eFlow

eFlow is the tolling brand name of Ireland's M50 motorway 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 Infrastructure Ireland. The tolling station is located on the M50 on the north side of the West-Link bridge.

For other uses, see Energy flow (disambiguation).

eFlow
The toll plaza on the M7 motorway with the eToll logo over the tollbooth showing that eFlow tags are accepted
Product typeRFID tagging
OwnerTransport Infrastructure Ireland
CountryRepublic of Ireland
IntroducedAugust 30, 2008 (2008-08-30)
Websiteeflow.ie

Like other eToll systems, eFlow allows cashless payment on all of Ireland's toll roads. eFlow uses overhead cameras on the M50 and detectors to read electronic tags or number plates on vehicles.

In 2007 the National Roads Authority awarded the contract to construct and operate the new tolling system for the M50 to Sanef ITS Operations Ireland, a French consortium of toll operator SANEF and tolling system designer CS.[1] Both companies have worked on similar electronic tolling systems in Europe and North America.

eFlow tags are "interoperable", allowing motorists to use them on other eToll plazas on Ireland's road network. Electronic tags from other providers - MiniTag, Eazy Pass, eTrip, Eirtag, PassDirect and Tolltag - can also be used on the M50.

With the introduction of the electronic system, the existing barrier toll barriers began to be dismantled in September 2008, and drivers now pass through the toll point at normal driving speed.[2][3] Bottlenecks at the old toll barriers often caused long tailbacks, which were often featured in the roadwatch traffic reports of AA Ireland.[4]

Charges

M50 toll charges as of 2020 [5]

Vehicle type Unregistered eFlow video account Any tag account
Car or public service vehicle (up to 8 passengers) €3.10 €2.60 €2.10
Light goods vehicles (unladen weight under 2,000 kg) €4.00 €3.50 €2.90
Buses or coaches (seating more than 8 passengers) €4.00 €3.50 €2.90
Goods vehicles (unladen weight 2,000 to 10,000 kg) €5.30 €4.80 €4.30
Heavy goods vehicles (unladen weight over 10,000 kg) €6.40 €5.90 €5.30
Tractor unit or an articulated vehicle €6.40 €5.90 €5.30
Motorcycles Free Free Free

eFlow tag registered vehicles pay a monthly account fee of €1.23.[6]

Forms of payment

Payment is by cash, credit or debit card and is payable in stores or on the eFlow website. Toll charges must be paid by 8pm the following day of the journey or the driver incurs a penalty charge.

Exempt vehicles

The following vehicles are exempt from eFlow toll charges.[7]

  • Motorcycles
  • Vehicles modified for disabled use
  • Fingal County Council vehicles
  • Army vehicles
  • Garda and ambulance service vehicles
  • M50 maintenance vehicles

Controversy

Since the launch of the e-tolling system at the West-Link in 2008, it has not been without controversy.[8][9] In the opening weeks it was reported that up to 20,000 vehicles a day were not being recorded correctly,[8] with some fleet and car-hire operators claiming up to 100 mis-directed fines per day.[10] While the NRA initially stated that such issues affected only a small proportion of eToll users,[11] Sanef ITS Operations Ireland has since acknowledged issues with incorrect toll charges for a "significant minority".[9]

References
  1. Article on RTE.ie about awarding of the contract
  2. Article in the Independent about eFlow
  3. Article in The Irish Times about the dismantling of the barriers
  4. Article on M50 in The Independent
  5. "Eflow". Eflow. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. "How It Works". www.eflow.ie. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  7. "Eflow". Eflow. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. Irish Times - M50 tolling system misreads details of 10,000 cars a day - 1 October 2008
  9. M50 toll operator 'accepts failings' Irish Times - M50 toll operator 'accepts failings' - 16 April 2009
  10. Irish Times - Toll fines hit fleets - 24 September 2008
  11. Irish Times - M50 toll problems overstated, says NRA - 2 October 2008
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