Minister Kelly launches Leap Card in Cork - fares up to 16% cheaper

Cork scheme to include child/student cards and Irish Rail services later this year

Alan Kelly TD, Minister for Public and Commuter Transport was in Cork this morning (Wednesday, 9 April 2014) with John O’Flynn, Leap Card Marketing Manager, National Transport Authority, and Martin Walsh, A/Regional Manager South, Bus Éireann, to launch the Leap Card integrated ticketing scheme in Cork.

Customers can choose Leap Card for better value and more convenient travelling.  It is a pay-as-you-go smart card that pays for public transport services. Leap fares are 16% cheaper than the corresponding cash single ticket.  The roll-out to Bus Éireann services in Cork City (Red & Green Zones) is launching this week for adult passengers, with child and student fares, and Irish Rail services, following later this year.

The Red Zone covers the area of Cork City covered by Routes 201 to 219, while the Green Zone covers suburban areas of Cork as far as Carrigtwohill to the east, Ballincollig to the west, Crosshaven to the south, and Cloghroe to the north.

Minister Kelly said: “This is excellent news for Cork commuters. The Leap card will offer people cheaper and easier access to public transport and removes the search for small change. Today is the first phase of the Cork launch and given the scheme’s success to date, with well over 400,000 cards issued in Dublin, I believe using the Leap Card will become a daily habit for many people in Cork. I look forward to launching it on rail services and additional products to the Cork Leap Cards in time.”

John O’Flynn of the National Transport Authority said: “The Leap Card is a fantastic new option for people who use Bus Éireann in Cork.   In addition to offering cheaper fares, it’s a lot more convenient as customers will no longer have to root around for change to pay the driver. The Authority launched Leap Card very successfully in Dublin two years ago, and we’ve been adding enhancements and additional tickets ever since.  It’s now handling over a million Euro worth of journeys per week and continues to grow. In Cork, today’s launch is just the start, and further options and different ticket types will be included as the scheme develops in the Cork City region”.

Martin Walsh of Bus Éireann said: “The introduction of Leap Card will facilitate quicker payment of bus fares and customers will have the option to purchase a single ticket at a 16% reduction and will also be able to avail of 24 hour and 7 day products for the Red Zone (City) and Green Zone (City and Suburban) Services. We’re also looking forward to the introduction of both Child and Student Leap Cards on our Cork services later this year.”

Leap Cards can be bought and topped up in a range of shops and newsagents locally, displaying the Leap Card sign.  These include:

  • Fordes, Ballypheane 
  • Spar, Ballypheane 
  • Kelleher's, Cork City 
  • Centra, Washington Street 
  • Herlihys Centra, Oliver Plunkett St. 
  • Herlihys Centra, Grand Parade 
  • Centra Bakers Road, Gurranabraher 
  • Marina Filling Station, Cork City 
  • Supervalu, Hollyhill 
  • Amber, Mayfield 
  • Centra, Blarney 
  • Centra, Tower 
  • Ryan's Supervalu, Togher 
  • XL Curraheen Stores, Bishopstown 
  • Centra Donnybrook, Douglas 
  • Supervalu, Frankfield 
  • Gala Express Farranree 
  • Daybreak Cork Road Cliffords, Cork City 
  • Hennessys Centra, Cork 
  • Spar McCurtain Street, Cork 
  • Centra, Douglas 
  • Supervalu Blackrock Scallys, Blackrock 
  • Herlihys Centra, Bishopstown

For more information on Leap Card, visit www.leapcard.ie

Wednesday, 9th April, 2014