Leap Card - Integrated Ticketing Scheme

Leap Card is a reusable plastic smart card which can be used instead of cash to pay for tickets on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Irish Rail Short Hop Commuter journeys. It was launched for public sale and use in December 2011.

For more information on how to buy and use the card see www.leapcard.ie

Benefits of Leap Card

The Leap Card allows customers to use a single smart card to pay for their travel on public transport within and around Dublin. The card helps make journeys on public transport easier as coins are no longer required to pay for single tickets. Customers will simply touch their card to a reader at the gate or point of entry and exit (entry only on bus), benefiting from improved convenience and speed in the ticketing process.

Customer Benefits of Leap Cards

Flexible - the same smart card can be used on multiple transport operators
No need to have the correct change or carry cash
Reduced boarding times on buses
Shorter queues for tickets at Luas and Irish Rail Ticket machines
Fast, secure and convenient transactions
Reusable - the card can be topped-up with travel credit (or period tickets in the future)

Transport Operator Benefits of ITS Smart Cards

Reduced cash management
Facilitates easier transfers between services
Improves transport services by making them easier to use
Tamper proof storage of transaction activities
Decreased levels of fare evasion and fraud loss
Reliable and proven technology in volume production
Provides a tool to implement creative and flexible fares
Accurate data for service planning purposes

Project Background

In 2011, the National Transport Authority took over statutory responsibility (from the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA) for the completion and delivery for the Integrated Ticketing Scheme (ITS) in the Greater Dublin Area.

Future Developments

Now that the Travel Credit aspect of Integrated Ticketing is established, more functions will be added, on a phased basis. This will include the introduction of: