Cheers for the updates so far. How is the trail progressing? Is it still being launched to the ordinary Joe in September?

I'm starting to doubt this card will be coming out this year. Has the trial even commenced?

It is under test currently.

Bear in mind there are 1100 buses to be fitted

Good stuff, a bit of positive news on the project! Do the smart card readers on Dublin Bus have to be replaced?! Or is it a software update? They only installed them three years ago!

Trials about to hit full swing

http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showth...ewpost&t=13305

And the test cards don't have a frog on the front...

Went for a spin today with the Smartcard and had some fun with Dublin Bus and Luas

It works and there are some brilliant features that are really handy for passengers

And yes I topped up in a shop in Dublin as well

The public cards have a Frog on them (all green adult part white/green child)

Great news
 

This, to me, is really, really good news. I'm just surprised it has taken so long to happen. For me, taking 2 journeys a day it was never worthwhile getting any unlimited monthly tickets because they would have cos more than the single fares. I used to get travel tens but they were not flexible. Only good for 10 journeys at one set fare. Two easy tickets were similar. Having a card, like the LUAS Smart Card, that you just use when you need it and for the fare amount you need is brilliant, simply for the convenience. But then having the small discount makes it an even sweeter deal. It just makes total sense. Anyway. I can't wait to finally have this facility. Then all we need is a decent transport system. Baby steps!

Is the trial still progressing well. No word of it in the media or from the NTA. I have heard of it launching in December. Any truth in that? :confused: It's little later than was previously anticipated.

Within the limits of the current trials there have been no failures, no over charging and no undercharging

So given that things are going well

There is no media blackout, but until the trials have moved into there next phase there isn't much to report really.

Just to prove it actually works

Attachment 1404

Is there a single standard fare for each bus journey, hence you tag-on everytime you board a bus, but don't tag-off?

The fare was airbrushed out as it is not the final public fare. Bus is a tag on system only

The software allows for both specific fare payment and flat fare payment, its one of the reasons for the delay in the project is having to be able to implement Dublin Bus and its stage system as well as the more common flat fare model

If you try to flat fare a 747 bus, it will of course hit you with the 747 special fare as will Nitelink

I noticed on the Transport for Ireland website it says you will only have to tag on for Dublin Bus. Was there a need to implement the staged fare system... :confused: Thanks for the update!

The system handles both and I've used both with the same card on the same day

How is the trial coming along? Three questions for you's :p :

Has Iarnród Éireann been added to the scheme yet?
Is there an expected launch date other than before early 2012?
Any idea of a fare structure?

I can confirm that it is possible to make a journey on Irish Rail using the ITS smartcard today.

Its only available for a specific set of stations (as in we don't know this set yet), once it goes to all stations we will commence testing. Expecting days on that

Roll out by year end is expected

Great to hear that good progress is being made! Are the yellow spots that are appearing on Dublin Bus's smart card readers and Wayfarer ticket machines anything to do with the Leap Card?

The yellow spots are ITS related. However not all ITS buses carry them currently

As of today integrated ticketing goes kind of public. After the first trial which had over 250 people the next larger trial starts, moving to thousands.

Watch out for the advertisement in the media looking for people to try it out over the next few days

Any progress by DB or Irish Rail?