[Article] Iarnród Éireann cites standards for 66% rise in first class upgrades

[Mark Hennessy]

Iarnród Éireann cites standards for 66% rise in first class upgrades


IARNRÓD ÉIREANN has defended increases of up to 66 per cent in the price of first-class upgrades on its Dublin-Cork services, writes Paul Cullen.

Last Wednesday, the company increased the cost of an upgrade from €12 to €20 per journey on off-peak trains.

The supplement for a first-class seat on peak services was increased from €32 to €35. Some fares on the Dublin-Sligo line were also increased by an average of €1.50 to €2.

Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny said since new trains were put on the Dublin-Cork route, the standard of all services was very high. Previously, off-peak trains had been of a lower standard.

“The service now is immeasurably superior to what was there before,” he said, and this was the reason for the increase in supplement charges.

First time I can remember Irish Rail upping fares in the middle of the year.
No doubt budget shortfalls from the ongoing industrial actions need to be met somehow.

As usual, the customer is shafted.

[Mark Gleeson]

Definitely dodgy business practice, the fare is unregulated

However Irish Rail have broken the rules since they have increased the regulated single fare to Sligo from 38.00 to 40.00 without prior approval

[crc]

Well I paid the €12 to upgrade to City Gold on the 6pm train to Cork last Friday. There was only about 12 people in the carriage; I reckon the fare increase can't be due to a lack of capacity, just gouging.

In any case, I doubt I'd pay €20 extra. I could justify paying €12 for myself now and again (particularly if I was feeling tired that day), but not any more

[MOH]

Originally Posted by Barry Kenny"

“The service now is immeasurably superior to what was there before,” he said, and this was the reason for the increase in supplement charges.

Don't suppose they'll be giving refunds for those who upgraded in the past for a service 'immeasurably inferior' to what we have now?

[Mark Gleeson]

Gone first twice, ok so bigger seat and table aligning with window (you get the window and table on the 22k). At no point was I offered any refreshments, no at seat service in fact no sign of any staff beyond the ticket checker. All quite disappointing really. Service reliability, cancellations and delays are still unacceptable

Sadly first class fares are unregulated we can't do anything about them

Irish Rail have probably worked out the bulk of first class seats are occupied by people on company business, so the cost isn't a big issue to them. Of course this is also a scam to get money out of people at busy weekends, since the website will say all standard class seats are gone despite 140 odd seats been available people like sheep will book first since they think its the only way to get that train.

[dowlingm]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Of course this is also a scam to get money out of people at busy weekends, since the website will say all standard class seats are gone despite 140 odd seats been available people like sheep will book first since they think its the only way to get that train.

A scam a journo might take an interest in, perhaps?

[markpb]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Of course this is also a scam to get money out of people at busy weekends, since the website will say all standard class seats are gone despite 140 odd seats been available people like sheep will book first since they think its the only way to get that train.

They're hardly 'sheep' if they believe what the ROC say on their website. I might not like IR but if the site says it's sold out, I wouldn't be overly hard on myself for believing it.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by MOH

Don't suppose they'll be giving refunds for those who upgraded in the past for a service 'immeasurably inferior' to what we have now?

As someone who used to use first class regularly I can tell you that what Barry has said is bull****. No-one uses first anymore because all the benifits are gone, and because no-one is using it they have to put up the fares to cover their losses.