smart cards at new ticketing machines/CIE in general

[Colm Donoghue]

despite my scathing report on the efficiency of the boyos at tara, I did see the proof of smartcard operation. Are IE gonna bring out smartcard annual tickets does anybody think?

The amount of hassle to be dealing with replacing worn out magstripe tickets when exit validation occurs may tip it in the balance of smart cards.

Will CIE allow dub bus to do the same?

[Mark Gleeson]

We have been aware of the smart card facilities on the new turnstiles since the first tender

Now we believe the IE have been playing with smart cards longer than anyone else. As many will have noticed there is a odd turnstile machine which has a black panel which is suggestive of a RFID reader underneath, Pearse, Sandymount and others have them. Strangely the newer turnstile installations eg Sydney Parade don't use the model which suggests a trial

I was personally expecting Dublin Bus to give the two fingers to everyone and issue smart card to Bus only annual tickets this year but it didn't happen. It seems so ridiculous that they need to grovel to the DoT to even run a trial with real punters

Phase one of smart cards on IE was the DART upgrade where all stations seemed to be connected to the internal IE computer network, as well as the secondary entrances

Phase two is the exit validation turnstiles a second round of installation is out to tender currently

The technology is not a problem, this issue revolves around who owns it (the clearing house) and who is picking up the tab for the revenue loss as passengers save

DB will roll out a test later this year as will IE

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

....and who is picking up the tab for the revenue loss as passengers save

Isn't this a sad factor for a delay in so called improvements for 'public' transport?

[Mark Gleeson]

Fact is only a tiny minority of the public are aware of the real reasons

Dublin Bus have been fully fitted out and ready to go since late Spring 2006, and thats where the vast benefits will be reaped in terms of reduced fares and quicker boarding

[markpb]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Dublin Bus have been fully fitted out and ready to go since late Spring 2006, and thats where the vast benefits will be reaped in terms of reduced fares and quicker boarding

How will their system work, store cash value or pre-loaded tickets?

[Mark Gleeson]

One would assume both and hopefully the intelligence to issue day/weekly/monthly on the fly to cash stored users