Tag: #NTA

CCPC calls on Government to open up Irish taxi market

New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) highlights a supply shortage in the taxi sector as four in 10 people who tried to get a taxi in December reported difficulties doing so.

With a significant share of taxi users wanting the choice of ride-hailing (49%), the CCPC is calling for the removal of regulatory barriers to facilitate entry of these services. Ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber or Bolt, connect private drivers to passengers via apps. This would mean allowing these private drivers to provide services using their own cars, subject to appropriate regulatory safeguards.

According to the research, 57% of those who expressed an opinion believe that there are not enough taxis available in their area. However, there are stark differences across geographical locations.

While 56% of those living in Dublin believed there are enough taxis in their area, only 28% of those outside of Dublin agree. This drops to 21% for those living in Connacht or Ulster.

Participants were asked whether they would like the choice of accessing ride-hailing services, subject to regulatory requirements.

While 49% of taxi users surveyed would like the option of ride-hailing services, this figure rose to 57% for those who believe there are not enough taxis in their area.

When asked whether they would prefer a fixed fare or a metered fare, 60% said they would support a fixed fare option.

The research also found that 53% of respondents surveyed tried to get a taxi in December 2025. Two in five who tried to get a taxi in December experienced problems, with 27% saying they had to stop looking as no taxis were available.

The research comes ahead of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) regulatory assessment of the licensing of dispatch operators, which is due to begin later this year.

Brian McHugh, CCPC chair said: 

“Regulatory barriers in the taxi market have failed to facilitate innovations that have flourished in other countries and consumers are suffering as a result. Our research shows a clear preference for more choice among consumers who are not getting the service they need.

“This is not about abandoning oversight or regulation.  Any new entrants could and should be regulated to maintain high service and safety standards. Consumers and businesses deserve an innovative, functioning taxi sector that provides choice. Consumers shouldn’t be faced with long waits or the possibility of staying home due to a lack of taxi availability.

“The CCPC is calling on the Government to remove key regulatory barriers in the taxi market so that it can be more responsive to consumer needs and align better with how transport systems are evolving all over the world. The goal is to achieve a balance that protects consumers and ensures access, while also allowing competition and innovation to improve the market. We look forward to engaging with the NTA in their consultation process and to exploring all solutions that might increase capacity and choice.

See more 

NTA commences market consultation process for zero-emission ramp-accessible coaches

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today commenced a market consultation process ahead of one or more procurement competitions for zero-emissions and/or ramp-accessible coaches.

Information obtained from interested parties that participate in this market consultation exercise will be used by the NTA for the purpose of informing the planned procurement(s).

It will also allow the NTA to progress actions within the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023 and National Sustainable Mobility Policy, relating to the development of a strategy for the transition of long-distance PSO and commercial bus services to low-emission technologies.

As part of its national statutory function to provide bus infrastructure and fleet, the NTA has, since 2017 procured new buses and coaches for use by its contracted bus operators in the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus services.

Since July 2019, the NTA has also, in line with Irish Government policy, purchased only low and zero-emission urban buses, and from 2023 onwards all urban buses purchased by the NTA will be zero-emission.

In addition, there have been significant advances in the design of new coaches purchased by the NTA in recent years, most notably ramp-accessible single-deck coaches incorporating a low-floor area within which a permanent wheelchair space is located.

However, it has proven challenging to procure coaches with lower exhaust and CO2 emissions than the EURO VI coaches that represent the NTA’s most recent purchases.

The NTA is therefore seeking to commence one or more procurement process(es) for zero-emission and/or ramp-accessible coaches.

”Zero-emission” means a coach that qualifies as a zero-emission heavy duty vehicle in accordance with the definition contained within DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/1161.

“Ramp-accessible” means a coach with a permanent wheelchair space within a low-floor area into which access from the exterior of the coach is effected solely via an integral folding ramp at a passenger doorway, such ramp being able to be traversed by the wheelchair without any mechanical lifting or raising of the wheelchair being necessary.

These zero-emission and/or ramp-accessible coaches are envisaged as the successors to the ramp-accessible single-deck and double-deck coaches procured by the NTA in recent years.

They are also potential future replacements for the traditional high-floor single-deck coaches operating longer-distance journeys.  However, for this potential application it will be essential to improve accessibility for persons with reduced mobility while also maintaining the established luggage capacity and passenger comfort requirements of long-distance coach travel.

For more information see:

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/235892/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/publictenders&b=ETENDERS_SIMPLE

NTA has announced an agreement for 800 battery electric double decker buses.

.The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today announced an order for 120 double-deck battery-electric buses from Bamford Bus Company (trading as Wrightbus). These 120 buses are part of a framework agreement which provides for the procurement of up to 800 zero-emission battery-electric buses over a period of five years

The buses – Streetdeck Electroliner BEVs – will be manufactured and assembled at the Wrightbus facility in Galgorm, on the outskirts of Ballymena in Northern Ireland.

The framework agreement now in place between the NTA and Wrightbus has the potential to be the single biggest bus procurement in the history of the State. These will be the first battery-electric double-deck buses to be added to the national bus fleet in Ireland and their addition will deliver a significant uplift in the proportion of low- or zero-emission buses within that fleet.

This historic deal is a major component of the overall strategy to build a sustainable future by decarbonising the country’s PSO public transport fleet, and is in line with a number of key national policy directives including:

  • National Strategic Outcome 4 in the National Development Plan 2021 which provides for Sustainable Mobility through the delivery of greener and cleaner bus fleets;
  • Section 9.3.7 of the Climate Action Plan 2021 on the decarbonisation of public sector transport which says: ‘We will transition public bus fleets to zero emissions models though the renewal and expansion of the fleet, allowing for the full electrification of double-decker buses in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway by 2035’;
  • Section 12.2.4 of NTA’s Draft GDA Transport Strategy on zero-emission buses which says: ‘2022 will see the introduction of fully electric single and double deck fleet and the ongoing conversion of bus depots to charge and maintain the new vehicle types’; and
  • Action 13 and 14 of the National Sustainable Mobility Action Plan 2022 which provide for the transition of PSO bus services in the Dublin metropolitan area, along with Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford to low/zero emission bus fleet.

As they incorporate a fully battery-electric powertrain, the buses will operate with zero tailpipe-emissions, which will contribute to a substantial improvement in air quality in the cities and towns in which they are deployed.

This initial order for 120 buses represents  an investment of some €80.4m.

Of the 120 buses currently on order, 100 are destined for use by Dublin Bus on PSO bus services within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and 20 are destined for use by Bus Éireann for use in the Limerick Metropolitan Area. Buses from future orders may also be used to operate PSO bus services in other parts of Ireland, including the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway and Waterford.

Commissioning and training activities will get under way later this year, as will work on installing the necessary charging infrastructure. The first buses are expected to enter passenger service in 2023.

The buses will be outshopped in the green, white and yellow Transport For Ireland (TFI) livery which is in the course of being applied to all buses and coaches in the PSO fleet.

Passenger facilities onboard include:

  • seating for up to 65 passengers;
  • a permanent wheelchair space;
  • a dedicated area for the accommodation of a pram, pushchair or buggy;
  • prominent and distinctive priority seating;
  • high-definition real-time passenger information displays;
  • USB charging sockets; and
  • complimentary Wi-Fi.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said:

“We know that decarbonising transport is imperative, as part of our effort to tackle climate change. Public transport because it is shared mobility is already a far more sustainable and economical way of getting around, particularly compared to a private car that runs on fossil fuel, and the battery-electric buses that we are now ordering, will accelerate the transition to a zero-emission fleet.

“Going electric will reduce the carbon footprint of our public transport fleet, and will help us reach our long-term climate goals, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan. These new electric buses will also help reduce air pollution, improve public health and improve access to public transport for people of all abilities.

“I welcome today’s announcement and look forward to seeing cleaner and greener buses in operation in our cities”

Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham said:

“The transition to a zero-emission bus fleet is a central component of our BusConnects project, and the procurement of these battery-electric buses represents a key milestone in that process.

“There is no doubt that people are looking to us to provide better, more sustainable transport alternatives in all areas, and it is incumbent on us as an Authority to respond to that demand in a positive way. In so doing, we will reduce the need for personal vehicles, making the quality of the air we breathe healthier for everyone.

“When it comes to taking climate action, we in the NTA want to play our part and we want to lead by example. We are doing that by transitioning our public transport fleet away from fossil fuel to zero emission technologies and as you see today we are making real progress. This process is already under way, and when complete in 2035 will result public transport emissions being massively reduced.”

Neil Collins, Managing Director of Wrightbus, said: “We are extremely proud of this historic deal, which is hugely significant for Ireland’s decarbonisation ambitions and for us here at Wrightbus.

“This deal further cements the reputation we have built in the zero-emission sector, and follows hot on the heels of historic deals in Australia and Germany. This shows our ambition to be at the forefront of the zero emission drive in cities, towns and rural areas  across the world.”

TFI leap card top-up app now available on Apple devices. How to top up inside. #TFI #Apps #Leapcard

The National Transport Authority has released the Leap Top-Up App on the Apple App Store, letting TFI Leap Card users with Apple devices check their balance, top-up on the go and collect pre-purchased tickets, including TaxSaver tickets. Finally says iOS users…

Transport for Ireland (TFI) Leap Card users with iPhone 7 or newer can now download the Leap Top-Up App from the Apple App Store and will no longer have to detour to a shop or ticket machine to load credit or ticket products bought earlier online.

While most Android users have been able to top-up using the app since 2016, it was not until October 2019 that Apple unlocked the ability for third party apps to access the on-board NFC for iPhone 7 and newer devices, with the release of iOS 13.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham said: “It has always been our ambition to make the TFI Leap Card Top-Up App available to a wider cohort of public transport users. I am delighted that we are now in a position to expand this service to Apple devices.

“We expect that the Apple app will be just as popular as the Android app. At the moment Android top-ups account for 30% of all TFI Leap Card top-ups. Based on these figures this additional service should result in 60% of all TFI Leap Card users topping up via a mobile app.

“In light of Covid-19, the ability to top-up from anywhere at any time from the comfort of your own home, will be a welcomed function for public transport user across the TFI network. Paying for your fare using the TFI Leap Card continues to be the safest way to complete your journey as restrictions are eased”.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said: “It is great to see the launch of the iOS Leap Top-Up App today. The TFI Leap Card along with the top-up app has made journeys across the TFI network more convenient for everyone.


PIC JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY
TFI Leap Card Top-Up App now available on Apple devices: The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, joined CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, as the NTA released the Leap Top-Up App on the Apple App Store, letting TFI Leap Card users with Apple devices check their balance, top-up on the go and collect pre-purchased tickets, including TaxSaver tickets.

 

“This additional feature for Apple device users will make public transport a more attractive option to people. TFI Leap customers are already making significant savings of up to 31% compared to cash payments.

“I look forward to seeing public transport users throughout the country availing of this hassle-free way of topping up their TFI Leap Card. I’d like to acknowledge the work that NTA has been doing in responding to customers’ needs by rolling out innovative products like this using the latest smartphone technology”.

To use the app, you simply touch the TFI Leap Card against your phone.

The iOS app has been in real-live customer testing for the last number of months and the National Transport Authority (NTA) says that the feedback has been very positive so far.

The Leap Top-Up App can be downloaded from the Apple and Android App store and further information on how you can use the feature can be found here.