EToll

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A sign informing road users of the availabilty of toll tags Message for Regular Toll Users on the M9 - geograph.org.uk - 6093135.jpg
A sign informing road users of the availabilty of toll tags
The eToll road sign symbol, which uses a stylised insular T IE road sign symbol F-064.svg
The eToll road sign symbol, which uses a stylised insular T

eToll is an electronic toll collection system used in the Republic of Ireland. Run by the National Roads Authority, it is a interoperability system allowing cashless payment on all of Ireland's toll roads via an RFID tag attached to the windscreen of a participating vehicle.

Contents

History

Prior to its introduction in 2008, [1] 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. [2]

Technology

The system operates using in-car 5.8 GHz RFID transponders, generally manufactured by Kapsch 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 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 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.

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eFlow

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The multi-lane free flow(MLFF) is a system that allows free-flow high-speed tolling for all highway users. With MLFF, current toll lanes at toll plazas can be replaced with ordinary multilane road segments. By using tags with readers at gantry across the highway to detect vehicles and deduct tolls using the existing Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) when fully implemented. Using only video and automatic license plate recognition it is also possible to have a MLFF system without using tags and readers. This type of solution is implemented in Stockholm for congestion charging purposes.

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References

  1. Getting to grips with toll tags - IrishTimes.com
  2. "Tag providers". etoll.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2024.