Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson
SNCF are guilty of the same, you pay more you get a better service its a fact of life
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Come on Mark, that excuse can't be used for IE. Double tracked lines aren't better service: they should be considered a standard service! Single-tracked lines are below par standard (service-wise). "Double-tracked passengers" shouldn't pay more because of a "better" service. They should pay a reasonable price for a standard service. Okay, I admit I'm not as knowledgeable of IE fares as the rest of you, but still, please don't be so defensive of IE fares. My experience of them has rarely been pleasant.
Also, regarding the SNCF.
If the TGV is too expensive then you can take the slower intercity trains, although I admit that I always pay the extra amount to arrive in half the time! But that's the point: I pay about 30% extra to arrive in 50% of the time!
Taking a naive approach (i.e. tourist approach, not knowing all the nuances of IE tickets) to reserving a train here's what I find:
Dublin-Limerick
120 mi (190 km) (road distance using
http://local.live.com)
Road: 2 hr 13 min (estimate using
http://local.live.com)
Train: 2 hr 15 min
= 53.3 mi/hr or 85.33 km/hr
Standard Adult Weekday Single Fare: €43
Dublin-Galway
130 mi (210 km) (road distance using
http://local.live.com)
Road: 2 hr 31 min (estimate using
http://local.live.com)
Train: 2 hr 43 min (rough average)
= 47.9 mi/hr or 76.6 km/hr
Standard Adult Weekday Single Fare: €30
Now, I realise you're gonna slam me with all the reasons I'm wrong, but honestly, and maybe naively, the 43% difference between those two fares ain't justified by a 11% increase in speed. I realise there is way more choice on the Limerick line but that should keep fares down, not increase them.