Online Reservations from Oct 18 - Waterford - Heuston

[Jamie2k9]

As soon as the timetable changes come into effect from Oct 18 Online Reservations are not available for the 06:00 & 07:40 Waterford - Heuston. Anybody know why??

Will we be back to the same problem with a shortage of trains again.

[Mark Gleeson]

The system has not been fully updated yet. Booking was blocked to prevent someone booking a train which was going to change its times and calling stations.

Monday morning the block should disappear

[pixiebean22]

Er... what timetable changes are these then?

[Mark Gleeson]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=926

[Mutley]

My girlfriend got the now 6.43am train from Kilkenny to Dublin yesterday morning (monday 18th October). Online reservations on sunday night indicated that the train was fully booked so instead of paying the 10 euro as she normally does, she was forced to pay 25 euro at the ticket office in Kilkenny station. She complained to the man in the ticket office who informed her that it was due to the reduced number of carraiges on the train. This doesn't make sense as the early train on a monday is nearly always a 3 carraige train and never a problem before. Noticed that the 8.23am train from Kilkenny to Dublin was also blocked out for on line booking. Seems like Irish Rail just didn't bother to update their booking system with the new changes to the timetable causing unnecessary expense to its customers.

[Mark Gleeson]

Booking is restricted to a proportion of seats available, starts with 36 seats and works up to 144 seats on all routes other than Dublin Cork where its 207 standard seats. The 06:00 is 72 seats or 144 seats depending on the day. It is unclear if the train was simply sold out or booking wasn't available full stop. Booking office in Kilkenny wouldn't know either way

10 euro fares are not available to book on the day of travel and must be booked in advance. Booking by definition is first come first served, as tickets are sold the fare increases towards the maximum online fare (%50 of std return fare) Irish Rail is not under any legal or contract obligation to offer reservations or online ticket sales so we have no legal basis to challenge them

There are ongoing issues on Mondays due to a lack of trains on Sunday evening resulting in a short train being in place in Waterford. 12 coaches are out of service due accident damage, some in Glasgow for repair, some in Korea being rebuilt.

Regardless of the resource problems its not acceptable particularly as Monday is the busiest morning and as always Irish Rail won't communicate this to anyone

[Jamie2k9]

12 coaches are out of service due accident damage, some in Glasgow for repair, some in Korea being rebuilt.

I didn't know that it was that many damaged. Is there any date when they are due back into service.

It is unclear if the train was simply sold out or booking wasn't available full stop

Both those trains were not bookable with at least 2 or 3 weeks.

Is there any reason why they can't keep the 17:35 in Waterford on Saturdays. As it would not be needed on the Waterford - Dublin line until Monday morning. I wouldn't think it is needed on Sundays in Dublin as there are less trains running.

[Mark Gleeson]

3 coaches from a 6 piece first class set are in Springburn Glasgow for repair. The 06:00 is rostered for a 6 piece first class set, so there is your problem

6 others were rejected by Irish Rail after serious damage was noticed following delivery, they effectively were scrapped and built from scratch.

I have no idea whats going on with the 17:35 service, I think it heads home to Portlaois, clearly it could solve the problem