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Leap automatic top up machines, outside of Dublin

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  • 12-12-2018 8:51am
    #1
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭


    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!


«1

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    #2
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


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


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    #3
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Curb Your Enthusiasm


    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!


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    #4
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


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


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    #5
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    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.


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    #6
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Curb Your Enthusiasm


    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.


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    #7
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,331 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    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.


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    #8
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    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.


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    #9
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    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


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    #10
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    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.


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    #11
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,331 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    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.


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    #12
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Curb Your Enthusiasm


    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.

    DcWJPvtWkAUt-mV.jpg


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    #13
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,331 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    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!


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    #14
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    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


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    #15
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    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.


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    #16
    markpb
    Registered Users Posts: 9,250 ✭✭✭markpb


    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.


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    #17
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    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.


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    #18
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    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.

    DcWJPvtWkAUt-mV.jpg

    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.


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    #19
    Stephen15
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    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.

    DcWJPvtWkAUt-mV.jpg

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


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    #20
    Carawaystick
    Registered Users Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    Are there no android phones with nfc in Cork?


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    #21
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,676 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    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!


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    #22
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,331 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    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.


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    #23
    Technocentral
    Registered Users Posts: 6,101 ✭✭✭Technocentral


    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.


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    #24
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    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.


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    #25
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Curb Your Enthusiasm


    Technocentral wrote: »
    Download the app, I never use them.

    The app works only when it wants to.


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    #26
    markpb
    Registered Users Posts: 9,250 ✭✭✭markpb


    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.


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    #27
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,046 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    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.


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    #28
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Curb Your Enthusiasm


    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.


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    #29
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,331 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


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


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    #30
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Curb Your Enthusiasm


    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.


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    #31
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,046 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    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.


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