Rail Users Ireland Forum - View Single Post - What Irish Rail have to say about the fares

Derek Wheeler · 15-02-2008, 21:48

Had a good read of it and personally I accept Fearns response concerning the fare discrepencies such as those that exist on the northern and Kildare lines. I have said it here before that the fare structure is based on the old CIE zonal system. Short hop, medium hop etc. This structure was based very simply on where the greatest demand came from and that was within the current boundary. However due to some disasterous planning over the years, demand has increased outside the traditional boundary and IE are justified in maintaining the fare structure to pay the costs of running the business. What business wouldn't do that? I find it sadly ironic that its politicians having a go at IE for this when it was politicians who blindly played god with development land and put us in the horrendous position in the first place.The Government and IE have a decision to make. Restructure the fares and balance the books some other way or increase subvention. It really is as simple as that.

I understand the stupidity of some fares such as the Maynooth - Drogheda and some intercity student fares. But realistically passengers have a problem with the huge jump in ticket prices from stop to stop. The other issues are way down the order of merit in the bigger scheme of things. The campaign should be directed at the Government.

For me the saddest part of Fearn's presentation was the fact that RUI weren't mentioned in relation to user groups. Groups with smaller resources and no media profile were. My feelings on this are well documented. My vision for RUI was to get its name out there on the ground in an organised capacity. I pushed through the name change. T Stamp put a trojan amount of work into a newsletter concept. Sadly some of my colleagues were happy to play "Walter Mitty" behind the keyboard instead of making it work in the real world. I'm not being bitter or attempting to do dirty washing in public, but loyal members deserve to know more about what goes on behind the scenes here. Fearns comments should be a disappointment to you all.

15-02-2008, 21:48	#5
Derek Wheeler Registered user Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kildare Posts: 1,555	Had a good read of it and personally I accept Fearns response concerning the fare discrepencies such as those that exist on the northern and Kildare lines. I have said it here before that the fare structure is based on the old CIE zonal system. Short hop, medium hop etc. This structure was based very simply on where the greatest demand came from and that was within the current boundary. However due to some disasterous planning over the years, demand has increased outside the traditional boundary and IE are justified in maintaining the fare structure to pay the costs of running the business. What business wouldn't do that? I find it sadly ironic that its politicians having a go at IE for this when it was politicians who blindly played god with development land and put us in the horrendous position in the first place.The Government and IE have a decision to make. Restructure the fares and balance the books some other way or increase subvention. It really is as simple as that. I understand the stupidity of some fares such as the Maynooth - Drogheda and some intercity student fares. But realistically passengers have a problem with the huge jump in ticket prices from stop to stop. The other issues are way down the order of merit in the bigger scheme of things. The campaign should be directed at the Government. For me the saddest part of Fearn's presentation was the fact that RUI weren't mentioned in relation to user groups. Groups with smaller resources and no media profile were. My feelings on this are well documented. My vision for RUI was to get its name out there on the ground in an organised capacity. I pushed through the name change. T Stamp put a trojan amount of work into a newsletter concept. Sadly some of my colleagues were happy to play "Walter Mitty" behind the keyboard instead of making it work in the real world. I'm not being bitter or attempting to do dirty washing in public, but loyal members deserve to know more about what goes on behind the scenes here. Fearns comments should be a disappointment to you all.