In March 2002 S.I. No.84 tasked RPA with providing an integrated ticketing scheme.
In July 2003 RPA appointed Sequoia Smart Solutions as the ITS design contractors.
In February 2004 TNS-MRBI completed one of the largest ever market research exercises into public transport in Ireland, wholly endorsing the ITS smart card concept.
In April 2004 RPA's Integrated Ticketing Department launched a pilot smart card system for Morton's Coaches.
In March 2005 RPA's Integrated Ticketing Department assisted in launching Luas SmartCard.
In July 2006 the Minister for Transport put in place enhanced governance arrangements to ensure the successful delivery of the ITS. This consists of a new project board comprising the chief executives of the various transport bodies as well as a representative of the private bus industry.
In September 2008 RPA appointed IBM to provide the systems necessary for the ITS back-office.
In March 2009 the modification of the Singapore system started and throughout the year RPA has conducted procurements for the support infrastructure to facilitate the construction of the overall solution.
In April 2010 RPA awarded the contract to operate ITS to Hewlett-Packard Ireland. The contract will provide a number of key services required to operate and administer the scheme. HP Ireland will be responsible for customer support services including provision of a telephone customer support helpdesk, back office business processing, an ITS website, and the supply of smart cards. They will also be responsible for the provision and management of a smart card point-of-sale network so customers can buy smart cards, top them up, and buy a range of products in retail outlets. The point-of-sale service is being provided by Payzone as a sub-contractor to HP and will be available at over 400 retail outlets across Dublin.
In May 2010 RPA awarded the contract to supply ticketing equipment to private bus operators who wish to participate in ITS to Mapflow Limited. Mapflow are partnering with Avego to deliver the solution which will provide world-leading technology which combines advanced ticketing and reporting capabilities with the flexibility required to meet the diverse technical and commercial needs of bus operators both large and small.
Luas SmartCard
Luas SmartCard was launched on the 21st March 2005 by the then Minister for Transport Martin Cullen TD. The card allows customers to pay-as-they-go when they travel on Luas. Using the card couldn’t be easier. Customers simply present their card to a blue platform validator before boarding and after exiting the tram. The validator emits an audible confirmation and the exact fare is deducted from the card. Cards can be topped up to a maximum value of €100 at any Luas ticket vending machine. The smart card also offers Luas customer’s better value as the smart card single fare is less expensive than purchasing a single ticket from a Luas ticket vending machine.
Cards cost €10 which includes €3 pre-loaded value allowing customers to use their new Luas SmartCard immediately. Cards can be purchased online at http://luassmartcard.luas.ie over the phone by calling Freephone 1800 300 604, by postal application, or at any Luas sales agent. Cards purchased online, over the phone or by post can be automatically registered in the customer's name so if the card is lost or stolen it can be cancelled and the customer will be issued with a new card. Cards purchased offline (e.g. at sales agents) can be subsequently registered online.
To date 60,000 Luas SmartCards have been sold. SmartCard users save 25 to 35 cent on off-peak adult single tickets and 35 to 45 cent on adult peak single tickets. This represents an average saving of over 15% on adult off-peak singles (maximum saving is >19%) and 20% on adult peak singles (maximum saving is >24%). Adult passengers save if they use a SmartCard instead of purchasing a return ticket. This represents an average saving of over 7% (maximum saving is 14%).
For further information on the Luas SmartCard, click here.
Dublin Bus Smartcard
Dublin Bus has installed new Smartcard readers on all buses in their fleet. The Smartcard readers are located to the right of the entrance door of the bus, just above the magnetic ticket reader.
Dublin Bus has converted a range of magnetic prepaid tickets to prepaid Smartcards. For a transition period, both Smartcards and magnetic prepaid tickets will be in operation on all Dublin Bus services. Dublin Bus prepaid SmartCards are available from Dublin Bus ticket agents throughout Dublin.
For further information on the Dublin Bus SmartCard, click here.
Irish Rail Smartcard
The Irish Rail interim smart card scheme with travel credit facility has now been fully rolled-out to the public. For more information or to buy and Irish Rail Smart Card see www.irishrail.ie
Contract Award – ITS Back-Office Systems Supply
RPA has appointed IBM Ireland Ltd. to develop the systems necessary to run the ITS back-office. IBM has delivered substantial elements of the ITS back-office during 2010. The overall systems will undergo extensive end-to-end testing before the scheme gets rolled out to customers. The systems will provide a pay-as-you-go system on re-usable smart cards as well as holding weekly, monthly and annual tickets for regular commuters on Luas, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and privately operated services.
Contract Award – ITS Operate
The contract to operate ITS was awarded to Hewlett-Packard Ireland (HP) in April 2010. The contract will provide a number of key services required to operate and administer the scheme including provision of a telephone customer support helpdesk, back office business processing, an ITS website, and the supply of smart cards. They will also be responsible for the provision and management of a smart card point-of-sale network so customers can buy smart cards, top them up, and buy a range of products in retail outlets. HP are currently working on delivering these services in time for the launch of the scheme.
Contract Award – ITS Private Transport Operator Equipment
In May 2010 RPA awarded the contract to supply ticketing equipment to private transport operators to Mapflow Limited. They have made good progress on the development of their ticketing equipment during 2010 and are due to release it to RPA and private transport operators for testing during 2011.