Galway-Limerick intermediate timetable

[Mark Gleeson]

That error is consistent, you cannot buy a ticket online unless there is a least one reservation leg, no trains on the WRC have reservations. Try Rosslare Dublin same situation

The fare is 28.50 is consistent with the default fares matrix for distance zone J (109-121 km) for the distance involved, as in the maximum fare IE are legally allowed charge

Going on the regional matrix Limerick Galway day return will be 20 euro, or 23 euro monthly return

[finnyus]

Even at 20Euro, Limerick - Galway by train is very pricey compared to the bus services on the same route. Just take a look at the two operators on the route. Citylink have a Super Advance single ticket and even the twitter specials that Bus Eireann were offering up to the 28th Feb - great value! All specials were/are for outside of peak time services.

Next Tuesday I am going Cork - Galway with Citylink for 1 Euro each way.

[Mark Gleeson]

I'm only quoting from the not so public matrix. Irish Rail can bend and twist it all they like but the revenue expectations are based on an assumption that the fares would be the same as the Limerick - Rosslare matrix.

[lasno]

Thank you Mark for explaining the inner workings of Irish Rail.
Twenty Euro return would be an ok fare.

[Jister]

What would the fares be does anybody know, or is there a link on irishrail.ie to show me?

SMB-Ennis RTN
SMB-Gort RTN
Ennis-Galway RTN
Ennis-gort RTN
SMB-Limk RTN
SMB-Galway RTN

[Mark Gleeson]

Going on the regional fares matrix, these are the fares. Irish Rail of course are known to invent a new matrix when it suits so don't take these as gospel but they are the only numbers in public drawn from Irish Rail's own fares matrix. What I can tell you it is highly likely there will be no single tickets as is the practice on every other regional route.

As we have yet to get an exact milepost distance on Sixmilebridge it is hard to judge which distances are involved and therefore the zone

Galway Craughwell = 18.6 miles 29.9 km zone B
Galway Ardrahan = 24.6 miles 39.6km zone C
Galway Gort = 31.4 miles 50.2km zone E
Galway Ennis = 48.9 miles 78.7 km zone G
Galway Sixmilebridge = ?? zone H
Galway Limerick = 73.6 miles 118.4 km zone K

Limerick Sixmilebridge = ?? zone B
Limerick Gort = 42.3 miles 68 km zone F
Limerick Ardrahan = 49 miles 78.8 km zone G
Limerick Craughwell = 55 miles 88.5 km zone G
Limerick Athenry = 60.5 miles 97.3 km zone H

Ennis Gort 17.25 miles 27.8 km zone B
Ennis Athenry 35.5 miles 57.1 km zone F
Ennis Galway 48.6 miles 78.2 km zone G


Day returns
A 5.00
B 6.50
C 8.00
D 9.00
E 10.00
F 10.50
G 16.80
H 17.40
K 20.00

[Jister]

Thanks for the fares.

Can't understand why there is no one way ticket. If I buy a return is it valid for a month and can I use it the same way twice?

They were busy painting the newly laid tar in SMB today. I thought it might not be ready but it looks good now.

[Mark Gleeson]

Those are day return prices, I will post monthly return prices and monthly season ticket prices later. A return is valid for an outbound journey on the date of issue and return from destination on or before the expiry date, it cannot be used in the same direction twice

Please bear in mind these are best educated guesses we are waiting on IE to release the offical list

[Thomas Ralph]

Strictly there is a single ticket, it just costs the same as the return ticket

[Mark Gleeson]

For Limerick Rosslare there is no single ticket code (last page of this pdf http://www.railusers.ie/reports/2008...1_appendix.pdf) unlike some other routes where there is a distinct single and return code but same price.

I'll set to work on monthly return fares (before anyone asks there is no zone I)

Month Season Ticket
A 84.00
B 123.00
C 133.00
D 177.00
E 193.00
F 244.00
G 259.00
H 270.00
K 360.00

[Brian.Stokes]

Was recently asked about Sixmilebridge fares and was given the below when I asked.

From Sixmilebridge to Limerick
Adult Day Return €11
Student Day Return €9.20
5 Day Student Weekly Return €26.50
Monthly Adult Return €123
Monthly Student Return €86

[Mark Gleeson]

Those numbers are very strange, the monthly ones are right but the others don't look right

For instance there is no such thing as a student day return, all student returns are valid for 31 days

[Thomas Ralph]

Nor is there a "5 day student weekly return", although that might possibly refer to a scholar ticket.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

Nor is there a "5 day student weekly return", although that might possibly refer to a scholar ticket.

Which only exist in the Dublin short hop zone. Me thinks this is the usual Irish Rail not having made a plan yet and since Sixmilebridge is between Limerick and Ennis it is currently on the high price matrix

The tickets available are
Day saver return
Monthly saver return
Student single/monthly return
Adult/Child/Student weekly/monthly

Note in some cases due to the strange way Irish Rail handle pricing that a weekly ticket is of no use at all

[Brian.Stokes]

Well I rang Irish Rail in Limerick, they spent a few minutes pulling up the document and thats what I got kids. Did anyone actually ring Irish Rail yet and ask them?

[Mark Gleeson]

We have asked for details to be made public, though I'd guess the fares are only being finalised this week. The list doesn't match with Irish Rail's family of ticket options.

If the staff in Limerick are asking their ticket machine it is likely to be wrong. If the day return fare Limerick Sixmilebridge is really 11 euro we might was well give up

If I was a betting man I'd try the ticket vending machine in Limerick on Saturday morning, it will get a software update on Friday which might reveal the truth

Based on IE's numbers its clearly zone B to Sixmilebridge, the maximum approved fares are taking a zone B distance journey elsewhere http://www.railusers.ie/passenger_in... stage1=Submit

[Mark Gleeson]

I can confirm it is 20 euro day return Galway Limerick

[neoncircles]

11 Euro Lmk-SMB would be strange, seeing as its 11.60 or something day return Lmk-Ennis last time I used it- for half the distance it should be half the price more or less!

The bus is only 6.20 day return.

[Jister]

Originally Posted by neoncircles

11 Euro Lmk-SMB would be strange, seeing as its 11.60 or something day return Lmk-Ennis last time I used it- for half the distance it should be half the price more or less!

The bus is only 6.20 day return.

There was about 10 people waiting for the bus yesterday in SMB around 11 o'clock, so not commuters. For anybody who knows it the bus service in SMB is rubbish, as it meanders under many nasty railway bridges. Its also infrequent as most services go Limerick - Shannon direct. The train should be able to hoover up all these passengers if the fares are right, as the service is going to be much more frequent.

[dowlingm]

Yeah, but what if BE respond? Do they have the right to increase frequency without asking DoT first?