The Nova Lunchbreak with Dee Woods - Radio Nova

Bus, Train And Luas Tickets To Be Contactless In 2028

22/01/2026

Est. Reading: 4 minutes

Ireland is gearing up for a major upgrade to public transport ticketing — with buses, trains and the Luas all set to accept contactless payments from 2028 under a new nationwide system designed to modernise how people pay to travel.

The Next Generation Ticketing (NGT) programme — being led by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in partnership with technology firm Indra — will allow passengers to use bank cards, mobile phones and smart devices to “tap on” and pay for journeys directly, eliminating the need to top up separate transport cards for most travel.

Under the new system, fares will be calculated automatically after travel and charged to the user’s account, rather than deducted from pre-paid credit. This account-based approach is already widely used in other major cities and is intended to speed up boarding and make everyday travel more straightforward and reliable.

Although Ireland has used TFI Leap Cards, a smart-card ticketing system, for public transport since 2011, that platform is now being replaced with this more modern solution. Leap Cards, along with existing Free Travel Passes and concessionary fare products, will continue to work throughout the transition, so passengers aren’t forced to switch before the new system is in place.

Officials say installation of new contactless validators — the devices that will read cards and phones on buses, Luas stops and rail stations — will begin in 2027. Full rollout of contactless “tap and go” payments is expected on Dublin City buses and the Luas first, with DART and other rail services joining later in 2028.

The NGT programme represents one of the most significant changes to Irish public transport payments in years. It will involve upgrading around 240 railway station gates, about 1,000 station validators and more than 2,800 on-bus validators across the Greater Dublin Area alone, forming the backbone of the new contactless infrastructure.

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and NTA leaders have described the move as a step toward making public transport more accessible and efficient for all passengers, while the new contactless headquarters opened in Dublin this week will act as the operational centre for delivering the programme.

For commuters and occasional travellers alike, the change could bring Ireland into line with other major European cities, where tap-to-pay on buses, trains and trams has become standard. During the rollout period, existing ticketing methods will remain in place to ensure continuity, with the goal of offering a seamless, modern payment experience by 2028.

Work on Dublin MetroLink Could Begin In 2 Years

Work on Dublin’s MetroLink project could begin in about two years, following the recent granting of a Railway Order approval — a major hurdle cleared for the long-awaited scheme. The decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála was welcomed by the Government, the National Transport Authority (NTA), and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who say this clears the way for moving into procurement and preparation phases over the coming years. Planning permission has now been granted, enabling the State to go ahead with tendering, land acquisition, design finalisation and advance works.

The €10-€11 billion project, stretching about 18.8-19 km from Swords in north Dublin through the city centre to Charlemont, will include 16 stations including a stop at Dublin Airport. The MetroLink will run mostly underground, with driverless, remote-controlled trains expected at every three minutes during peak periods. The journey from Swords to the city centre is estimated at 25 minutes, while from the airport to city centre around 20 minutes.

Official sources expect that, subject to no major legal challenges, the procurement process (selecting contractors, finalising the business case, completing enabling works) could be well underway within the next 18-24 months. In other words, physical construction works might begin around 2027-2028, with full operations anticipated by the mid-2030s.

However, there are caution flags. Cost estimates remain fluid. The “indicative capital cost” is currently around €9.5 billion, though some estimates range higher depending on inflation, technical complexities, and unforeseen challenges. There are also potential delays from judicial reviews, land acquisition hurdles, and detailed design issues that often arise in projects of this scale.

Environmental and construction impact concerns are also coming to fore. For example, the presence of “forever chemicals” (PFAS) detected near Dublin Airport has raised questions about ground conditions and environmental assessments, which may require additional remediation work. Road traffic, noise, and disruption from enabling and tunnelling works are also expected during the construction period, with local communities likely to be most affected.

Politically and administratively, the establishment of a statutory delivery body specifically for MetroLink has been proposed, to ensure a dedicated structure with the expertise, powers, and flexibility to manage such a complex project. Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, TII, and the NTA have affirmed that this new body will help smooth procurement, oversight, staffing, and financial management.

In summary, while physical construction work may not begin until 2027-2028, many preparatory steps (tendering, land acquisition, design, environmental remediation) should be in full swing over the next two years. When MetroLink eventually opens in the mid-2030s, it promises to be a transformative project for Dublin transport — if everything proceeds without major delays or cost overruns.

Written by Louise Ducrocq

Louise is an expert content creator, and online author for Radio Nova. She's evolved in a few different fields, including mental health and travel, and is now excited to be part of the wonderful word of Radio.

> View other articles by this author