NTA surveyors on DARTS recently

antimatterx

On a few darts over the last while there have been NTA surveyors. They scan your leap card, and ask when you got on and where you're getting off. Fair enough, this is probably statistics to make future plans based on usage.

However, they present themselves as surveyors, so why do they insist on checking your leap card. The guy today scanned mine twice and input some information into his tablet.

There was a lad on board who refused to engage as he was said it was his own business and no fine was issued so they're clearly not revenue inspectors.

Jim_Hodge

Sounds like they were simply doing a survey. I'm not sure what your point is.

L1011

Because it shows actual tag on data, versus the potentially inaccurate - deliberately or confusion based - data that someone will give when spoken to.

Victor

"Fair enough, this is probably statistics to make future plans based on usage."

Not necessarily. It was more likely that they were checking that Irish Rail are collecting fares.

AX636

They are often on buses aswel

Zebra3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122586896#Comment_122586896

But in a lot of cases IR don’t collect fares, customers voluntarily pay weighing up the odds of being caught.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122587205#Comment_122587205

Something else the NTA need to know the % of. Irish Rail have would have a service level agreement for the RPU, they can judge its effectiveness against the equivalent on Luas and indeed on buses - they do still do the occasional check there I believe.

That said, I've had Irish Rail RPU occasionally in the past few years, Luas checks quite a bit and Dublin Bus checks never. The main thing they used to catch was people paying for the shortest fare and staying on longer; that's all but dead now with the short trip cash fare being the same price as the full trip Leap anyway.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122586896#Comment_122586896

And what would be the consequences for Irish Rail from the NTA if they the fares weren't adding I'd wonder. Also if IR were found not collecting fares properly would the NTA provide extra funding for revenue protection?

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122587245#Comment_122587245

I've been checked a few times on buses. I believe DB set up panels of drivers to do ticket checks alongside Inspectors a while back not sure if that's still happening.

I can't see why the NTA can't provide their own dedicated revenue protection unit operating across bus, rail and Luas. TFL do this in London and don't just leave up to the operators after all its the NTA's money not the operators at the end of the day.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590130#Comment_122590130

Most likely large fines for not carrying out their contracted work.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590143#Comment_122590143

They could do, but it would involve some sort of transfer of staff and/or redundancies, so might be a bit messy.

goingnowhere

Irish Rail has a lost revenue target, so basically a set % of customers not paying.

NTA audit this by going out on the trains and performing surveys, this has been ongoing on the Luas for years. This also doubles as a customer satisfaction and demographic/purpose of trip analysis

Bulk of demand and origin destination is now done directly from leap card data, no need to survey for it

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590130#Comment_122590130

Penalty deductions as per their contract.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122592850#Comment_122592850

So the NTA would fine the operator but not provide any extra funding for revenue protection staff.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593059#Comment_122593059

The companies have all signed contracts with the NTA which states that they will carry out revenue checks.

That would imply that the agreed funding per the contracts already covers such activity.