NTA Publishes 2024 Fares Plan Changes

LXFlyer

The TFI page has now been updated for the pending changes to the bus fares & prepaid tickets:

https://www.transportforireland.ie/fares/new-fare-zones/

thomasj

It's disappointing that 197 gets the 90 minute/2 euro fare but not the 105. It's a similar distance from Swords to Ashbourne as it is from Blanchardstown .

The 90 minute fare would've been great for rail/bus connections for Ratoath and Ashbourne but the 2.40 express fare and zone 1 addon will tempt people away from the option.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123526201#Comment_123526201

I was thinking that myself but I suppose the problem is every second 105 goes to Drogheda via Duleek whereas the 197 is now the same as any other DB/GAI service.

Polar101

Is Ashbourne in Zone 1 or 2? Can't tell from the zone maps.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123526201#Comment_123526201

The 197 is now part of the Dublin City Bus network - hence it qualifies for the 90 minute fare.

The 105 is still a regional commuter service that doesn't stop at every single bus stop between Navan Road Parkway and Dunboyne for example.

People in Ashbourne can get a 24 hour, weekly, monthly and annual prepaid multi-modal ticket on their LEAP cards via the LEAP top-up app or LEAP website, which are priced at the same prices as the daily and weekly caps for Dublin city services, and which offer unlimited travel across all city bus, LUAS and suburban rail in zone 1.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123526504#Comment_123526504

Ashbourne is now in zone 1.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123526599#Comment_123526599

On the 197. I believe Streetlites 12141/42/43 have now been withdrawn so now fully operated by regular GAI Streetlites so most certainly a full Dublin city route.

Good to see this route being properly integrated into the regular Dublin city network. I always thought it was silly that this route was an outlier for long.

LXFlyer

https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/new-leap-zonal-fare-structure-for-dublin-commuter-tfi-bus-services-to-take-effect-june-16th/

New Leap Zonal Fare Structure for Dublin Commuter TFI Bus Services to Take Effect June 16th

9th June 2025

Revised fares for commuter bus customers to be introduced under a new Leap zonal fare structure are to take effect June 16th. This follows changes to rail fares that were implemented in April.

The revisions give effect to the NTA’s National Fare Strategy published in 2023 and NTA Fares Determination published in 2024.

Under those plans, fares are to be determined on a more equitable and easy-to-understand basis.
The cost per kilometre travelled is now more consistent, and fares are more closely related to the straight-line distance between the origin and destination of journey.

Key Features of the New Fare Structure

Fares are now calculated on the basis of four new zonal fares. Under the previous system, operators such as Bus Éireann and Iarnrod Éireann had their own fare zones that did not align with each other. The new system consolidates these into a single structure and is therefore fairer and more consistent.

Zone 1 includes areas within a 23km radius of central Dublin.

Zone 2 covers areas including Gormanston, Skerries, Kilcock, Sallins & Naas, Greystones. and Kilcoole.

Zone 3 covers areas including Drogheda, Enfield, Newbridge and Wicklow Town.

Zone 4 covers areas including as Kildare Town and Rathdrum.

What This Means for Commuters

From June 16th, fares on commuter services provided by both Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland are to change with some decreasing, some increasing, and some largely unchanged.

The new fare structure includes revisions to single journey fares and in all cases, payment by Leap Card offers the best available value compared to cash.

New daily, weekly and monthly Leap products based on zone, are also being rolled out. These cover journeys from the zones into the centre of Dublin but also include journeys within the central zone on all TFI rail, Luas and Dublin city bus services, offering great value to customers.

For full fare details and zone maps, please visit the official TransportforIreland.ie website.

stephenjmcd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123528207#Comment_123528207

No clarity yet on if the annual tickets we've had from 1st June will work from 16th, in terms of being read by the validators. Contacted Be today and they hadn't an update from the NTA.

One would assume that the drivers validators will be able to see from the 16th a zone 3 yearly or monthly multimodel ticket for example valid from 1st June

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123528447#Comment_123528447

I would expect that the plan is that they will be.

It would make no sense for them not to be, once the ticketing equipment has been updated for the new fares structure.

stephenjmcd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123528662#Comment_123528662

Fully agree, however as of today there's no clarity, it's as if various departments don't talk to each other in advance of announcements

stop

Ridiculous that the map includes Laragh and Roundwood which don't have routes affected but does not include Ashford, Kilmacanogue, Newtownmountkennedy - places actual commuters get the affected services from!

From what I can see, leap fares for these, for singles to Dublin will change as follows:

Kilmac: 2.66→3.70 (+39%)

Newtown: 2.80→3.70 (+32%)

Ashford: 4.76→5.30 (+11%)

Great way to encourage people to give up driving on the N11!

Not sure of this thought as the Commuter Bus Fares section mentions "Zone 2 (train to City Centre)".

This line confuses me:

"

My journey does not involve travelling into Dublin, and with the new system, my fare is increasing substantially. What are you doing about that?

While the number of customers affected by this is relatively low, NTA intends to assess the feasibility of the introduction of a Leap Card zonal ticket for journeys that begin in zone 2, 3 or 4, but that don’t include travel to or through the Zone 1. If it is decided to proceed with these tickets following the assessment, it is likely to take several months to implement.

"

Does that mean that travel e.g from Kilmac to Newtown will go from 1.54 to 3.70 just because its in Zone 2?

They link to the existing BE fare calculator, but not a site showing the future fares.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123528962#Comment_123528962

Re the last point - they are talking about the cost of prepaid period ticket products - 24 hour / weekly / monthly / annual, not single fares which will be distance based.

They priced these tickets on the basis of including travel to and from zone 1 and including multi-modal travel within zone 1.

The map on the Bus Éireann website shows the places that you’re referring to:

Kilmacanogue will be in zone 1.

Newtownmountkennedy be in zone 2.

Ashford, Rathnew and Wicklow will be in zone 3.

These changes are going to be good news for some and bad news for others as the old fares were not based on a common fare structure across all routes.

That means that some people were paying far less than others for exactly the same journey - this will eliminate these discrepancies.

For sure this won’t go down too well with those who will see their fares go up, but it will result in a single distance based fare chart all across the country after it is fully implemented in a number of years time.

You are correct - the fares calculator has yet to be updated - so it’s difficult to see individual trips.

The zones only come into play for pricing single trips when it involves travel into zone 1.

For all trips that don’t involve travel into zone 1, they are priced in distances of 10km bands between the two bus stops as per page 35 of the fares determination report.

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Fares-determination-v4.6.pdf

So Kilmac to Newtown does not involve travel to zone 1, and as such it would use the national fares chart which should be €2 for being under 10km “crow-fly” distance.

stop

Thanks Lx, the snip was from the FAQs and doesn't mention period tickets, so its very confusing.

Any ideas what fares qualify as 'short' within Zone 1 ?

• Flat express fare: €2.40
• Short, non-express trips: €2.00

Re the map on the Bus Éireann website - pretty poor showing that the low res map on this page:

Changes to Dublin Commuter Area Bus Fares from Monday 16 June

Shows Ashford in Zone 3. That page offers a link:
Further information including sample fares for popular journeys are available here.

Bus Éireann | Leap Card. Use your Leap Card to access big discounts travelling with Bus Éireann

Which shows presumably the current setup with Ashford in Zone 3 - very confusing.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123529243#Comment_123529243

I am basing everything on the fares determination report which is the bible on this.

Take what I have written above as being correct and you won’t go wrong.

The comment on the TFI page about travel within zones 2-4 really relates to rail travel where there were already point to point weekly, monthly and annual tickets - they didn’t retain that when implementing the new structure, and only included travel to/from zone 1, and the people concerned were up in arms as the fares shot up.

The bus tickets already included travel to zone 1.

They have yet to update that LEAP card page linked to on the BÉ website for the new fare structure - it’s still showing the current fare info.

The low res map on the news story page is correct and reflects what I wrote above.

A short trip in zone 1 for regional commuter services should be one that is purely in BÉ territory and doesn’t involve sections of the route where the bus is limited stop (i.e. where city bus routes operate).

The fare stages will be adjusted to reflect this across all BÉ routes.

Qaanaaq

So if I have this right, a bus from say Balbriggan to Skerries will now be 2.40. Both are in zone 2. But a bus from Rush to the City is 2 euro. A 10min journey versus 1hr journey.

It seems to really punish people in the outer zones making local trips .

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123529452#Comment_123529452

No - these changes only apply to regional commuter services operated by Bus Éireann and GoAhead.

Dublin City bus services retain the same fares as now, irrespective of whether they go into zone 2, and capping still applies.

So the 33 and 33a are unchanged.

I travel from Zone 2 to Zone 1 on a Dublin City Bus service such as 33, 33a, 33x, 65, 65a, L1, L2, L3 – do I still get the TFI 90 minute fare and Leap Capping?

Yes, the TFI 90 minute fare as well as Zone 1 daily/weekly Leap capping applies to all routes across the TFI Dublin city bus network, including those operating in Zone 2. 30 day and annual Zone 1 tickets also include all routes across the TFI Dublin city bus network, including those operating in Zone 2. The TFI 90 minute fare, fare caps and tickets do not apply to Bus Éireann or Go-Ahead Ireland (Dublin to Kildare) commuter bus services.

On the general principle, I think people have to be realistic - there will always be a greater level of fare subsidy within the city area (which is being measured in Dublin’s case as within 23km from the city centre) or on local town services.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123529452#Comment_123529452

These fares don't apply to DB/GAI city services only to BE/GAI commuter routes and trains.

So a trip from Balbriggan to Skerries will still be €2 on the 33/a. In Balbriggan's case the zones apply only to the trains and the 101.

C507

Hi there does anyone know what the fare will be for the new 24hr zonal that extends beyond zone 4 to athboy which is just outside the zone,(same as yellow zonal) which is currently €9.60 for child. Will this even exist with the new fares? Particularly looking at using it to get to or from Athboy and Kells.

Perhaps @LXFlyer, you may know?

Also, how does it work loading this ticket on to your leap card vs using tfi go when the driver is checking your leap card

Any suggestions much appreciated

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123529953#Comment_123529953

The Yellow and Orange zones continue to exist as before.

No change in prices for 24 hour and weekly tickets.

You can buy them via TFI Go app which you then show the driver once you activate the ticket.

Alternatively buy it via the leap card website and add to your child leap card via the LEAP Top-Up app.

You may be able to buy it directly via the LEAP top-up app onto a Child LEAP card, but not having any child cards to test with, I can’t confirm this.

C507

Thanks, but how does it work if you load it on your leap card for when you validate your ticket with the driver. Does automatically show up on the machine for the driver or can they charge you for a single fare even when you have a zonal ticket. Just checking but surely the 24hour Dublin area zonal tickets for bus eireann are valid on the town bus services e.g. navan or drogheda if purchasing the right zone. Can anyone confirm this?

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123530955#Comment_123530955

If it’s on the LEAP card, then it will activate once you put it on the driver’s ticket machine.

Always worth saying that you have a ticket before you do so though!

Yes they are valid on all the services within each zone.

AngryLips

Has anyone successfully got their employer to cancel their existing annual taxsaver ticket and issue the new multimodal ticket in its place?

stephenjmcd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123528662#Comment_123528662

Flash pass system to stay in place after the 16th for Multimodal tax saver ticket holders using Bus Eireann & go ahead commuter bus. Appearently the issue won't be resolved with the fare changes on the 16th

pauraic1990

I have the Tax Saver Zone 1 Multimodel.

No issue on Dublin Bus, Dart and Luas.

Bus eireann is still an issue and I am kind of fed up explaining to driver and sometime had to show proof that I have it. As I use it on my daily commute to city.

I hope this resolved sooner.

LXFlyer

Like everything, it’ll get sorted eventually but it’s the customer who has to bear the brunt of the pain - ridiculous really - no one should have to be forced to prove anything.

In more positive news, they have finally updated the fare finder on the Bus Éireann website, along with the LEAP card page on the BÉ website for the new fares.

https://www.buseireann.ie/leap-card

Also the TFI Go app now shows the new fares for BÉ services but has yet to be updated for the GAI regional commuter services.

stephenjmcd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563192#Comment_123563192

Have you found that some drivers still dont know about it ?

pauraic1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563477#Comment_123563477

Other evening, when I place my leap card on the machine which show pass not allowed.

I told the driver that it the new Tax Saver Multi Modal. He still insist that machine said no, it not valid.

I insist to show proof but he just said yea yea ok, no need to show, go ahead.

This morning, different driver, he have no idea what I was talking about and card on machine still show pass not allowed. I have to show using the leap top up app to show that I have the multi modal pass on the leap card that it work on other operator.

stephenjmcd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563607#Comment_123563607

Yeah I've had similar, a driver was saying there's nothing on it i cant scan it, I said that's the issue, explained it, went to show him the notice on tax saver site, just started shouting get your phone out of my face. Made a show about it infront of others and eventually said go on.

Complained through BÉ and local TDs about the treatment and the overall issue in general.

You should also complain , tax_saver@buseireann.ie

For me im sick of it, driving to the train station and paying for parking until its fixed, not jumping through hoops every day to use it on bus services when the issue isnt my doing

Polar101

Has anyone used the new zone (1) tickets on the 139?

davetherave

More delays with Bus Eireann and taxsaver.

Dear Taxsaver Customer,

 Important Notice : Bus Éireann Taxsaver Customer E-mail re: NTA Fares Determination

 We are updating you as per the below e-mail.

 Unfortunately, due to ongoing technical issues we are unable to issue our new Bus Éireann Dublin Taxsaver bus and multimodal Leap Card products at this time.

 The current Bus Éireann Taxsaver Dublin zonal tickets will remain for sale until further notice. If you have a current Bus Éireann Taxsaver Dublin zonal ticket it will still be valid for travel.

 The is now proposed is to have tickets for sale valid for travel from the September 1st. We will update you in mid-July on further developments.

 We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your continued custom.

 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at taxsaver@buseireann.ie.

 Regards,

 Bus Éireann Taxsaver Team