Can you get off train and continue the journey 2 hours later

[axer]

Hi,

I am planning on getting a train from galway to dublin on sunday. I would like to be able to get off at one of the stations along the way to pick up something and then continue my journey on the next train which comes about 2 hours later. I will have purchased a ticket in dublin as an open return.

Does anyone know if i can leave the train like that along the way and then get back on again the next train afterwards to finish my journey?

Thanks for any help/advice.

[Colm Moore]

Yes, you can, but only on intercity services and only on ordinary tickets, not on web tickets (these are tied to a specific departure).

http://www.irishrail.ie/media/conditionsoftravel1.pdf‎Conditions of Carriage
of Passengers and their Luggage
June 2004 Until Further Notice

...

8. Break of journey

8.1 Except as may be specified in the publications and notices of and applicable to Iarnród Éireann, the holder of an single ticket may break his or her journey at intermediate stations on any route for which the ticket is valid within the period of validity of the ticket.

8.2 Except as may be specified in the publications and notices of and applicable to Iarnród Éireann, the holder of an return ticket may break his or her journey at intermediate stations on any route for which the ticket is valid, provided the journey is completed within the same calendar day, except where the timetable does not permit, in which latter case the journey must be completed on the next available service.

[haddockman]

It is a pity that many of the inspectors are unaware of this rule.

[Eddie]

There's nothing to stop you taking a print-out of the relevant bye-law with you if you think there's a reasonable chance that the inspector won't be familiar with it.

I'm sure that would stop most challenges, and if it didn't, at least you know you've got the law on your side if it went any further.

[haddockman]

I have been challenged for going via Thurles to get to Ballybrophy a few times.

[Thomas Ralph]

From where via Thurles to Ballybrophy?

[haddockman]

From Dublin.

[Mark Gleeson]

That journey falls under the vague most direct route condition

Provided it is shown in the journey planner, it is legal. Stopping in Thurles for the shopping and heading back to Ballybrophy will not be

[haddockman]

Inspectors have attempted to eject me at Portlaoise on a few occasions when I have tried that route.

Platform checkers in Thurles have said it is an invalid journey and tried to make me pay the difference in fares.

[berneyarms]

Inspectors have attempted to eject me at Portlaoise on a few occasions when I have tried that route.

Platform checkers in Thurles have said it is an invalid journey and tried to make me pay the difference in fares.

Given there are no trips available via the journey planner from Dublin to Ballybrophy via Thurles, they were correct.

[Mark Gleeson]

As posted, there are no journeys showing for Dublin to Ballybrophy via Thurles in the planner

If the journey is not advertised, it is not valid. So any passenger attempting such risks a fine

[haddockman]

Quite.

They have now removed those journeys from the planner. They were there up to a few months ago.

[laoisfan]

Quite.

They have now removed those journeys from the planner. They were there up to a few months ago.

Yep. I remember when they were up there. I was bringing my kids to Dublin Zoo either on a Sunday or possibly a Bank Holiday Monday once, from Ballybrophy. Only option that morning was Ballybrophy to Dublin Heuston via Thurles i.e take one step back to take a few forward.

I was challenged by a ticket inspector on the train. Told him it was a valid journey, that I had checked with the station master in Ballybrophy.

At Thurles he got out with us, crossed over to the other platform, said he was going into the office to check. He never did come back out of the office :D I swear he recognises me each time I see him now.