The National Transport Authority (NTA) has announced that from Monday 20 July passengers using Bus Éireann’s Cork TFI city bus services will benefit from faster boarding times and a simplified 90-minute fare.
For the first time, passengers will be able to catch any bus in the city and transfer between buses in Cork city as often as they need within 90 minutes, all for a single fare of €1.70.
The introduction of new on-board ticket validators also means passengers can simply tap their Leap Card and go – reducing boarding times, keeping services moving, and improving the overall reliability and punctuality of Cork city bus services.
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.
Passengers will also benefit from fare capping, which wasn’t previously available.
To support the introduction of TFI 90, adult Leap Card fares in Cork city will move to a single flat fare of €1.70. This replaces the current adult Leap fares of €1.35 and €1.55, creating a simpler fare structure while enabling unlimited transfers within 90 minutes.
Young Adult and Student Leap Card users will move to a single flat fare of 85c.
Child leap fares are also being simplified with a flat fee of 55c replacing the previous 65c fare, while children up to 8 years old are still eligible to travel free with their Child Leap Card.
The Leap Card represents that best value for money for passengers with cash fares increasing for adults to €2.40 and child cash fares reducing to 80c.
Passengers travelling with a Free Travel Pass will continue to travel free of charge. They will simply need to tap on using the new validators when boarding.
Anne Shaw, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority said: “This new initiative for Cork means passengers can move around the bus network much more flexibly – and not be penalised for doing so. Where our passengers using Leap would previously have paid €2.70 for moving between buses it will now only cost €1.70 – saving one euro per journey.
“We are committed to making public transport more reliable and more accessible for everyone, while ensuring value for money. Simplifying our fares makes it easier to plan, budget and get on board. But we also need to invest in our network – that’s why we are delivering Bus Connects in Cork. This initiative will transform the bus network in the city – increasing services by 53% and introducing two new 24-hour services.
“The bus network is the backbone of our public transport network – it connects thousands or people in Ireland to their jobs, schools, colleges and other vital services. We are ensuring it can continue to deliver for everyone in Cork now and in the future.”
CEO of Bus Éireann, Jean O’Sullivan added: “The real benefit of this initiative is that it makes boarding faster and easier for customers. The new validators allow passengers to simply tap and go, reducing the time buses spend at stops and helping services stay on schedule. As passenger numbers continue to grow, these improvements will make a real impact on the efficiency of the Cork city bus service.”
The rollout of the TFI 90-Minute Fare in Cork and the introduction of a flat fare across services will also facilitate future growth in the transport network. As transformative projects such as BusConnects Cork and the proposed Cork Luas progress through planning and development, a simple, integrated fare structure will support the seamless integration of new routes and modes, making public transport more accessible, connected and attractive for passengers.
For more information on fares, please visit TFI Leap Card Cork – Leap Card
