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Leapcard has still got some living up to do!

Colin Broderick — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:30:17 +0000

Ok this post is all about blowing off some steam about some of the flaws in the current implementation of the leap card system. Let’s put this way, i’m not entirely sure what’s the point in it being “live” when these issues are present, as I consider them pretty much fundamental to the the usability of the system. So instead of just venting on this here blog I decided I would pop off a nice construcive email to the folks at leapcard.ie HQ.

Below is the email I sent this morning with added pictures for blogging posterity cus who likes to read just a bunch of text!

Leap Card Feedback

My name is Colin Broderick and I’ve recently purchased a leap card and have been mostly satisfied with its ease of use on Dublin Bus and Luas services. However there are a number of issues which detract considerably from what can be a fantastic product and are as follows.

Your website (leapcard.ie) is not user friendly in that it’s navigation structure is very difficult to navigate, this is especially evident when you login to the “My account area”.

When one is logged in it is not immediately apparent what services are available. The only difference that is apparent upon staring at the screen for a number of minutes is two extra items on the left navigation bar. Clicking the manage my profile link on the right, brings you to a page where the main body has information which is irrelevant for the main purpose of being logged in, such as what is a Leapcard, newsletter signup and info on getting your Irish rail /Luas card as a leap.

This is the screen you are presented with after login. Useless.

It is not immediately apparent where one can view their Leapcard balance, this is hidden in a sub menu only available when you click manage my profile, which frankly does not link to any sort of profile management either. Another issue is that when signed in and one returns to the root page/main page (leapcard.ie) the extra navigation options are not present in the left nav bar.

This is the page you get when you click "Manage my Profile" after login

This can be simply remedied through the sign in redirecting to the accounts page such as a user/account dashboard showing total money spent through leap or monthly money spent alongside a current balance and possibly a list of last three journeys. Navigation links for the actions available during login should be moved to the right hand navigation, where the login box was.

I like the majority (some 68%) of the population in Dublin use the Dublin Bus service for my public transport needs, I live in north county Dublin near the airport and as such do not live nor work near a Luas stop or Irish rail station. As such I cannot check the balance of my leap card without registering online, where I believe the details in which must be provided are onerous (i.e. having to provide a date of birth and full address). And if one does not have a credit card or laser card you cannot complete a registration as bank details must be provided. I do not understand why there is no facility to simply query the balance of a card online?

Top Up online is not topping up online as far as I can make out. Similar to the last point, what’s the point of providing this facility when I still have to visit a Payzone outlet or a Luas or Irish rail station in order to “activate” my top up. You already have the money, it just defeats the purpose of online top up. Surely the balance can be disseminated throughout the card reader system, including those on the buses.

As regards, buying a Leapcard, I had no issues as I ordered it online and it arrived two days later with a nice information leaflet on how to use the card. However another family member of mine purchased their card at a Payzone location in the Dublin 9 area and only received a card with no information leaflet. Is a customer meant to only receive a card or are they to receive a card and information leaflet exactly like those ordered from leapcard.ie?

One final issue I have is as regards the woolly statements provided as regards future functionality specifically travel rebates, the wording only suggests that changing between modes will be rebated, such as changing from bus to Luas or Luas to Dart, etc. There is no mention of rebates for multiple journeys on bus, such as getting a bus to town from the south-side like the 14 and then changing to an airport bus like the 41. I assume since the system appears to be modelled on that of London’s Oyster card, will there be a flat rate Bus charge introduced instead of multiple fares with a rebate after like 5 journeys?

While I understand the leap card is in its infancy and there will be teething problems and issues to iron out, however I cannot understand how the product was released across the city without these services being fully functioning.

To end on a positive note I really like the leap card and really hats off to you for finally getting some semblance of a combined transport card out into the open for Dublin. I hope this can seen as constructive feedback.

Kind Regards
Colin Broderick

If you have any gripes with the leap card, I would love to hear them! Comments below.

Keep in touch

Get your daily dose of me through my twitter @Rusty1052, your daily Irish Planning News courtesy the paper.li aggregator.

Not down with any of these new things? Or maybe you would like to offer me a job or use my services? Well sure just drop me an email at colinb@dt106ers.com. Will be great to hear from you! (Whoever you maybe).

Peace out planners!

[UPDATE] Dublin Transport Map v1.5

Colin Broderick — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:39:45 +0000

First I would like to say thanks a million to all those who provided feedback on my first version of the Dublin transport map, you all know who you are, thank you! Before I show you the revised map I would like to explain my design process a bit better so as to clear up some of the issues raised in the feedback to the original post.

Background

My dissertation in college focused on this idea of the network effect in public transport with study on the north eastern area of Dublin (Santry across to Howth), while also critiquing the differences in spatial land use policy and transport policy. That is a post for another day though.

There is no map of Dublin that shows the Dublin Bus, Luas and Rail networks on one sheet of paper. The closest representation is by Aris but also includes other possible modifications.

What really spawned this map was that I have been working on a geographically accurate map of all Dublin’s Transport in a similar style to the maps produced of Paris. But this map would also show the frequency of routes simply by varying the thickness of the lines. It is showing the frequency part that is the major challenge using illustrator as any minor changes are much more difficult than using a grid like with the map below.

Also as has been pointed out by a number of tweets such as this one:

@rusty1052 But Rusty, about 13% of the region’s population live north of the airport and another 8% live in Dublin 15

— Fingal Data Hub (@Fingal_Data_Hub) December4, 2011

As such there is also a slightly loaded message behind this map in that it can’t address a large proportion of the Dublin population lives in both Swords and the Dublin 15 area, where rapid services are very limited. It is also a shame that no orbital services like the 17A lack frequencies to allow seamless transfers. Instead most transfers have to made within the city centre.

Finally the current cash fare system penalizes people who need to make transfers to complete a trip by charging full fares twice. Hopefully the National Transport Authority will soon fix this as they are they have the power to set fares as part of the Public Transport Licensing process.

Objectives

Only services which operate at 15 minute of less frequency Monday – Friday off-peak will be represented on the map.
To show all transport modes, Bus, Light Rail (Luas) and Heavy Rail (DART & Commuter)
To illustrate the frequent network of transport routes that are available in Dublin.
To show the places which are possible to transfer as part of your journey.
To create the first multi-modal map of Dublin.

Map v 1.5

Why version 1.5? The map is still in development and I have not implemented the full array of suggestion that people were so kind to make in the comments on the last post.

The Future

I hope to refine the map into a usable product with the ultimate goal of pitching it to the National Transport Authority for use in Dublin.

I’m considering the addition of some combined routes, including the number 41′s which operate to Swords and beyond, which when combined roughly have an off-peak frequency of 15 mins. The 25′s and 26 to Lucan are similar in that combined they will be of sufficient frequency. Another feature which no one noticed was that Docklands Rail station is also missing and it will be added in a future release.

As I mentioned earlier I have been working on a complete Dublin Transport map which shows all services in the Dublin Region. This is a huge job! Unfortunately that is on the back burner as I have lost my enthusiasm it due to the difficulties of representing each and every route in the inner city. It is a nightmare as almost every Dublin Bus service stops on either D’Olier Street or Westmoreland Street. This map will take many months to complete to the same standard as the Frequent Map above. If someone has a GIS solution that they could put forward as alternative solution to hand drawing the map I would be over the moon! Here is a preview of that map in its current work in progress state:

http://zoom.it/hXh4

Draft Geographic Dublin Area Transport Map

As always!

Comments are welcome, you can follow me on the tweet machine @Rusty1052. Only want the blog? Subscribe to the RSS Feed with your favorite reader!

Do you like what you have just read? Maybe you are interested in being a guest writer too. Email me at colinb@dt106ers.com

Dublin Rapid Transit Map – Feedback please!

Colin Broderick — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:38:48 +0000

Ok anyone who has met me or listened to me talk about transport will know I’m a bit of nut for mass public transport and how its portrayed to the public.

Not sure if you remember but last year a Aris Venetikidis completed a future fantasy (with a lot of fact) complete transport map for Dublin as part of his design masters at NCAD, you can view his work on his website ventikidis.com. It was fantastic to finally see someone produce something well thought out and could actually work, except for there was one problem it didn’t reflect what is on the ground now!

We all know Dublin’s public transport network is not the best but hey it works (most of the time). So I figured we don’t have a map showing the most frequent routes in the city, so why not make one? Here is what I have come up with, it include Dublin Bus, Luas and Irish Rail/DART:

The Map

(Click for Full Image)
Please I would love to hear feedback from you regarding the above map, any and all feedback is welcome via twitter email or the comments below!

So what is Rapid Transit?

There is a pretty standard definition the world offer that most will agree on and that is:

A Rapid Transit Route is one in which a service operates at frequency of 15 minutes or less

You might be wondering why there are some routes missing off the above map. Well I shall explain, I conducted an extensive audit of all the Dublin Bus timetables for all bus routes. I got an average peak frequency for the buses and then found there average off-peak frequency for Monday – Friday buses only. All routes shown above operate Monday – Sunday however Saturday and Sunday frequencies can vary substantially from weekday frequency. So you can view the spreadsheet below which is the data I was working from:

As always!

Comments are welcome, you can follow me on the tweet machine @Rusty1052. Only want the blog? Subscribe to the RSS Feed with your favorite reader!

Do you like what you have just read? Maybe you are interested in being a guest writer too. Email me at colinb@dt106ers.com

Bikes on the DART, what about in Europe?

Colin Broderick — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:40:36 +0000

Having heard the recent news regarding IrishRail allowing the carriage of Bicycles on board all DART services at off-peak times I thought it might be a good idea to show off some other cities / countries that allow bikes on board their commuter and intercity services. I wouldn’t like to be trying to get a bike onto one of the intercity trains though! Who know’s some day we may even see official policy governing carriage of bikes on the LUAS.

Most countries have been way ahead of the Irish when it comes to transporting bicycles aboard public transport! On a recent interrail trip around europe I witnessed first hand the sheer amount of people that bring their bikes with them where ever they go, I had never seen anything like it! I also wish I had taken more pictures of it as I went.

Switzerland:

SBB allow you to take bikes on all trains

The SBB CFF FFS allow you to take your bikes on all commuter (regional) trains for free, however you have to pay for a separate bicycle ticket in order to bring one on an inter city train.

Austria:

OBB Wiesel Train

Sticking with the central european countries we move onto Austria, which allow fo significant space on board their “Wiesel” commuter trains for bicycles near the doors.

Netherlands:

The Dutch famous for their extensive rail network and cycling tradition are no stranger to allowing bicycles on board their trains and public transport alike.

Bikes are allowed on all train services except during the morning and evening rush hours. You need to purchase a Day Card for your bicycle though at the station before boarding a train. Also unlike most rail companies the NS do not provide any special place to put your bike when on the train, that is except for the EuroCity trains which run through the country. On EuroCity Trains there is a either a carriage for bicycles or a special compartment.

Bikes boarding a Dutch Train

Germany:

In order to stop banging on about the same thing I will talk about with in the Cities on there rapid transit networks. In Berlin you are allowed to bring your bike on the U-Bahn (Metro) . You can get away with not paying for the bike ticket, which is very reasonable at €2.50 a day or else €8.50 for the month. Berlin also allows you to take your bike on board trams off peak and also on a number of night bus’s. Berlin by bike (in german)

Deutsche Bahn the national rail operator also has a fleet of bikes similar to the dublin bikes for hire at their main stations to allow you to get around the city with ease!

Bikes boarding U-Bahn (Daniel Sparing)

DB Bikes

Copenhagen:

Of course no bicycle related post would be complete without the inclusion of Copenhagen where their S-Tog has racks for bicycles installed on all of the trains.

Copenhagen S-Tog has bike racks along the sides!

Happy biking!

Luas BXD and Interconnector lodged to the Bord

Colin Broderick — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:39:11 +0000

Today the 30th of June 2010 is the day that the Luas Line BXD, Stephens green to Broomsbridge website goes live. All the documents pertaining to the railway order are available freely at: www.dublinluasbroombridge.ie It is also the day that CIE have lodged their plans for the Dublin DART interconnector to link the Kildare Line and with Docklands opening up northern rail service to the south. Document’s for this railway order can be viewed at: www.dartundergroundrailwayorder.ie/

Tram on O'Connell Bridge

It’s a great day because finally the clock can start ticking down to the realisation of many years of dreaming and wishing by the citizens of Dublin for the trams that once crossed the Liffey to be finally reinstated! We are one step closer to actually having a piece of a viable rail system in the capital, one where the rail nodes actually will join up from day one! That’s right I’m talking about the possibility of being able to get a Luas or a Dart or a Metro all from the same station, all going different places!

More than likely based on previous strategic infrastructure applications for railway orders, the three projects could be with An Bord Pleanala, accounting for further information request and oral hearings at least 12 months if not longer.

DART Underground

My worry is that there will be no coordinated approach regarding the construction of the three projects that’s; Metro North, LUAS line BXD and DART interconnector, even though two of the projects will be pursued by the same agency. As far as I know combined they will take something like 6 years to complete all the projects with a layoff in the works for the first 6 months of 2016 for the Rising celebrations.

I have one other gripe for the construction is the probability that the pond in St Stephens green will be drained for the duration of the construction works for the stations at St Stephens Green.

Luas Line F1 – Change to proposed route for Lucan line planned

Colin Broderick — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:24:55 +0000

A step in the right direction, finally the RPA are demonstrating to us a concept of joined up thinking as regards to Public Transport in Dublin. Its pretty exciting actually we could actually be one step closer to getting a joined up transport network! Please do continue!

THE RAILWAY Procurement Agency (RPA) plans to change the route of the proposed Lucan Luas line, but said it does not intend to reopen public consultation on the project.

Plans for the line, which would run from Lucan in west Dublin to the city centre, were originally put out to public consultation in late 2007. The RPA received a record 2,300 submissions from the public, greater than the response for the entire Metro North project.

The preferred route which emerged from this process was announced in October 2008. From College Green in the city centre, the 15km “Line F” would head west along Dame Street to Christchurch before joining the existing Red Line at Fatima. It would then continue along the Grand Canal before turning right on Kylemore Road and heading towards Ballyfermot and out of the city towards Lucan.

In a letter sent to residents in Inchicore, the RPA said it now plans to change the route so that the Luas line could link up with the proposed final stop of the Dart Underground line.

In the letter, the RPA said that at the time the original Lucan Luas selection process took place, the Dart Underground route was to end at Heuston Station. Iarnród Éireann subsequently decided to extend the line to Inchicore.

The RPA and Iarnród Éireann have been working for a number of months to identify a way to provide a “viable interchange” between the two lines, the letter said. The proposed solution involves taking the line away from the canal and routing it through industrial lands east of Inchicore Village to meet the planned Dart station.

A spokesman for the RPA said two information meetings would be held this week – at Liffey Gaels GAA Club, Ballyfermot, from 6pm to 9pm tonight, and at the Oblate Hall, Inchicore, at the same time tomorrow.

The RPA intends to seek a Railway Order, planning permission to construct the line, from An Bord Pleanála next year. When the preferred route was announced in October 2008, the RPA said it would seek a Railway Order in 2010.

The spokesman said there would “not be any significant delay” in development as a result of the route change. No date for its construction has been set.

Inchicore on Track, a residents’ group which had been critical of a lack of consultation from Iarnród Éireann in relation to the site of the Dart Underground station, said it wanted public consultation on the route change.

“This route change might be a no-brainer, and it seems logical, but what if we don’t agree with it?” asked group representative John Beck.

IrishTimes

View more about this LUAS project on the RPA website: http://www.rpa.ie/en/projects/luas_lucan/Pages/default.aspx

Luas Red Line extension to open on Tuesday

Colin Broderick — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:46:43 +0000

THE LUAS extension from Bus Áras to the Point is to open on Tuesday and will face its first big challenge within hours, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) said yesterday.

According to the RPA, passengers will be offered free travel on the entire Red Line from 3pm on Tuesday immediately after the official opening, until 12.30am, when the line closes. The offer coincides with a potential audience of up to 13,000 people at the Lily Allen concert in the 02.

As he gave pre-school children from the Giraffe and Early Learning centres in the IFSC a special preview of the new extension yesterday, RPA light rail project director Michael Sheedy said the three- bay Luas terminal at the Point would be able to move 2,500 people from the O2 in the first 20 minutes after the concert.

“You will have some people taking their cars anyway and some who will start walking rather than wait, so we are not really expecting a problem,” Mr Sheedy said. Depending on demand, trams could be available every 6½ minutes.

The new extension encompasses four new stops – at George’s Dock, Mayor Square, Spencer Dock and the Point. The route bypasses the current terminus at the Luas concourse at Connolly Station. The RPA says the distances to the new stop represent a walk of only one or two minutes.

From Tuesday, just one in three trams will deviate between Bus Áras and George’s Dock to serve the concourse at the station.

According to the RPA’s Tom Manning, one of the main benefits of the Luas extension will be in breathing life into the IFSC at night-time, bringing people into the area for concerts and giving people a reason to remain as late as the last tram at 12.30am.

The route will pass the Harbourmaster bar and restaurant and will serve many of the corporate offices in the IFSC, as well as the National College of Ireland and new hotels, restaurants and wine bars on the north quays. It will also serve the 02, the soon to be completed concert hall and the Point Village.

“It brings the tram into a whole new area of Dublin; it looks more like Boston,” said Mr Manning as he pointed out local landmarks including “the Anglo Irish icon”, an unfinished office block near the Point. Journey times from Tallaght to the Point will be 56 minutes and services will be every 6½ minutes at peak times.

Public consultation for the extension was launched in January 2001 and construction began in June 2007.

Irish Times

Luas trams will not stop at new Brennanstown station

Colin Broderick — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:23:42 +0000

LUAS TRAMS will not stop at a new station being built in south Dublin because development planned for the area has not materialised, the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) has said.

A new Luas line from Sandyford to Cherrywood in south Dublin is currently under construction, and is expected to be operational next autumn.

Costs for the development have been estimated at €40 million a kilometre.

Eleven stops will be constructed along the B1 line, including at Ballyogan, Leopardstown, Carrickmines and Cherrywood.

However, although a stop is being built at Brennanstown, off the N11 near Cabinteely, Luas trams will not stop there. New housing developments in the area had been and are being marketed on the basis of proximity to the Luas stop.

A spokesman for the RPA said the area around the Brennanstown stop had not developed in the way that was expected.

He said the road infrastructure around the stop had not been built.

“There is no way passengers can get in and out,” he said.

It was not the responsibility of the RPA to provide access roads, he added.

“It is really a matter of how the area has developed.”

Fine Gael TD George Lee said the decision not to stop at the station would be a “a kick in the teeth” for local residents.

“This will come as a major shock to local residents, many of whom bought apartments and houses in the area at the height of the boom in the expectation that they would have a Luas stop on their doorstep in the near future.

“These are the same people who are suffering terribly from negative equity,” Mr Lee added. “Plans to deprive them of a Luas service is like kicking them when they are down.”

He said he understood the Rail Procurement Agency was concerned that the demand for a Luas service would not be sufficient due to the number of empty apartments in the area.

He said he would raise the matter with Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.

“I am calling on the Minister to ensure that the Brennanstown stop opens from day one when the Luas line is extended.”