Free Travel Pass application - how long is the turnaround?

doyler58

I've just applied for the Free Travel Pass (I'm eligible, no doubt about it). How long does it take to arrive? A week? A month? Longer? Need to know because I'm planning some trips around Ireland in a few weeks and I prefer to go by train.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422846/free-travel-pass-application-how-long-is-the-turnaround

Do you already have a Public Services card?

doyler58

I do, yes.

Losty Dublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422846/free-travel-pass-application-how-long-is-the-turnaround

A Public Service Card takes up to 10 working days to issue to applicants upon calling into an Intreo Office to get a new one. In practice it will be issued a little quicker than this so the wait isn't that long.

A new PSC with a travel entitlement won't issue to you until about a day or two before your entitlement kicks in. So, if today is your special birthday the PSC will only be sent out to arrive on or about today. Where you have gained an entitlement to the pass the new card issues to you automatically.

Finally, you need to apply directly to an Intreo Office for the Northern Ireland pass, the Senior SmartPas using a FTNI1. This must be filled out using black ink. You must also bring each of the following items with your application form to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office on the day:

• Your Public Services Card
• Proof of address, ( a utility bill, phone bill or bank statement)
• Proof of identity, ( driving licence, passport or another form of photo ID)
• A recent passport standard colour photograph

These are sent away off site to be processed by the UK so don't blame the DSP for the requirements 😀

doyler58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123783675#Comment_123783675

Re getting a Public Services Card, I already had one, but getting it took a very long time (two months?? I forget). Was going round in circles but you effectively have to have a PPSN in order to get your PSC card which tells you your PPSN! I think I wrote about this elsewhere on Boards.

In case anyone else is trying to find the same info, I received my Free Travel Pass yesterday. Considering their correspondence was dated 1 September, and I posted my application on 27 August, it was impressively quick.

As for getting a Senior SmartPass for NI: many thanks for the info! I hadn't realised I could get one. Though it seems from Citizens Information it takes up to 6 weeks.

doyler58

So how do I actually use my Free Travel Pass?

For trains, do I just rock up to the booking office, produce my card and say "return to Galway please" or whatever and they just give me a ticket?

And for buses, do I just show the driver my card and say "single to Kilkenny please" or whatever?

gipi

Yes, that's pretty much how it works.

On DART, commuter trains or Luas, you tap on and off at the machines outside the station or Luas stop. On a Dublin bus, tap on at the machine near the driver's door.

doyler58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123796367#Comment_123796367

Thanks

bikeman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123796336#Comment_123796336

For the trains, you can obtain a ticket at stations that have a booking office still open, like Heuston, Connolly, Cork, Galway. Most stations don't have booking offices open any more, just machines. If that's the case just hop on with your pass and show to the on board staff when checking tickets.

You can pre book a seat online for free or a small fee. Handy for busy services.

If it is on the suburban network, you just tap in and out. Same for the luas.

Dublin bus, tag the reader on the right as you board.

Other buses, present to the driver for validation.

doyler58

Very useful, especially about booking seats, and about the lack of booking offices - thanks!