National Transport Authority (NTA)
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 the new Authority has taken responsibility for overseeing the implementation and running of the ITS. Full details of the Act can be found at www.irishstatutebook.ie
Current Status
Currently, the primary focus is on testing and commissioning the ITS card on Bus and Luas services.
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. HP has appointed Payzone as a sub-contractor 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.
Hewlett Packard (HP) and Payzone continue to make good progress in the developments required to support the operation of the scheme. The overall programme is for back office operations and the top-up network being provided by HP and Payzone to be in place in early 2011.
IBM 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 during 2011.
In May 2010 RPA awarded the contract to supply ticketing equipment to private transport operators who wish to participate in ITS 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.
Dublin Bus Implements Smartcard as part of ITS
RPA and Dublin Bus are working with Dublin’s Transport Operators to have a fully integrated ticketing scheme with a single smart card available for use on all Public Transport Services.
As part of this scheme, 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.
To find out how this service works, click here.
Luas Smartcard
At present, customers can use pre-loaded SmartCards to pay for travel on Luas. See www.luas.ie for further details.
Irish Rail Smartcard
Pre-loaded SmartCards similar to those used on Luas are now available to Irish Rail customers. For more information, or to buy and Irish Rail Smart Card see www.irishrail.ie
Technology
The integrated ticketing scheme in the Greater Dublin Area is being introduced on a phased basis. A progressive approach is being adopted to allow customers to familiarise themselves with using the new system and to permit transport operators to undertake the necessary replacement of magnetic strip technology, the testing of smart cards and the integration of the various technologies involved.
All the Luas network and Dublin Bus fleet have been fitted with smart card readers. Smart card readers and a new gating system have been installed at Irish Rail DART stations, and all commuter stations from Dublin city centre to Balbriggan, Maynooth, Hazelhatch, and Kilcoole.
Next Steps
It is planned to commence the introduction of a single smart card on a progressive basis for Dublin Bus and Luas services in 2011 which will have electronic travel credit capability. This capability will allow a pay-as-you-go system, similar to the systems used for mobile phones.
This single smart card, with electronic travel credit capability, will then replace the interim smart cards and will be extended to Irish Rail - DART and commuter rail services.
Bus Éireann will introduce the single smart card system on a pilot basis on a number of its commuter routes within the Greater Dublin Area. The Company will then evaluate the feasibility of extending the scheme to include its whole network in the Greater Dublin Area.
Discussions are being held with private bus operators in relation to their participation in the scheme over this timeframe.
While the current scope and focus of the single smart card scheme is the Greater Dublin Area, the overall mandate for the scheme is national. The potential to develop a nationwide ticket, starting with at Cork and Galway will be examined after successful implementation in the GDA.