A N Other rant - Integration and the Government - Does It Work?

[Colm Donoghue]

AAARGH

not rail related but shows the joined up thinking of the Dept of transport.

This time last year the M4 extension was due to open. As it was a pike road I decided to sign up to eazypass and get an eazypass so's I wouldn't be fumbling getting exact change for two pikes on my way to Galway.

Early last Winter the M4 opened and "Tada!" they don't take eazypass, they have their own system, Eirtag.
Eirtag doesn't work on the M50 or the eastlink.

Eazypass told me it would work in early summer 2006 on the M4. still doesn't.

The NRA told me that CRG who own the M1, would have an M1 tag "interoperable at all PPP pikes during the summer of 2006"

(this is 3 seperate systems so far)

I did a bit of digging and found out the M8 fermoy pike will use the same tag( Ha Ha only Joking) The M8 owners directroute, will use their own tag.


I applied this week to CRG for a tag interoperable with all PPP tolls. I got an application form it states that "(Please Note; Mini-Tag cannot currently be used in either West-Link or East-Link toll plazas)"



Still reading? Good.

The state of play now is
6 pikes exist

east link
west link
M1
M4
M8
DPT

4 e-toll tags exist
Eazypass
Eirtag
Mini-Tag ( from CRG on the M1)
directroute tag has no name yet

only Eazypass will work on the pikes in Dublin
Eazypass also works on the pike on the M1
The M1 tag won't work on the west link.
Eirtag won't work on the west link.


ALL these tags/electronic tolling were introduced during the NDP/FF-PD govt.
I couldn't believe the govt didn't ensure one tag fits all. I actually still can't and believe its a bad joke.

In my correspondance with the nra, the person there said

The NRA is in discussion with NTR regarding the East-Link and West-Link plazas with the objective of those older non-PPP plazas also coming into the interoperability arrangements and anticipates this will occur ensuring a seamless national service to electronic tag users. However, unlike the current PPP schemes, NTR has no contractual obligation to be interoperable with other toll schemes. NTR are however currently upgrading their toll systems with the objective of facilitating interoperability.

In summary, until such time as NTR have satisfied both their technical and commercial requirements in relation to interoperability, two separate tags will be required for users who wish to use ETC at both the NTR and all other plazas, both existing and planned. NTR are currently putting in place the necessary requirements to be interoperable which on completion will allow a single ETC tag to be used across all toll plazas.

yet at the same time the govt signed a contract extension to allow ntr build a new bridge as part of the NDP i.e. in recent non-corrupt-as-feic times, and forgot to enforce this interoperable term




In light of all the above, ( apart from it being Friday and pub day) this may shed some light on why I can't get on a bus outside where I work, and buy a single ticket to get me to any destination served in the city by public transport i.e intgrated ticketing.

Thank you for reading.
you must be bored now.
Colm