From today, the ‘Leap’ card goes for public sale with commuters in the greater Dublin area now being able to switch between Bus, Luas, Dart and Rail services with one ticket. Public transport users can purchase and top up their Leap Card at more than 350 authorised Leap Card agents (Payzone) across Dublin and online at leapcard.ie.
This follows the successful public testing of the card with over 15,000 journeys completed with the new Leap card. During 2012 additional functionalities will be added to include Bus Eireann services, some private bus operators, children tickets, rambler, Travel 90 and student cards.
The Leap Card does not require public transport users to have the correct change or lots of coins to hand. It is also quicker with no more queuing at ticket machines for single tickets on Luas, DART and Commuter Rail Services. It is safer because public transport users can top up online and can report their card lost or stolen so that no one else can use it.
Using Leap Cards to travel by Luas is up to 17% cheaper than purchasing single tickets from ticket machines, travelling by DART and Commuter Rail using Leap is up to 19% cheaper than purchasing singles from ticket machines, while the same fares as cash apply on Dublin Bus until January 2012 when a discount of 9% will come into play, following the rise in cash fares. Commuters and travellers are urged to buy their Leap Cards now, to be ready to take advantage of these differentials as soon as they come into effect.
Public transport users who currently hold pre-paid tickets including annual and monthly tickets on Dublin Bus, Luas and DART and Commuter Rail services can use their cards as normal, alongside the new Leap Card, until well into 2012.
