Over €20 million was lost in revenue on public transport services last year due to fare dodgers, according to estimates by transport regulatory bodies.

Figures released under Freedom of Information legislation by the National Transport Authority (NTA) show the highest fare evasion rates in 2024 were on DART and commuter rail services, with 6.9 per cent of passengers not having a valid ticket for their journey.

The results of regular surveys conducted on bus, rail, and tram services in 2024 reveal regional differences, with Waterford’s intercity rail link to Limerick Junction emerging as the worst offender nationwide. The fare evasion rate on the Waterford–Limerick Junction route reached 12.8 per cent, the highest of any intercity line and five times the NTA’s target rate of 2.5 per cent, with the Dublin-Rosslare route standing at 8.0 per cent and Tralee-Dublin at 2.8 per cent.

While Iarnród Éireann received nearly €37,000 in incentive payments for strong overall compliance on its intercity services, the Waterford–Limerick route was one of only three nationwide to exceed the threshold.

In addition, Bus Éireann, which operates urban and regional routes in Waterford, recorded a system-wide fare evasion rate of around 5.0 per cent, above the allowed 3.9 per cent. This resulted in financial deductions of over €118,000 and an estimated €4.5 million in lost revenue. While specific figures for Waterford’s city services weren’t broken out, they are included in this total.

While it is understood that all tickets are checked at Plunkett Station before departure, the processes at other stops on the line are not known.

The NTA has acknowledged the challenge of fare evasion but says ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance are in place.“The NTA will continue to work closely with transport operators to further address this issue,” a spokesperson said.

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