[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.