Quote:
Originally Posted by chris
Of course it's not as easy as that. What about people going from Dundalk/Drogheda to Newry/Portadown/Belfast. Do you honestly expect them to back-track the whole way back to Dublin?
The least you can get away with is a stop in Dundalk.
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The two things that REALLY grind my gears about how Irish Rail is run, are the things that I've seen done right in the U.S. and to a lesser extent Germany, that IE completely phail at.
The first is my well known pet hate of train floor heights that don't match the platforms.
The second is the fare structure, and the case highlighted here - how to turn the Enterprise into an actual Intercity train - is but one of many reasons why IMO Irish Rail should lift wholesale the fare structure from the MTA Metro North and Long Island Railroads from New York City.
That fare structure is simple, transparent, organised and properly implemented. It provides a clear fare structure that's easy to understand, has simple and effective peak/off peak designations and - relevant to this debate - a method of stopping to pick up and set down passengers only, by way of R/D restrictions on stops in the timetable.
What this means is that a train can stop at a station, going into the City to drop off passengers only, or leaving the City to pick up only.
This is useful as all Metro North trains start/terminate at Grand Central terminal, but all stop at Harlem 125th St and some New Haven and Harlem Valley-bound trains stop at Fordham in the Bronx to pick up passengers on the way out, or drop them off on the way in.
The fare rules are such that if you use such a train to travel between GCT and 125th St or Fordham, you will be liable for a full fare to/from the next stop on the train's journey - for example if you board a train bound for New Haven, 1st stop Stamford, but stops in Fordham to pickup passengers, with the intention of getting off there, you will have to have a ticket for Stamford, and if you don't the on board fare surcharge is very steep, in that case you could pay up to $20 (peak time and onboard purchase both drive up the fare cost) where the Subway would have got you there for $2.
Departure boards at GCT do not list "Pick Up Only" stops, giving the 1st stop as the first non-restricted stop.
The purpose of these restricted stops is to allow people working in or travelling onwards from the Northside of the city to access their jobs, connections etc from the area the trains are meant to provide suburban service to. That the trains are not to be used for intra-city "rat running" is made very clear.
Obviously this component would have extreme value on long distance services ex-Connolly and to a lesser extent, ex-Heuston here, Enterprise trains could make any stops near Dublin deemed useful for long distance travellers, ditto for the Sligo line (Drumcondra Metro, Clonsilla Pace line), Rosslare (Bray/Greystones anyone?) without the trains becoming overstuffed with short-haullers.