NRA launches nationwide electronic toll tag

The National Roads Authority (NRA) will today introduce an electronic tag which motorists may use to pay toll charges on any of the State's toll roads.

Up to now, only one electronic tag, Etrip - a joint venture between French transport engineering company Egis Projects and Irish firm Electro Automation - has been offering motorists the ability to use express lanes at all of the State's toll barriers.

Etrip, which provides tolling technology for the Dublin Port Tunnel, is also proposing to extend its service to car parks and corporate fuel accounts.

The Eazy Pass tag system, first developed for the East-Link and West-Link bridges in Dublin, has up to now only been valid for use on the M1, which is operated by the Eazy Pass parent company, National Toll Roads.

A spokeswoman for Eazy Pass said yesterday that, from today, Eazy Pass would be operable on all toll roads.

Announcing the new tag yesterday, NRA chief executive Fred Barry said it would mean motorists "will only need one account arrangement to use any toll road across the country".

Drivers who currently have more then one tag can decide for themselves which operator best suits their individual needs. Drivers can compare operator offerings by going to www.nra.ie and clicking on the "eToll" symbol, where different tolling service companies will be listed.

Drivers with an electronic tag can use any lane at a toll plaza, but may also used dedicated express lanes.