These were probably CRS, not army. Its not uncommon to see them in public places, with rifles or sub-machineguns.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagn...9curit%C3%A 9

It's not hard to get a solution to this.

Firstly, when getting off the train bear right to the checker. Have your ticket in your hand ready to be inspected. That way you don't have to look at the "stasi".

Secondly, what is to stop Irish Rail organising Revenue Protection squads? A gang of four or five checkers will get through a southwestern commuter train a lot quicker than a single conductor/guard.

Thirdly, there really should be barriers at Heuston and Pearse similar to the barriers at Connolly and Docklands.

Fourthly, I get a lot more pissed off at fare bunkers than I do at looking at security guards in the morning. The more people bunk their fares the more expensive my annual ticket is going to be next year.

I would argue with the "very often" part. I'm sure someone can come up with an exact number but I find maybe 10% of journeys are inspected. They also don't get on trams that they can't walk through.

Do they have the right to ask people on the platform for a ticket? I'm not in the mood to look up the light rail bylaws, it's too early :(

No, they were definitely from the army.

Personally, I think CIE in general is fixated on putting passengers through gates and herding them around like sheep.

On Iarnrod Eireann we've ridiculous levels of ticket checking instead e.g. take a Cork-Dublin train and you'll be forced to queue for a good 20 mins for no apparent reason. Then your ticket's checked, punched etc and then when you're on board it's checked again!

Wouldn't an on-board check suffice ? If you don't have a valid ticket, huge standard fare fine and kicked off at the next stop.

On DART it's like they want to just create chaos at the busiest city centre stations at rush hour. Why not have proper working entry barriers at stations in the suburbs and that way people wouldn't be getting in with out tickets in the first place.

Couple this with random checks and it should be fine.

As it stands they're creating major crushes at Connolly, Pearse, Heuston etc at rush hour.

Also, where they're herding people into 'pens' they really should be aware of the potential for law suit if someone falls or is crushed. I'd say if they do find someone's fallen as a result they could be faced with a very hefty legal bill as.

As for CIE operated busses (Dublin Bus / Bus Eireann City/Commuter services) - same fixation with door-based ticket checking / purchasing.
The amount of time wasted at bus stops while people hunt for change etc is ridiculous. It's actually causing traffic jams in many areas where there aren't dedicated bus lanes. Boarding a bus shouldn't be any more complex than boarding a Luas tram.

There is a reason, however it may not be apparent. The train comes in at around xx:40, cleaner has to go through to pick up anything you didn't give them while you were on the train, and then safety checks and door checks etc. Most trains start boarding at xx:05 or xx:10 for a xx:30 departure.
Yes, usually between Thurles and Heuston. The only station on the way up where there are ticket gates is Limerick Junction, so it's not outside the bounds of possibilities for a ticketless passenger to have got on the train in the meantime.
See above. Anyway there are plenty of circumstances where a person may legitimately not have a valid ticket and needs the ticket checker to get to them.
Well, it stands to reason that there will be most passengers at the busiest stations. I wouldn't say it's chaotic, though. Generally at the stations with exit validation there's a defined set of "in" barriers and a defined set of "out" barriers at peak time to avoid people running into each other. Because then they could get on at Greystones with a ticket to Bray and travel up to Connolly. When the fare isn't a flat per-journey (like for example the New York subway) checks at both ends are needed. I've had my ticket checked on board a DART a grand total of once in the year and eight months I've been living in Dublin. It's already laughably easy to fare-evade on the DART (between the right stations) and I don't think IÉ has the staff for this.
To be honest it's not really a major issue on Dublin Bus from my experience. Most people are using prepaid tickets anyway. And I don't think the Department of Transport is going to tender for 6,000 ticket machines to sit at bus stops. The Luas is certainly Dublin transport's success story. Maybe when integrated ticketing comes in, it'll all be better...:rolleyes:

One would have to check, but the platforms are RPA property, not part of the street.

True but they physically can't stop you walking away

Plus how can they prove you were on the Luas? You don't have to buy a ticket to stand on the platform. Letter in this morning's Metro* from someone who was asked on the platform for the ticket they had just thrown away, issued with a fine, got a letter done up by a legal friend and sent in, Veolia dropped the fine.

*obviously, not accepting this as gospel

What about a situation like Jervis, where the platform takes up the entire width of the footpath?

CCTV?

Except this is not the case. as MarkG pointed out revenue went up 15% and ticket prices went the same direction.

Well 15% increase in revenue above expected growth in 6 months, fare increase this year was under 5%

Problem is IE's approach means the bulk are getting away since no resources are targeted at the problems, remember Irish Rail staff need to work as massive group or else they feel lonely

A certain Irish Rail manager now in charge somewhere in London made the very simple move (complying with rule one of trying to run a railway) to staff every booking office all day, anti social problems reduced, fare evasion down, revenue up and passenger numbers up all within 6 months

I don't like the STT guys, the dark uniform and lack of any visible ID isn't on, they have to produce there private security id upon request but if you find yourself with a knee in the back on the floor fat lot of good its going to be

It is actually a paramilitary uniform, we have Group 4 security where I work, but they just wear a normal jacket/ trousers/ work shoes. Security is not high profile here but it is very effective. In Heuston the Stasi are very intimidating, really very tuggish looking, probably former soldiers!!

To answer my own question, the light rail by-laws say that it's an offence not to produce a ticket to an authorised person on request, but you are only liable to pay the standard fare if you are "on a light rail vehicle without a valid ticket", and CSOs can't detain you, although a Garda can. (See sections 66-67 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001.) Usual IANAL disclaimers apply.

Compared railways around most of Europe, Irish Rail really do have an obsession with barriers and gates.

What's this then?...

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/...4/sec0004.html