Leap automatic top up machines, outside of Dublin

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 12-12-2018 8:51am #1

Hi all,

Just curious as to why Leap automatic top up machines are no where to be seen in Cork City Centre. Not at primary bus stops in town, not even at the bus station.

The only place you can top up your leap card automatically is at the vending machines in Cork Kent Station, and a few of the Commuter stations, that's it.

It just seems strange.

Anyone any ideas why?

Thanks!

L1011 · 12-12-2018 9:00am

They're not at bus stops/stations elsewhere either, not that this is a good excuse

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 12-12-2018 9:35am

L1011 wrote: »

They're not at bus stops/stations elsewhere either, not that this is a good excuse

I believe you can top up Leap on the Luas vending machines however?

It just seems crazy that they don't even have them at the Bus Station!

L1011 · 12-12-2018 9:45am

Yes, although those are only in a relatively small area of the total city.

Dravokivich · 12-12-2018 10:10am

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

I believe you can top up Leap on the Luas vending machines however?

It just seems crazy that they don't even have them at the Bus Station!

You'd need to get a Luas in Cork first.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 12-12-2018 2:34pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

You'd need to get a Luas in Cork first.

Nice one - personally whether it be bus, tram or train - all major stops should have ticket machines.

coylemj · 12-12-2018 4:14pm

Pedantic post, your mileage may vary.....

The OP mentions 'automatic top-up' in the thread title but that refers to the system whereby you elect to have your Leap card automatically topped up when the balance goes below a set threshold - parkingtag and certain toll tags work the same way. Does not require access to machines of any sort.

This thread is about the availability (or lack of ) ticket machines where you walk up and manually top-up a Leap card with cash or plastic.

Dravokivich · 12-12-2018 4:36pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Nice one - personally whether it be bus, tram or train - all major stops should have ticket machines.

My point was that Luas are responsible for their Ticket Machines. If you want them at Bus Stations/Bus Stops, you should be getting onto the operators that provide a service to those locations.

L1011 · 12-12-2018 4:40pm

There are very, very few NTA operated top-up machines. Some hospitals have them, that's about it. But they have them and could roll them out more

Dravokivich · 12-12-2018 4:58pm

L1011 wrote: »

There are very, very few NTA operated top-up machines. Some hospitals have them, that's about it. But they have them and could roll them out more

Those things need to be somewhere reasonably secure. So you won't see them outside anywhere and if the location is closed, they'll be inaccessible. Even the one on O'Connell Street in Dublin, is in Dublin Bus' window.

coylemj · 12-12-2018 5:36pm

It would be useful if retail POS terminals which currently do contactless could also do Leap top-up. Would allow you to top up in cafes, supermarkets and pubs.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 12-12-2018 5:37pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

Those things need to be somewhere reasonably secure. So you won't see them outside anywhere and if the location is closed, they'll be inaccessible. Even the one on O'Connell Street in Dublin, is in Dublin Bus' window.

Belfast have them at every stop for their new BRT Glider service. Why can't we do the same? At least for a few city centre stops.

coylemj · 12-12-2018 5:49pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Belfast have them at every stop for their new BRT Glider service. Why can't we do the same? At least for a few city centre stops.

The more people use Leap cards, the less need there is for a machine at every stop plus a large number of Dublin city centre stops are at the edge of relatively narrow footpaths like Nassau St. where there simply is no room for machines.

In the early days of the Luas and before Leap cards, I used to dread using outdoor machines in the city centre because the minute you stand at a ticket machine, you're a static target for a drug addict who will stand beside you asking for 'change'.

They've probably done more to encourage the use of Leap cards among Luas travellers than any advertising!

L1011 · 12-12-2018 6:04pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

Those things need to be somewhere reasonably secure. So you won't see them outside anywhere and if the location is closed, they'll be inaccessible. Even the one on O'Connell Street in Dublin, is in Dublin Bus' window.

Luas terminals are fully outdoors as are Dublinbikes ones

L1011 · 12-12-2018 6:12pm

coylemj wrote: »

It would be useful if retail POS terminals which currently do contactless could also do Leap top-up. Would allow you to top up in cafes, supermarkets and pubs.

They can, but they need software added and someone to provide that software. That is what Payzone are.

markpb · 12-12-2018 9:12pm

L1011 wrote: »

Dravokivich wrote: »

Those things need to be somewhere reasonably secure. So you won't see them outside anywhere and if the location is closed, they'll be inaccessible. Even the one on O'Connell Street in Dublin, is in Dublin Bus' window.

Luas terminals are fully outdoors as are Dublinbikes ones

TVMs at luas stops are monitored by 24 hour CCTV so anyone trying to tamper with them will be spotted quite quickly. A TVM in an unmonitored location would be more of a risk.

Dravokivich · 12-12-2018 10:33pm

L1011 wrote: »

Luas terminals are fully outdoors as are Dublinbikes ones

The things you were taking about are basically just tablets on a plinth. They need to be secured. Or else they'll get destroyed by vandals.

Dravokivich · 12-12-2018 10:35pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Belfast have them at every stop for their new BRT Glider service. Why can't we do the same? At least for a few city centre stops.

So? Doesn't change that the ones luas and Irish rail have, are owned and maintained by them. If you want someone in cork to do it, you need to approach the operators in cork who have leap.

Stephen15 · 12-12-2018 11:33pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Belfast have them at every stop for their new BRT Glider service. Why can't we do the same? At least for a few city centre stops.

Glider is not a regular bus service it's operated more like a Luas than a bus.

Carawaystick · 13-12-2018 12:45am

Are there no android phones with nfc in Cork?

Mrs OBumble · 13-12-2018 12:50am

Carawaystick wrote: »

Are there no android phones with nfc in Cork?

Apparently not. And auto topup (which is really the only automatic option anyways) seemingly doesn't work there either.

Poor lambs have to resort to manual topup in Payzone shops ... where they have to actually interact with a shop assistant. Horrors!

coylemj · 13-12-2018 2:10am

coylemj wrote: »

It would be useful if retail POS terminals which currently do contactless could also do Leap top-up. Would allow you to top up in cafes, supermarkets and pubs.

L1011 wrote: »

They can, but they need software added and someone to provide that software. That is what Payzone are.

So let me try that again....

It would be useful if retail POS terminals which currently do contactless could also did do Leap top-up. Would allow you to top up in cafes, supermarkets and pubs.

Technocentral · 13-12-2018 10:49am

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Hi all,

Just curious as to why Leap automatic top up machines are no where to be seen in Cork City Centre. Not at primary bus stops in town, not even at the bus station.

The only place you can top up your leap card automatically is at the vending machines in Cork Kent Station, and a few of the Commuter stations, that's it.

It just seems strange.

Anyone any ideas why?

Thanks!

Download the app, I never use them.

Dravokivich · 13-12-2018 11:03am

coylemj wrote: »

So let me try that again....

It would be useful if retail POS terminals which currently do contactless could also did do Leap top-up. Would allow you to top up in cafes, supermarkets and pubs.

They use a peripheral device in payzone to connect to the card. So I suspect that may not be possible without those retailers receiving one also. That device isn't used for contactless transactions.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 13-12-2018 11:45am

Technocentral wrote: »

Download the app, I never use them.

The app works only when it wants to.

markpb · 13-12-2018 1:14pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

The app works only when it wants to.

In my experience, the apps problems seem to be related to specific phones. Anyone who has a phone that it works with has no problem with the app at all.

AlmightyCushion · 13-12-2018 1:32pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

The app works only when it wants to.

I've had issues with the app the odd time over the years but thankfully it's been pretty rare.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 13-12-2018 1:55pm

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

I've had issues with the app the odd time over the years but thankfully it's been pretty rare.

I have a GALAXY S9 and it always worked fine before the last few updates. Now it's on and off unfortunately.

coylemj · 13-12-2018 1:58pm

The NFC top-up app doesn't work for me unless I'm on Wi-Fi.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 13-12-2018 1:59pm

coylemj wrote: »

The NFC top-up app doesn't work for me unless I'm on Wi-Fi.

Which makes it pretty useless when you're out and about or about to hop on a bus and discover you need to top up.

AlmightyCushion · 13-12-2018 1:59pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

I have a GALAXY S9 and it always worked fine before the last few updates. Now it's on and off unfortunately.

Could it be the card? Maybe get a new card and see if that works.

coylemj wrote: »

The NFC top-up app doesn't work for me unless I'm on Wi-Fi.

It works grand for me on mobile data.

Skatedude · 17-12-2018 5:40pm

Never had an issue with the phone app, I've never even used a shop or machine to topup my leap card. But I don't use my leap card too often anyway.

Kh1993 · 19-12-2018 4:53pm

Bit of a tangent but why the lack of shops that can top up leap cards? Not bothered or not worth their while? In Charlestown shopping centre in Finglas, not one retail outlet top up or provide top up collection facilities. Nearest one a 25 minute was way. Doesn’t exactly encourage usage..

RayCun · 19-12-2018 4:59pm

why would any shop bother, when there is a phone app?

I remember when you could get a bus timetable for the local routes in your local shop, when you bought your weekly bus ticket. How many shops keep timetables on hand now?

questionmark? · 19-12-2018 5:54pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Hi all,

Just curious as to why Leap automatic top up machines are no where to be seen in Cork City Centre. Not at primary bus stops in town, not even at the bus station.

The only place you can top up your leap card automatically is at the vending machines in Cork Kent Station, and a few of the Commuter stations, that's it.

It just seems strange.

Anyone any ideas why?

Thanks!

All the commuter railway stations have Leap Top available as available through the TVM. There is also a Leap top machine in Mahon Point. Add in all the Pay zone agents and NFC enabled phones. It's not too hard to top the cards up although there should be one in the bus station and an outside machine in Patricks street.

AlmightyCushion · 19-12-2018 5:58pm

If you top up using an Android phone and save the card details, then the card details get saved to the leap card itself. You can then just hand you leap card to anyone with an NFC enabled Android phone and ask them to top it up and it'll charge it to the card details saved on the leap card. Handy for getting friends to top it up for you if you don't have an NFC enabled Android phone.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 19-12-2018 6:07pm

questionmark? wrote: »

All the commuter railway stations have Leap Top available as available through the TVM. There is also a Leap top machine in Mahon Point. Add in all the Pay zone agents and NFC enabled phones. It's not too hard to top the cards up although there should be one in the bus station and an outside machine in Patricks street.

Actually, the leap machine in Mahon is the exact same one in the Bus Station. A useless little card reader that tells you your balance and any tickets you have active. Nothing more. It doesn't allow you to top up.

I'd love to know who decided to create those.

AlmightyCushion · 19-12-2018 6:14pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Actually, the leap machine in Mahon is the exact same one in the Bus Station. A useless little card reader that tells you your balance and any tickets you have active. Nothing more. It doesn't allow you to top up.

I'd love to know who decided to create those.

I think with those if you top it up online, then they will apply the new balance to your card so still useful if they do.

questionmark? · 19-12-2018 8:12pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Actually, the leap machine in Mahon is the exact same one in the Bus Station. A useless little card reader that tells you your balance and any tickets you have active. Nothing more. It doesn't allow you to top up.

I'd love to know who decided to create those.

Really didn't realise that. Saw it but never attempted to use it. What a silly idea.

EdgeCase · 19-12-2018 11:55pm

It's not available on iPhones btw because Apple has not opened an API to access the NFC reader. At present only Apple Wallet / Apple Pay has access to it.

That may be about to change so it should open up the possibility of iPhone top ups too.

markpb · 20-12-2018 10:11am

EdgeCase wrote: »

It's not available on iPhones btw because Apple has not opened an API to access the NFC reader. At present only Apple Wallet / Apple Pay has access to it.

That may be about to change so it should open up the possibility of iPhone top ups too.

The recent NFC changes only apply to the newest iPhone (X range) and I'm still not sure if they allow functionality that the Leap app requires.

EdgeCase · 20-12-2018 10:33am

They're slowly coming around to the fact that they need to open the API.
For some reason Apple was extremely reticent to allow access to the card reader and it seems to have been a concern about security.

That being said, Apple can also just get into locked-in, highly dogmatic design choices. There are plenty of examples in iOS that are mind boggling restrictions or annoying UI designs that make absolutely no sense and actually hobble what's an otherwise decent system.

AlmightyCushion · 20-12-2018 10:49am

EdgeCase wrote: »

They're slowly coming around to the fact that they need to open the API.
For some reason Apple was extremely reticent to allow access to the card reader and it seems to have been a concern about security.

That being said, Apple can also just get into locked-in, highly dogmatic design choices. There are plenty of examples in iOS that are mind boggling restrictions or annoying UI designs that make absolutely no sense and actually hobble what's an otherwise decent system.

I reckon it was more to push and reduce competition for Apple Pay. If third party apps can't access the NFC chip then you can't have Google Pay, Samsung Pay etc on the phone.

Leap automatic top up machines, outside of Dublin

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