Limerick - Waterford

[IckyThump]

ok i dont understand the new fares online. i cant seem to find how much the new ticket price is

it use to be

€12 one way adult
€20 day return
€23 Month return

just wondering if there is ay change to the price???? or the service for that matter

[Colm Moore]

By my reckoning, Limerick-Waterford is a H category fare (77.25 miles, 124km).

New Single Fare €18.50
New Day Return Fare €19.00
New Open Return Fare €26.50

The objective fare (what it will become in the future, adjusted for inflation and adjustments to subsidy) would be (€2.50+€0.23/km*35km+€0.23/km*89km*0.7 = €2.50+8.05+14.32 = €24.87. That is an access charge of €2.50 and a full per kilometre charge Limerick -Limerick Junction and a kilometre charge discounted as it is a economy route on the Limerick Junction-Waterford section

Objective Single Fare €24.87
Objective Day Return Fare €38.55 (155% of single)*
Objective Open Return Fare €42.28 (170% of single)*

These are maximum fares and discounts can be offered.


* The NTA document is slightly unclear on how return tickets should be priced, stating that "Single, Open (30% discount on two single fares) & Day Return (45% discount on two single fares) Fares" whereas, presumably they mean "Single, Open (30% discount on the return part) & Day Return (45% discount on the return part) Fares".

[IckyThump]

By my reckoning, Limerick-Waterford is a H category fare (77.25 miles, 124km).

New Single Fare €18.50
New Day Return Fare €19.00
New Open Return Fare €26.50

50 cent extra for a return??? wow looks like they didnt stop the ridiculous prices. guess mammy will be sad that ill be cutting back on the going home

thanks for the reply

[Mark Gleeson]

Fares from Feb 4th

Single €18.50
Day Return €19.00
Open Return €26.50

The day return will now be available on Fridays

My understanding of the new fares will be priced as following policy

Day return = (2 * Single Fare) less 45% = 20.35
Open return = (2 * Single Fare) less 30% = 25.90

This will be implemented progressively over several years on all routes. Once Irish Rail's ticketing system can cope a pure distance based calculation will be employed

2.50 fixed charge +
35.4km * 0.23per/km + (Limerick - Limerick Junc) = 8.14
89.3km * 0.23per/km * 0.7 (Limerick Junc - Waterford = 14.38

=> 25.02

Fares on the Limerick Junction - Waterford route are historically low hence they are going up. Fares on other routes are considered over priced and they have come down

[IckyThump]

thats a huge rise in cost though

im going to be paying over 50% exta on what i was paying

the only reason that day returns and open returns are 45% and 30% cheaper than 2 single tickets is that the single ticket has risen.

i understand that it may be as you call it an "underpriced" line but 50% is a huge rise

i wouldnt mind if the servvice was advanced by giving wifi or more trains possibly even 1 or 2 on a sunday. but this is ridiculous

[Destructix]

This will probably end up closing the section Limerick Junction-Waterford. Funny they talk about making the fares system more fair and based on distance yet it still costs less to travel from Waterford-Dublin than closer stations on the Dublin-Cork line and even some economy lines.

[Mark Gleeson]

The fares quoted as the maximum that Irish Rail can charge under the new rules.

The fares between Limerick Junc and Waterford are unlikely to be charged at this full rate anyway.

[IckyThump]

thanks for all the replies i very much appreciate it

i always did find the whole Irish rails thing a bit strange anyway in their business model. they promote themselves as Irish Rail but should be called Dublin Rail as thats the only place they serve.

they say that they are keeping €10 promotional fares. the only time you can use these fares is if you are going to/from Dublin

the only trains you can book online are if you are going to/from Dublin

they say that they are introducing the new leap card to help us save on fares. but this is only useful if you are IN Dublin

there are over a half million people living in Dublin with 4 million more that live elsewhere. sure alot of people use dublin in some way but there are millions all over the country that do not.

if routes like Limerick-Waterford or the WRC where promoted then they would be used. if you could book online they would be used.

€12 at the moment for a single fare Limerick to Waterford by train
€13.50 by bus

the train takes 2.5 hours because of a half hour stop at the junction. you have the comfort of being able to use the toilet on the train, the tables on the train for eating, doing college work, using your laptop etc. the train is so much better than the bus(as someone who dislikes busses)

i wouldnt mind paying more for the train if i didnt feel like i might have to get out and push at any time.

at this stage id offer to drive the train for free just so i could use it on a sunday.

im sure a few posters up in stations informing people of the cost and the route people would actually use it more.


i get sour because i feel as a paying customer i am being forced away from the service so Irish Rail can prove a point that nobody uses the route and they can close it to redevelope more in Dublin

i mean they are Irish Rail so please look after Ireland and not just Dublin

[dowlingm]

it still costs less to travel from Waterford-Dublin than closer stations on the Dublin-Cork lineAnd that is how it's supposed to be.

[IckyThump]

to be fair i dont think ill stop using Irish Rail anyway. the service may not be the best compared to places ive been but it is a lot better than Bus Eireann :D

[Mark Gleeson]

We will have details on the exact fares later but I currently believe the following

Single approx 9.50
Day return 10 euro

The current 5.90 fare is withdrawn

[IckyThump]

We will have details on the exact fares later but I currently believe the following

Single approx 9.50
Day return 10 euro

The current 5.90 fare is withdrawn

limerick-waterford??

[Mark Gleeson]

Yes

We will have further details shortly

[Colm Moore]

Sorry, was this fare:

Limerick-Waterford or
Limerick Junction-Waterford ?

[Destructix]

And that is how it's supposed to be.

Not exactly fair though how a town like Templemore or a village like Ballybrophy have to compete with a city with a train services and 3 Bus Éireann services to Dublin. They have no competition either e.g like Bus Éireann or JJ Kavanaghs (route 71 was axed in 2010). True they have more/faster trains than the Waterford to Dublin service has, which is great given the size of the areas but the fares are disgraceful.

Templemore is actually getting a lot more passengers i see lately. Was always a 6-10 maximum getting on trains to Dublin/Cork At least 12-14 people got on the train the other day. And they said the Garda college not recruiting for a few years would end up reducing the amount of users.

[IckyThump]

wow if thats the new price from limerick to waterford thats amazing. i still keep my point tht it should be advertised as id hate to see the service done away with or reduced further. but that price is amazing.

Thanks

[Destructix]

Any idea how much Thurles-Waterford is now cause i have to go there soon and don't want to have to get the bus there from Clonmel.

[IckyThump]

oh my god

for anyone wondering the actual cost limerick-waterford

the new fairs are

single - €24 up from €12
return - €31(or 31.5 or something) up from €23

that is a 100% hike on a sub standard line with old broken down trains. no advertising and no information available to customers. let alone the fact that the only 3 trains that run each way every day are at unrealistic times for workers use and the fact there is no sunday service.

i went into waterford ticket office yesterday and these are the costs i was told(at ticket box and the machine. for a change both prices are the same)

needless to say i got the bus instead

the bus went from €13.50 to €16 where the train went from €12 to €24

the excuse that the train losses money because of a lack of numbers is a joke. if it was promoted they coul easily take numbers from the regular bus service doing the exact same route

€24 is ridiculous and i will not be using the train while the fair remains this high

its all well and good saying some costs went up but at least the leap card will save money. but the leap card is of no use to me in limerick or waterford

[IckyThump]

Any idea how much Thurles-Waterford is now cause i have to go there soon and don't want to have to get the bus there from Clonmel.

i think it was €6 or 7

[dowlingm]

the excuse that the train losses money because of a lack of numbers is a joke. if it was promoted they coul easily take numbers from the regular bus service doing the exact same routeThe bus does Limerick-Waterford. The train does Limerick Junction-Limerick and Limerick Junction-Waterford. Not the same thing at all! IE doesn't want to mess up their failure to compete against the bus on the one route with a crappy enough road that even a 40mph 2700 is vaguely competitive.

[IckyThump]

The bus does Limerick-Waterford. The train does Limerick Junction-Limerick and Limerick Junction-Waterford. Not the same thing at all! IE doesn't want to mess up their failure to compete against the bus on the one route with a crappy enough road that even a 40mph 2700 is vaguely competitive.

yea the route is Limerick-limerick junction limerick junction-waterford

but even with the half hour wait at the junction it takes 2 and a half hours in totla which is literally 5 mins longer than the bus that goes direct but also stops at said junction

the time differnce is nothing even with a crappy road competing with a crappy track

when talking to students i rarely and i mean RARELY meet someone who uses the train because they assumed the train cost way more................... of course now they are right. but when i first started using the train it was €1.50 cheaper than the bus and i had the comfort of toilets and a socket for my laptop.

if only the train was increased equally the way the bus was then id have no problem. but a €2.50 increase for busses and a €12 increase for trains is scandalous and shows a lack of respect for customers while trying to blind the media with the "hey Dublin i got you another present" campaign

[Mark Gleeson]

We understand that discounted fares apply ONLY between stations within the line

So there is a signiifcant discount Tipperary Waterford

It may be worth while to investigate the fare from Limerick to Tipperary and from Tipperary Waterford. There may be a significant saving by doing this.

[Thomas Ralph]

It may be worth while to investigate the fare from Limerick to Tipperary and from Tipperary Waterford. There may be a significant saving by doing this.

That would violate the CIÉ byelaws

[Mark Gleeson]

True but its not a breach of the rail safety act which is what all current prosecutions are under. Its not a breach of the bye laws either.

It appears only in the T&C's which have very little or no legal power

[IckyThump]

the only way of me finding out said costs are to get off at every station and investigate the costs..........................................

Irish rail, making your journey ever so comfortable....................................

[Mark Gleeson]

No you don't, any ticket office can get you all the information and issue all the tickets.

[IckyThump]

just a quick question

do you think the new student special is available for the waterford - limerick service or is it just journeys to/from dublin??

[Colm Moore]

Each ticket type should be available on all trips However, the discounts on some routes are so steep that the difference between an adult and student fare may be minimal to non existent.

[IckyThump]

oh no i mean the new student special €20 return on all intercity fares with a valid college id or a student travel card

[Mark Gleeson]

I'll make inquiries

[neoncircles]

oh no i mean the new student special €20 return on all intercity fares with a valid college id or a student travel card

I've not heard about that, have you any details?

[IckyThump]

cheers

I've not heard about that, have you any details?

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4479

arnród Éireann are slashing Intercity return fares for students by up to 48%.

Check out these best ever Student Rail Returns

€30 student return from Dublin to Cork, Tralee or Wesport.
€20 student return from Dublin to Limerick, Waterford, Rosslare, Sligo, or Galway.
These promotional fares are available every service everyday.

Promotional fare available with your current college id

Students can use either their current college id or current Student Travelcard.

These promotional fares are available from your local booking office and ticket vending machines.

When purchasing on a TVM and using a college id enter the number 123456 when requested for your Student Travelcard number.

This promotion will run until Sunday 8th April 2012.

[neoncircles]

Nice offer, cheers

cheers



http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4479

arnród Éireann are slashing Intercity return fares for students by up to 48%.

Check out these best ever Student Rail Returns

€30 student return from Dublin to Cork, Tralee or Wesport.
€20 student return from Dublin to Limerick, Waterford, Rosslare, Sligo, or Galway.
These promotional fares are available every service everyday.

Promotional fare available with your current college id

Students can use either their current college id or current Student Travelcard.

These promotional fares are available from your local booking office and ticket vending machines.

When purchasing on a TVM and using a college id enter the number 123456 when requested for your Student Travelcard number.

This promotion will run until Sunday 8th April 2012.

[IckyThump]

can anyone confirm if the above offer is valid on this service??

[Colm Moore]

can anyone confirm if the above offer is valid on this service??
Are you doing the full distance Limerick-Waterford?

[IckyThump]

yea its the full distance.

i just got the bus from waterford to limerick(missed the train and couldnt wait for the later one) when i got to limerick i checked the machine and the offer seems to apply

€14.50 one way for students(with college id or student travel card)
€20 return for students(again with college id or student travel card)

just said id let you all know in case someone else is wondering


thanks anyway

[Mark Gleeson]

The 20 euro student return applies on all routes except cross border

20 euro where the normal student fare was between 20 and 30 euro, 30 euro for all where the fare was more than 30

[comcor]

The online booking system is currently quoting a fare of €17.40 on Cork-Limerick and Cork-Killarney.

Is it usually that cheap or is it associated with this promotion.

At that rate, it's not very different from the bus to Limerick and happily beats the bus to Killarney

[Thomas Ralph]

This is all well and good until someone uses their ticket with a college ID to go home on Easter Monday and gets a penalty fare.

[IckyThump]

This is all well and good until someone uses their ticket with a college ID to go home on Easter Monday and gets a penalty fare.

well hopefully they will very much highlight the fact college id's cant be used after that date or else they will continue down the road of allowing valid college id's

i know that they make money from the travel id's but maybe just maybe common sense will prevail

apart from the huge irritation of the new limerick-waterford full fare im impressed with what they are trying to do

[Traincustomer]

From IÉ website (http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_news.jsp?i=4498&p=116&n=237:

Track Works - Tipperary/Clonmel - Monday 5th - Friday 9th March - Part bus substitutions

02 March 2012

Due to track works between Tipperary and Clonmel the following services will have part bus substitutions:

11.40hrs service from Waterford to Limerick Junction will operate to Clonmel only. Bus transfers will operate from Clonmel to Limerick Junction.

13.55hrs service from Limerick Junction to Waterford will be bus transfers from Limerick Junction to Clonmel and by train from Clonmel to Waterford. Bus will depart Limerick Junction at 13.55hrs. Train will depart Clonmel at 14.55hrs.

Please note a 25 - 35 minute delay may occur.

Iarnród Éireann regrets any inconvenience this may cause.

[IckyThump]

for over 12 months they have been doimng these track works between clonmel and tipp. but i have no idea what the hell they are doing. in all seriousness what are they trying to do??? its always this section. never between the junction and tipp. never between clonmel and waterfor. always this section. 12 months of on and off trck works. its a joke. considering they will stil charge 24 quid one way for this kind of service.


what a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

treating us customers with no respect what so ever

[Destructix]

They must want this line to close. Just Called Limerick Junction its €17 day return to Waterford. What a rip off and even more insulting it costs more to Limerick Junction from Thurles.

[ACustomer]

Icky Thump: There was a prolonged closure of Limerick Junction-Tipperary during the resignalling of the Junction; there have also been recent closures of Carrick-CLonmel for track works. So its not all Clonmel-Tipp. Also remember that Clonmel -Tipp is by far the longest block section on the line, about 25 miles,and about twice as long as the next longest.

Having said that, the repeated daytime track possessions can by annoying. But the alternatives are probably too costly.

[IckyThump]

Icky Thump: There was a prolonged closure of Limerick Junction-Tipperary during the resignalling of the Junction; there have also been recent closures of Carrick-CLonmel for track works. So its not all Clonmel-Tipp. Also remember that Clonmel -Tipp is by far the longest block section on the line, about 25 miles,and about twice as long as the next longest.

Having said that, the repeated daytime track possessions can by annoying. But the alternatives are probably too costly.

i get that. i do. but im getting the feeling that im now been forced to pay twice the cost that i paid prior to the increase and the service remains inept.

if i thought there was light at the end of the preverbial tunnel id be smiling but the truth is these works arent changing a thing. we still wont have a proper service and we will still pay a ridiculous amount to fund dublin projects


if they just came out and said what they have planned for the future of the line it might make people happier or more confident in the service. tell us if ther one day will be a sunday sevice, an increase in service or even the facility to book online. im not being greedy here. im not begging for a service car or broadband or even a direct train. im just saying try to improve and bring customers in.............................

if they gave me one week in charge i would fix the whole bloody line.

1) ADVERISE. by god i dont think irish rail even know this line exists let alone passengers. whats wrong with putting an advert in the limerick Post or the Waterford star or any other source of media that will alert people. why have they never advertised to the TRAVEL DEPRTMENT in the colleges???

2) directly compete with bus eireann. the ticket prices where €1.50 cheaper than the bus. now they are €8 more expensive!!!!!

3) stop ripping customers off by forcing students to buy a travel saver card................. "you can save money if you pay for this...................." genius

4) let people know the train exists. not just with the advertising but let people get their fares calculateonline like other lines, let people book online

5) change the times!!!!!! i use the 7.55am Limerick-waterford quiet a bit. itsok for me buthow is this train handy for a commuter?? these trains should be arriving in Limerick and Waterford for 8.30am. sure it means 6am first train but more people would use a train that would actually get them there on time.

Limerick - waterford. trains should be running at the following times leaving both stations
mon-sat (6am-8.30am) (10am-12.30am) (2pm- 4.30pm) (6pm- 8.30pm)
sun (9am-11.30am) (7pm- 9.30pm)

that the way the trains should be run. no excuses. staff will work. at every small station on the line electronic ticket checkers should be placed(saves cash in the long run).

without even checking the dublin-cork times im sure that hey wouldnt be far off meeting the above times without massive alterations


they can blame anyone they want or make excuses such as its not up to us to do this or that. its all bull. its a mater of giving a toss. its a matter of giving a shread of respect to the people paying through their eyes for this depleted service

[IckyThump]

as for the work on the track. nothing at the moment at all stopping them from working on an empty sunday track. or in the evenings. the train is well through there by 6. im sure people would work 6-12 if they where paid to do it. if not im sure i could get a big group together for the same wages and we'll do it altogether for IE. i know that alot of people i know wouldnt mind working 6-12 or on a sunday........................

[Carrage A]

Limerick - waterford. trains should be running at the following times leaving both stations
mon-sat (6am-8.30am) (10am-12.30am) (2pm- 4.30pm) (6pm- 8.30pm)
sun (9am-11.30am) (7pm- 9.30pm)


Ideal times but 06.00 from Waterford would need to be moved to 06.10 or 06.15 departure, two trains can't leave at the same time.

[dowlingm]

5) change the times!!!!!! i use the 7.55am Limerick-waterford quiet a bit. itsok for me buthow is this train handy for a commuter?? these trains should be arriving in Limerick and Waterford for 8.30am. sure it means 6am first train but more people would use a train that would actually get them there on time.

Limerick - waterford. trains should be running at the following times leaving both stations
mon-sat (6am-8.30am) (10am-12.30am) (2pm- 4.30pm) (6pm- 8.30pm)
sun (9am-11.30am) (7pm- 9.30pm)

[snip]

without even checking the dublin-cork times im sure that hey wouldnt be far off meeting the above times without massive alterations

they can blame anyone they want or make excuses such as its not up to us to do this or that. its all bull. its a mater of giving a toss. its a matter of giving a shread of respect to the people paying through their eyes for this depleted serviceWhy don't you look at the times instead of assuming? I've spent a lot of time looking at connections around LJ and I can tell you the options are not as simple as you'd like to make out. IE have decided that the shuttle to Dublin/Cork trains is the primary function of the Limerick-Limerick Junction and Limerick Junction-Waterford trains. That's the reality. If you don't like it take it up with the relevant IE regional manager next time they have a meet the manager session in Limerick or Waterford.

[dowlingm]

Ideal times but 06.00 from Waterford would need to be moved to 06.10 or 06.15 departure, two trains can't leave at the same time.Not in Waterford? I thought the Dublin and Limerick lines were separately signalled - at least for now anyway although there are rumours of a forthcoming rationalisation with the two approach tracks reduced to one.

[ACustomer]

dowlingm: Waterford Central to Waterford West is conventional double track, absolute block, so a train can't leave the station (Central) until the previous one has cleared the section at the West cabin. This means you need about 3 minutes between departures. Its only after Waterford West that you have 2 parallel single lines and hence theoretically simultaneous departures towards Limerick and Dublin.

[Jamie2k9]

This means you need about 3 minutes between departures

Currenly they allow 10 mins, 5 was tried but it didn't work out to well.

It can up to 5 minutes for the train to travel from Waterford Central to West cabin and nearly all trains have to stop before they switch lines.

at least for now anyway although there are rumours of a forthcoming rationalisation with the two approach tracks reduced to one.

Would this mean new signals/points etc and if that happens could the current 20 mph be increased a little on approch.

[dowlingm]

thanks for clarifying that Jamie2K9/ACustomer

[Carrage A]

Not in Waterford? I thought the Dublin and Limerick lines were separately signalled - at least for now anyway although there are rumours of a forthcoming rationalisation with the two approach tracks reduced to one.

They did some work a while back by closing one of the tracks off the 3 one out form the long platform and done a bit of work at the bridge on the Dublin side but thats it realy.

[dowlingm]

They did some work a while back by closing one of the tracks off the 3 one out form the long platform and done a bit of work at the bridge on the Dublin side but thats it realy.I vaguely recall that might have been finally lifting the track which used to lead to the Suir bridge towards Dungarvan...?