Cork bus services will implement a 90-minute flat fare system starting in August, confirmed by the National Transport Authority.
Commuters will be able to switch buses freely within this timeframe after their initial fare is paid using a Leap card. The new fare system is expected to extend to rail services by 2025, covering routes between Kent, Little Island, and Glounthane stations.
From 2026, distance-based commuter bus fares will be introduced within a 30km zone surrounding Cork city. Equipment for Leap card validation will be placed on each bus to streamline boarding without needing to interact with the driver.
Green party councillor Oliver Moran shared, “A flat 90-minute fare means people not being punished for changing services, even different kinds of services. Although it’s been delayed, moving to a tag-on type system away from the driver means buses boarding faster. That’s going to help with queuing times at busy stops like Patrick’s Street, Kent Station, and Clontarf Street. In the next five to ten years, we need to draw more people onto public transport in preparation for high-frequency commuter rail, BusConnects, and eventually the Luas.”
