Message for Regular Toll Users on the M9 - geograph

eToll is an

electronic toll collection Electronic toll collection (ETC) is a wireless system to automatically collect the usage fee or Road pricing, toll charged to vehicles using toll roads, HOV lanes, toll bridges, and toll tunnels. It is a faster alternative which is replacing Tol ...

system used in the Republic of Ireland. Run by the

National Roads Authority The National Roads Authority (NRA) () is a state body in Ireland, responsible for the national road network. The NRA was established as part of the Roads Act 1993 and commenced operations on 23 December 1993 in accordance with S.I. 407 of 1993 ...

, it is a

interoperability Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system to work with other products or systems. While the term was initially defined for information technology or systems engineering services to allow for information exchange, a broader de ...

system allowing cashless payment on all of Ireland's toll roads via an

RFID Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder called a tag, a radio receiver, and a transmitter. When tri ...

tag attached to the windscreen of a participating vehicle.

History

Prior to its introduction in 2008, some operators had their own incompatible schemes specific to their own road sections. Since introduction however, all 5 toll road operators issue interoperable eToll tags. Additionally, two private firms (who do not operate any toll roads) also issue and operate eToll tagging systems - of which one is subcontracted to provide branded tags for one operator, as well as their own.

Technology

The system operates using in-car 5.8 GHz 802.11p RFID transponders, generally manufactured by

Kapsch The Kapsch Group, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, is an international corporation specializing in telematics, information technology and telecommunication. History and operations In September 1892, Johann Kapsch (1845–1921) founded a precisi ...

or CS Route.

Operations

The eToll platform is operated by Egis Projects, a French company with toll operations in 15 different countries. Where applicable, fees are charged to tag users at the same rate as cash prices for the same class of vehicle, and purchase/rent administrative fees for tags vary by tag issuer. Some tags also operate for other services, such as car parks, but this also varies by issuer. Since the M50 motorway moved to "barrier free" (cash-less) tolling, eToll tagging has represented one of two options to pay the

West-Link The West-Link () is a set of twin bridges over the River Liffey in Dublin. A toll bridge, the West Link forms the central section of the Western Parkway route of the M50 ring road motorway. History Plans were announced for the construction o ...

toll (the other system being video registration or post-pay services). In 2007, the NRA awarded French consortium BetEire Flow the contract to construct and operate the barrier-free tolling system at the West-Link bridge, and the

eFlow eFlow is the tolling brand name of Ireland's M50 motorway open road tolling operation. It is managed by Irish company Turas Mobility Services (a subsidiary of a French global organization called VINCI Concessions) on behalf of Transport In ...

system was introduced on 30 August 2008. The BetEire Flow consortium comprises the French toll operator Sanef and CS, a French systems designer, supplier and integrator. eFlow uses overhead cameras and detectors to record motorists' electronic tags or vehicle number plates. The technology involves two sets of gantries over the motorway. The first gantry detects the vehicle, and the second has antennae and cameras to read the tags and number plates.

References

External links

eToll official website
Electronic toll collection Road transport in the Republic of Ireland {{Ireland-transport-stub