Dogs on Trains
 

I've heard all sorts on this, and another facet added this morning as I talked to a fellow commuter in Port this morning.

Are dogs allowed on trains, and if so, in what capacity?

Iarnrod Eireann website (not the irishrail one, it re-directs you) simply says:
http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/home/faq.asp?faq_id=38#38

The girl I spoke to this morning was told by one the station staff - really only small dogs are allowed be on the train, that can sit on your lap. Or you can put them in the guard's carriage (How kind:eek:). Nothing about intercity or otherwise.

I overheard a guy on the Luas with a black lab that he goes up and down to Cork with regularly and he has to buy a ticket for the dog. (something like the bike ticket? harsh, if true)

And from personal experience, most people think they're not allowed full stop.
I had all 3 of mine on the train in March and no one said a thing to us. They were better behaved than most people's children and took up less space than most holidaying ladies' 2 giant pink floral suitcases that are usually left on seats/in the aisle/in front of the doors. [/mini-rant]

With the Bakers Dog's Day out on this weekend I thought it would be handy to know the actual answer (IE could've run a doggy special :D )

Well, the answer is in your post. Pets are allowed on intercity trains. You use common sense and a pet is a small domestic animal (Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Llama's) but not Horses, Giraffe's Lions, Whales and Sharks.

Ones that behave (like Dogs) go with you some in a cage with you (like a Guide Cat or Rabbit) ones that don't (like a Zombie or a Werewolf) are more suited to the Guards Van.

It is of course, perverse, but on a strict interpertation of those rules you can bring any animal which is NOT a pet on the DART.

Cattle would make a nice ironic gesture.

Which is why the website could do with being a bit more specific, since the staff don't really seem to know, and it's open to all sorts of interpretation.

:D I'd class a horse as a pet if a llama is one. And no cages please!

Reminds me of the Commitments and the scene where the guy is putting is horse into the lift in Ballymun flats. Imagine attempting to put your horse onto a Dart at Kilbarrack ("Show me where is sez i can't bring the horse").

The last time I took my proper bike on the train the ticket had "BIKES/DOGS RETURN" printed on it. Fiver return from Kildare to Dublin; 15 return from Galway to Dublin.

Which means the website is totally inconsistent because...

The FAQ clearly states the need for a ticket for (unfolded) bikes:
So it's reasonable from the above that a dog should only require a ticket if travelling in the guard's compartment.

No. Its reasonable to have the Dog folded and suitably covered if you're bringing him/her on the DART. On intercity trains you can place him/her on the special rack provided.

I think it'd be easier to dress them up as toddlers and make sure they get on for free. :p

If cats can get buses, can they get trains?

Timely Return on Monorail Cat
 

*sigh* Cats always get preferential treatment

Thomas, Where did you get that pic of the 'white elephant' at Putrajaya?

I remember that when I lived on campus at TCD the conditions of occupancy forbade pets or other livestock in rooms...

The cat on the bus, incidentally, reminded me of this (from the somewhat notorious British government petitions website):
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Micetravelfree/
I'm sure it would liven up his journey.

So what's the largest animal that can travel by train for free?
I saw a warble one morning. scary baxturd. 2" from front to the tip of his sting.

I've seen smaller mammals.

This lack of consistancy goes to the heart of the terrible customer service from IE. Like Derek has posted and the girl who was abused for having the cheek to try buy a ticket duruing the posted office hours, others getting pulled up for no tickets when tickets could be bought at the destination previously, are all symptoms of the same malaise.
I posted before that compared to Dublin Bus, the attitude of IE staff is poor. I've never seen any IE frontline staff pointing out rreasons why IE is crap or what reasons outside their control cause a crap service.

Several DB staff on boards.ie, letters to newspapers, calls to Joe etc. show that at the minimum customer service is given lip service there.

anyhoo back on topic.
Livestock- are horses livestock or bloodstock?
Thomas, I dunno where you've been, llamas are not small. you may have mistaken it for a vicunya or a guanaco?
And wouldn't werewolves be fine if it was
a) daytime, or
b) no full moon out?

Awww ... so cute :o

But you have the right to graze sheep if a scholar or fellow.........

I will have to double check but only guide dogs are allowed, lap dogs were certainly allowed in the past and just about anything can go in the luggage van

I'm taking Charles to Dublin on the Train so.

Now thats an idea......you could save Hammond Lane a lot of trouble putting Jabba the Hut on board a set of Cravens and Mark 2's instead.