New Leap Visitor's Card

foggy_lad · 19-06-2014 11:04AM #1

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/minister-kelly-launches-new-leap-visitor-card-72-hours-travel-in-dublin-region-for-e19-50/

Minister Kelly has announced a new leap card that offers unlimited travel on luas rail and bus in the Dublin short hop area for 72hours plus also offers the return airline bus to visitors. Itbwill cost €19.50 and will only be available online and at the airport arrivals area.

ballooba · 19-06-2014 12:05PM

It's valid on the 747. So, that's potentially €10 worth of value straight away. I think it's a little on the pricey side, closer to €15 would have been nice*. Uptake will give an indication of whether the price is right. It's a welcome initiative all the same.

*Tack on dublin bikes (with a suitable security deposit) and I think €19.50 would be about right.

Stevek101 · 19-06-2014 12:08PM

Its amazing value! The same service would cost a regular commuter €30 without including the Airlink.

afatbollix · 19-06-2014 12:30PM

Great value. I'll be taking it when I arrive in the summer. Its the handyness of not needing to even think about what you have left on your card.

Mrs OBumble · 19-06-2014 12:32PM

Stevek101 wrote: »

Its amazing value! The same service would cost a regular commuter €30 without including the Airlink.

+1

I can see some regular commuters making a special trip out to the airport to collect one, unless it's only available in the secure zone or with a boarding pass.

Stevek101 · 19-06-2014 12:34PM

In addition they've launched a card for summer students. The Leap Trainee Card will be available to trainees through their language schools and directly from Dublin Bus, in 1-week, 2-week, 3-week and 4-week versions (Priced at €46.50, €70.00, €94.00 and €119.00 respectively). Similar to the Leap Visitor card, it will allow foreign students travel on Luas, DART, Iarnród Éireann’s short-hop zone and on Dublin Bus.

Again this would cost average commuter 40, 80, 120 and 160 so a massive reduction. However, I'd imagine the use of this card will be restricted.

Stevek101 · 19-06-2014 12:35PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

+1

I can see some regular commuters making a special trip out to the airport to collect one, unless it's only available in the secure zone or with a boarding pass.

It'll be sold in Spar T1/2 arrivals and at the CIE desk in T1 all on the landside. Definitely be worth the trip out.

pclive · 19-06-2014 12:38PM

This should be in bargain alerts, great value.

ballooba · 19-06-2014 12:47PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

+1

I can see some regular commuters making a special trip out to the airport to collect one, unless it's only available in the secure zone or with a boarding pass.

Firstly, it's only 8 euro below the weekly cap for Leap anyway*. Secondly, taxsaver is a lot cheaper surely.

*EDIT: 1 euro saving versus 3 daily caps on Leap. https://www.leapcard.ie/en/PageSetting/ContentViewer.aspx?Val=T/HcRN0lgkhyO2TJbCpdXbpkQ6D59bgR9MwK7i5q52U2rfQVZcNw%2BAb2e13wL37V62K83icu4wP/KxugVQHB8/tfq8sS44StQmsdGiKYqRWG4lf%2Bgc7EYaq1dJckxC1SOs8Oi5WHyaggCxyPdGXNqCkz6KJl/C2vRG9pBSEkDcc%3D Not a bargain alert.

Stevek101 · 19-06-2014 12:48PM

Not everyone can get a tax saver people often seem to forget that.

Stevek101 · 19-06-2014 12:50PM

ballooba wrote: »

Firstly, it's only 8 euro below the weekly cap for Leap anyway*. Secondly, taxsaver is a lot cheaper surely.

*EDIT: 1 euro saving versus 3 daily caps on Leap. https://www.leapcard.ie/en/PageSetting/ContentViewer.aspx?Val=T/HcRN0lgkhyO2TJbCpdXbpkQ6D59bgR9MwK7i5q52U2rfQVZcNw%2BAb2e13wL37V62K83icu4wP/KxugVQHB8/tfq8sS44StQmsdGiKYqRWG4lf%2Bgc7EYaq1dJckxC1SOs8Oi5WHyaggCxyPdGXNqCkz6KJl/C2vRG9pBSEkDcc%3D Not a bargain alert.

This is not just Dublin Bus it is all operators. Cap is €10 a day also doesn't include the Airlink.

ballooba · 19-06-2014 01:02PM

Stevek101 wrote: »

This is not just Dublin Bus it is all operators. Cap is €10 a day also doesn't include the Airlink.

Just noticed that, thanks. I think it's decent value and it probably will have great uptake.

The reasons I don't think it's amazing value are... 747 is only really attractive if you are staying in the city centre. The Aircoach is quicker (no loop around bus aras / up marlborough st etc.) in my experience and offers direct transport to more locations.

If you're staying in the city centre you're going to make limited use of public transport, not more than a couple of trips a day. You'd have to be using the Airlink or making a lot of trips to get benefit of this. Although convenience will be a big factor and hence I think it's decent value. All in all a welcome development.

1huge1 · 19-06-2014 01:10PM

ballooba wrote: »

It's valid on the 747. So, that's potentially €10 worth of value straight away. I think it's a little on the pricey side, closer to €15 would have been nice*. Uptake will give an indication of whether the price is right. It's a welcome initiative all the same.

*Tack on dublin bikes (with a suitable security deposit) and I think €19.50 would be about right.

I think its very good value given my recent trips to Stockholm and Amsterdam in all fairness, I'm not saying we have the same quality of service of them (the notable lack of an underground) but still this seems fair to me.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

+1

I can see some regular commuters making a special trip out to the airport to collect one, unless it's only available in the secure zone or with a boarding pass.

According to the OP, it will also be available online

LXFlyer · 19-06-2014 01:20PM

ballooba wrote: »

Just noticed that, thanks. I think it's decent value and it probably will have great uptake.

The reasons I don't think it's amazing value are... 747 is only really attractive if you are staying in the city centre. The Aircoach is quicker (no loop around bus aras / up marlborough st etc.) in my experience and offers direct transport to more locations.

If you're staying in the city centre you're going to make limited use of public transport, not more than a couple of trips a day. You'd have to be using the Airlink or making a lot of trips to get benefit of this. Although convenience will be a big factor and hence I think it's decent value. All in all a welcome development.

I'm not sure that most tourists are particularly worried about the difference between Aircoach and Airlink in terms of the route taken to the city centre to be honest.

Price generally is a bigger concern.

The fact that this includes DART/Suburban Rail means tourists can for example take a trip on the train and maybe use the bus on the return journey.

LXFlyer · 19-06-2014 01:22PM

Stevek101 wrote: »

In addition they've launched a card for summer students. The Leap Trainee Card will be available to trainees through their language schools and directly from Dublin Bus, in 1-week, 2-week, 3-week and 4-week versions (Priced at €46.50, €70.00, €94.00 and €119.00 respectively). Similar to the Leap Visitor card, it will allow foreign students travel on Luas, DART, Iarnród Éireann’s short-hop zone and on Dublin Bus.

Again this would cost average commuter 40, 80, 120 and 160 so a massive reduction. However, I'd imagine the use of this card will be restricted.

This is merely replacing the existing magnetic stripe Dublin Bus tickets, but extending their use to LUAS and Irish Rail.

It's not available to "average commuters" so I think that point is totally irrelevant.

LXFlyer · 19-06-2014 01:24PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

+1

I can see some regular commuters making a special trip out to the airport to collect one, unless it's only available in the secure zone or with a boarding pass.

While it is excellent value, I can't see too many people saying right let's make a special trip out to Dublin Airport just to buy a transport ticket.

Aard · 19-06-2014 01:44PM

ballooba wrote: »

The reasons I don't think it's amazing value are... 747 is only really attractive if you are staying in the city centre. The Aircoach is quicker (no loop around bus aras / up marlborough st etc.) in my experience and offers direct transport to more locations.

747 to the Point and Luas into town might become popular, especially at rush hour.

Judgement Day · 19-06-2014 01:47PM

And next week they are going to reinvent the wheel. :rolleyes:

ballooba · 19-06-2014 02:08PM

Aard wrote: »

747 to the Point and Luas into town might become popular, especially at rush hour.

That's a very good point. Hadn't thought of that. That makes this ticket very attractive to anyone staying on the Red Line Luas, even if they don't make use of it beyond the airport transfer.

LXFlyer · 19-06-2014 02:14PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

And next week they are going to reinvent the wheel. :rolleyes:

So you don't view the ongoing expansion of LEAP as a good thing then?

Dravokivich · 19-06-2014 03:49PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

And next week they are going to reinvent the wheel. :rolleyes:

It's more like improving the wheel and getting rid of older versions of it.

foggy_lad wrote: »

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/minister-kelly-launches-new-leap-visitor-card-72-hours-travel-in-dublin-region-for-e19-50/

Minister Kelly has announced a new leap card that offers unlimited travel on luas rail and bus in the Dublin short hop area for 72hours plus also offers the return airline bus to visitors. Itbwill cost €19.50 and will only be available online and at the airport arrivals area.

People need to be careful to understand that this is within the 72 hours as well. It's not a separate piece of the ticket.

foggy_lad · 19-06-2014 04:17PM

Stevek101 wrote: »

In addition they've launched a card for summer students. The Leap Trainee Card will be available to trainees through their language schools and directly from Dublin Bus, in 1-week, 2-week, 3-week and 4-week versions (Priced at €46.50, €70.00, €94.00 and €119.00 respectively). Similar to the Leap Visitor card, it will allow foreign students travel on Luas, DART, Iarnród Éireann’s short-hop zone and on Dublin Bus.

Again this would cost average commuter 40, 80, 120 and 160 so a massive reduction. However, I'd imagine the use of this card will be restricted.

Most summer students get a single bus only or rail only weekly or monthly ticket depending on whether they are based near the dart/railway so these new fares will represent quite a large increase!

foggy_lad · 19-06-2014 04:22PM

ballooba wrote: »

Firstly, it's only 8 euro below the weekly cap for Leap anyway*. Secondly, taxsaver is a lot cheaper surely.

*EDIT: 1 euro saving versus 3 daily caps on Leap. https://www.leapcard.ie/en/PageSetting/ContentViewer.aspx?Val=T/HcRN0lgkhyO2TJbCpdXbpkQ6D59bgR9MwK7i5q52U2rfQVZcNw%2BAb2e13wL37V62K83icu4wP/KxugVQHB8/tfq8sS44StQmsdGiKYqRWG4lf%2Bgc7EYaq1dJckxC1SOs8Oi5WHyaggCxyPdGXNqCkz6KJl/C2vRG9pBSEkDcc%3D Not a bargain alert.

The cap for three days of adult bus rail and luas travel is €10 per day so €30 for three days. So this represents a saving of at least €10.50 over the visit.

schemingbohemia · 19-06-2014 04:35PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

And next week they are going to reinvent the wheel. :rolleyes:

What a well reasoned and argued point (doffs cap) :rolleyes:

Judgement Day · 19-06-2014 05:20PM

schemingbohemia wrote: »

What a well reasoned and argued point (doffs cap) :rolleyes:

I'm just stunned that so many of you are amazed with the cleverness of this simple idea which has been around for decades. Rambler tickets were used by the GSR in the 1920s or am I missing something?

LXFlyer · 19-06-2014 05:41PM

Of course the national rambler tickets have existed for years.

But this is the first time since LUAS arrived that a combined tourist ticket for all three different modes (tram, bus and train) in Dublin City has been launched.

This is all about integrating the prepaid tickets onto LEAP.

devnull · 19-06-2014 06:42PM

Approx what is the EU contributing to this product cash wise, since the Press Release basically says they are agreeing to fund the cost of this product to some degree, which must be subsidizing the cost of the ticket in some way.

I'm surprised at the fact such subsidy is taking place, with the 747 being a commercial service and also being included.

ballooba · 19-06-2014 06:55PM

It would be great if there were a 747 service that extended to the Green Line Luas too. There used to be a 746 I believe, but the Aircoach and it were maybe not viable together. I mention this in the context of the suggestion to interchange to Luas using this ticket.

AlekSmart · 19-06-2014 07:38PM

ballooba wrote: »

It would be great if there were a 747 service that extended to the Green Line Luas too. There used to be a 746 I believe, but the Aircoach and it were maybe not viable together. I mention this in the context of the suggestion to interchange to Luas using this ticket.

The 746 was a victim of indecision,and the rather too long running, reluctance to recognise specific service types,such as Express or Dedicated routes.

The 746 ended up trying to be both a dedicated Southside/Airport route AND a filler for the 46A route.

The two types of service are not compatible,particularly in the atmosphere in which BAC operates.

It should be noted that the 746 and the First/Aircoach service were never direct competitors and serve well defined different markets,with both entities well able to survive independently.

Sadly nobody would make the call,and the 746,which to this day remains a very solid marketable product,was wound up.

There were plenty of suggestions from the platform as to improvements with timings,routing and the likes but the will to engage just did not materialize.

One of the greatest lost-opportunities IMO....:(

Cookie_Monster · 20-06-2014 03:33AM

just the airport? what about Dublin Port and DL Port or the main train stations...

markpb · 20-06-2014 08:03AM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

just the airport? what about Dublin Port and DL Port or the main train stations...

Tourists tend not to arrive into the country through our train stations (apart from people from NI) and since they're located in the city centre, it would be very easy for people living in Dublin to buy a card that they only want to sell to tourists (since it's discounted by the EU as part of a tourism initiative).

Serving Dublin port would be hard since most people arrive by car, very few arrive by foot and I'm not aware of a shop or kiosk that they could be sold from anyway.

New Leap Visitor's Card

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