Quote:
Originally Posted by James Howard
So what should they do? Just not bother collecting fares.
An annual pass to Enfield is more than 2000 euro. It is extremely unfair on those paying their way to allow people get away without paying or to have them pay for the shortest available journey. The paying customer ends up putting up with overcrowding and generally a poorer service if people are let get away with it.
For the Longford commuter trains, the only station where they check tickets is Longford and even there they don't bother in the evening. I'm not sure about Mullingar - maybe they check there as well but I've not been checked the few times I got on there. But for Edgeworthstown, Enfield and Kilcock, if you were suitable inclined you could save yourself up to a couple of grand a year by just using a short-hop pass. Visible enforcement at the weak-spot stations makes this risky - although the fines are nowhere near high enough to be a real deterrent.
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Ticket barriers at all stations, ticket inspectors on trains, this is the practice that most of Europe follows, but of course Irish Rail always react with overkill. They would be better employed in running a efficient and comfortable service, which would encourage more passengers and eliminate fare evasion.