tag off, you'll be charged a full fare for the whole length from your starting point to the last train stop of the route.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119006075#Comment_119006075

You tag on with your Leap card at the validators some stations have barrier gates similar to the likes of the London Underground others have validators posted on a pole as seen below. Make sure you remember to tag on otherwise you may be fined if an inspector boards your train even if the barriers are open.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/23737516550

murfilein

thanks guys!!

I'm at the train stop right now, there are no gates but there tap stations. i tapped my leap card and holy ****, 4,90 euros? no wonder everybody rather drive their car.

/edit: i thought i read 1,90 for a short commuter ride or so. which i expected carrigtwohill-cork city to be.

HeidiHeidi

That's the maximum fare.

When you tag off, the unused portion of the fare (if any) will be put back on your card.

murfilein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008267#Comment_119008267

quite the opposite - i was charged another 35cents when i tagged off? did i even tag off? couldn't see any tag off station like in carrigtwohill other than the gate to get out, so i scanned there for the gate to open and left. or do i have to tag off separately elsewhere before exiting?

Screenshot_20220503-080616~2.jpg

/edit: just now realising that is a credit of 35 cents lol.... but still, 4,55 still a steep price for only going 3 stops

questionmark?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008367#Comment_119008367

It appears that the 20% fare reduction has not come to Cork with that price. Same as the old fare(which is much too high for the journey you took)

Peregrine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008517#Comment_119008517

The 20% fare reduction for Leap rail fares only applies from next week.

OP, are you a student or under the age of 24? If so, there will further 50% savings from next week.

murfilein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008768#Comment_119008768

nah, I'm an old ass 36 year old working guy... still quite expensive i i would say. it's almost as if Ireland wants to make train commuting unattractive.

namloc1980

OP, I commute daily from Carrigtwohill to Cork. I do have a taxsaver ticket which makes things much cheaper.

The bus from Carrigtwohill is much much cheaper than the train. €1.35 single with the 20% fare reduction included.

murfilein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010259#Comment_119010259

oh yeah, i would prefer the bus. but there doesn't seem to be a bus which would get me to parnell place at around 7 or shortly after 7? at least not according to the tfi website. tfi lists one at like 7:20 or so which doesn't work when i start work at 8.

questionmark?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010259#Comment_119010259

Thats actually great value for the bus!