Public transport fares: How prices are going down from today

All public transport fares in Dublin will be reduced by 20 per cent from today and the discounts will last through the end of the year.

Aren for all subsidized services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) are to be reduced by an average of 20 per cent, with the reductions applying to Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and Iarnród Éireann’s commuter and Dart services.

The TFI 90-minute tariff introduced last year drops to EUR 2 for adults and EUR 0.65 for children.

While Iarnród Éireann’s online fares were reduced last month, from today all intercity and commuter fares across the country will be reduced. Bus Éireann and Local Link fares have also been reduced by 20 per cent in the last month.

Customers receive their 20 percent fare reduction if they pay for their trip the usual way, be it by Leap, cash or online payment.

The plan to cut public transport fares was announced by Transport Secretary Eamon Ryan in February and was among measures included in the Government’s cost-of-living package.

This national fare reduction is the first since 1947, 75 years ago.

Minister Ryan said that on average over 140 million passengers travel on Dublin Buses each year and a further 41 million on Luas.

“Now that we are all going back to work or traveling more in the city after the pandemic, we want to make the choice of public transport even more attractive and easier for people. This 20 percent saving in transportation costs is a practical way to do that,” he said.

The minister said this reduction will “help to some extent” to ease the pressure on the cost of living that people are facing.

“But these cost reductions are also important, especially at this time. People are under increasing pressure as prices for essentials continue to rise,” he said.

“As one element of a series of measures being introduced by the government, this fare reduction will ease some of the financial burden on households.”

He also said choosing public transport, even for one trip a week, can have wider environmental benefits.

“Choosing public transport over the private car, even for one trip per week, can help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. It will also help improve air quality and reduce congestion in our capital,” he said.

“And at a time when fuel safety is more important than it has been for decades, it’s one of the best things we can all do to reduce our energy use and save money. ”

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority said that in the first three weeks that the 20 per cent discount on Bus Éireann services is available, passenger journeys in the regional cities have increased by almost 10 per cent, with Galway and Limerick now exceed pre-Covid levels.

“There is particularly good news for Cork rail commuters as Mallow is included in the local rail fare for the first time. This means that an adult can travel from Mallow to Cork City or any other train station in the Cork area for just €3.90 when paying with Leap,” she said.

“We are grateful for the government’s support, which has enabled us to make public transport even more affordable for our customers.”