Hard-pressed Limerick commuters face hike in public transport fares
The National Transport Authority has confirmed fares for most bus and rail users will increase from January 2027
USERS of public transport services in Limerick will face a price hike in the new year, it has been confirmed.
The National Transport Authority has announced a number of changes to the pricing of public transport services nationally, which will see most bus and rail users having to pay more from next January.
A flat fare is being introduced for Limerick routes, replacing zone-based pricing.
Bus routes in Limerick which are operated by Bus Éireann, from the 301 to the 323, will become more expensive for adults and young adults, while fares will be made cheaper for children.
These price changes, announced this Thursday, will also impact passengers on the 310 bus route, which was taken over by Bus Éireann in April of this year having previously been operated by another company.
The NTA says when using a leap card, adults will now pay €1.70 per trip, regardless of the length. Previously, shorter trips cost adults €1.35, and longer trips cost €1.55.
For adults paying in cash, the fee has increased to €2.40, while a bus journey for young adults will now cost 85 cent. Children’s fares will decrease to 55 cent.
The removal of zone-based pricing will allow for the introduction of 90-minute tickets, which are currently being implemented in Cork and Dublin.
In a statement, the NTA claims that prices for public transport in Ireland remain competitive when compared to other EU countries.
“Even with these changes, Ireland’s public transport fares remain extremely competitive by European standards, with single-trip fares in Dublin comparing favourably with those in cities including Berlin, Brussels, London and Vienna,” said a spokesperson
The following categories are “protected”, the NTA added, and will not be affected by these changes:
- Free travel for all children up to their ninth birthday.
- Free travel for all people aged 66 and over.
- Free travel for other passengers currently eligible under the Free Travel Scheme.
- The 50% Young Adult and Student Discount.
“Almost 1.5 million people in Ireland, representing 27% of the population, are eligible for age-related free travel or fare concessions. This includes nearly 550,000 children under the age of nine and more than 860,000 people aged 65 and over.”