COMMUTERS IN CORK City are now able to travel for up to 90 minutes for just €1.70. 

The fare caps cover all of Bus Éireann’s Cork TFI services, five years after a similar system was brought in for Dublin.

Cork buses have also been fitted with on-board ticket validators, meaning commuters can hop on and tap their Leap card, rather than booking in advance or buying a ticket from the bus driver at the stop.

The National Transport Authority said the new measures will speed up boarding times.

“More than 5,000 passengers every week already make journeys involving more than one bus, but this new service opens up the network to more travellers in a way that makes it quicker, easier and simpler,” it said in a statement.

“Whether travelling to work, college, shopping trips or appointments, passengers will enjoy greater flexibility and better value when using Cork’s bus network.”

A single flat fare for adult Leap cards is now €1.70, replacing fares of €1.35 and €1.55, which depended on length of journey.

For people with Young Adult and Student Leap cards, the flat fare is now 85c.

Child fares have been reduced from 65c to 55c, while children up to 8 years old can still travel for free.

Those who pay in cash, however, will not benefit from reduced fares – except children, who will see a 5c reduction.

Passengers travelling with a Free Travel Pass will still get free travel, but they’ll have to tap on using the new validators.