Cork councillor fears new 90-minute fare comes with 'sting in the tail' for city bus users 

Changes to Cork city buses intended to make services faster and encourage people to take multiple buses begin today – but they come with a price increase for most passengers.

From today, passengers using Bus Éireann's Cork city bus services will be able to transfer between buses as often as they need within 90 minutes, for a single fare of €1.70.

Passengers will also be able to tap their Leap Card on new on-board ticket validators, which will be on a pole near the entrance.

Announcing the changes last week, Bus Éireann said that the new validators will mean people don’t have to go to the driver to board, “reducing boarding times, keeping services moving, and improving the overall reliability and punctuality of Cork city bus services”.

They added: “More than 5,000 passengers every week already make journeys involving more than one bus, but this new service opens up the network to more travellers in a way that makes it quicker, easier and simpler.

“Whether travelling to work, college, shopping trips or appointments, passengers will enjoy greater flexibility and better value when using Cork’s bus network.” 

However, the changes come with “simplified” fares that represent an increase for adult passengers who are getting just one bus.

Adult Leap Card fares will move from current fares of €1.35 and €1.55, dependant on distance travelled, to a single flat fare of €1.70, while cash fares will rise from €1.90 or €2.20 to €2.40.

Child Leap fares are decreasing from 65c to 55c, and child cash fares from 90c to 80c, while young adult and student Leap Card users have increased by 10c to 85c as of this morning.

Children under eight and anyone with a Free Travel Pass will still be eligible to travel free by tapping on using the new validators.

Green Party councillor for Cork City North East, Oliver Moran, said: “On-board ticketing is a key plank of BusConnects and, under this government, one of the few elements people will see on the ground.

“It means less time spent at stops and allows drivers to focus on their primary job, getting people to where they need to go quickly.” 

But he continued: “That comes with a sting in the tail for bus users. 

“In practice, a 90-minute fare isn't going to be practical for most users in Cork.

“The network isn't reliable enough to be able to plan changes between buses. 

“So the increase in price doesn't mean being able to switch between routes on a single ticket, it just means higher fares.”