Automatic ticket checking in Heuston

[plant43]

Looks like they are putting in the ticket barriers now. No timescale given on when they'll start operating.

[Thomas Ralph]

Do you know is this for platform 1 (commuter services) only or for all services?

[Mark Gleeson]

Its been on the cards for sometime, again not unusual and indeed somewhat required to get the smartcard system in.

[plant43]

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

Do you know is this for platform 1 (commuter services) only or for all services?

No idea, but the barriers are being installed right in the middle of the concourse just in front of platform 3/4, so I doubt it will be restricted to commuter services only.

[Mark Gleeson]

Well the construction there looks to be more to do with a office space, possibly a customer service or ticketing thingy, looks rather square and in wood.

A ticket barrier line would be a first seen as a steel plate running across the concourse where the machines will be bolted into later.

Normally there would be a poster clearly saying 'exit validation coming soon'

[plant43]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Well the construction there looks to be more to do with a office space, possibly a customer service or ticketing thingy, looks rather square and in wood.

A ticket barrier line would be a first seen as a steel plate running across the concourse where the machines will be bolted into later.

Normally there would be a poster clearly saying 'exit validation coming soon'

I think the wood is only temporary and only there to cover the area during the installation.

There are posters up on all sides of the wood fence indicating 'exit validation coming soon'

[laoisfan]

if they are going to do automated ticket validation why or why can they start using barcodes or chip or something which does involve the ticket being possibly eaten by the machine!!

[Darren Bates]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Well the construction there looks to be more to do with a office space, possibly a customer service or ticketing thingy, looks rather square and in wood.

A ticket barrier line would be a first seen as a steel plate running across the concourse where the machines will be bolted into later.

Normally there would be a poster clearly saying 'exit validation coming soon'

They have one of these in Dublin Connolly. I'm sure it is a small desk where an official of Iarnrod Eireann will issue the Standard Fare of €50 for having an invalid ticket, a ticket with no ID / age or simply no ticket at all.

[Mark Gleeson]

Gates not working today lunchtime either

[RadarControl]

Can anybody confirm if the machines are working yet? Anybody travel through Heuston since Saturday lunch-time and the machines were working. I'm thinking I might go for the 6:35am train from Kildare instead of the 6:53 to make sure I get to work for 8am. If tomorrow is the first morning of operation if will take a few mornings and evenings before everybody gets used to system which will lead to a few delays.

Both Irish Rail and AA Roadwatch have notices saying it is in affect from Friday 17th of April.

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=237

Iarnród Éireann advises customers that as and from Friday 17th April, automatic ticket checking barriers will come into operation at all accesses to Heuston Station Dublin. Similar barriers are operating successfully at Connolly Station as well as many DART and Commuter Stations across the Greater Dublin Area.

Benefits:

Automatic ticket checking facilitates greater movement at peak times and prevents large queues forming at platforms. It also assists in the company’s fight against fare evaders as those not in possession of a valid ticket will automatically be fined by our Revenue Protection Unit on-site at Heuston.

The barriers are also equipped with smartcard readers, to be fully compatible with the future public transport smartcard system currently under development by the Rail Procurement Agency, which will include DART and Commuter rail and Iarnród Éireann’s interim smartcard, which is due to be launched in the summer of this year.

How the system works:

Before you travel, make sure you have a valid ticket. The only circumstance in which you may board a train without a valid ticket is if the booking office is closed, and there is no ticket vending machine available.

Retain your ticket as you leave the train at Heuston. This ticket is then inserted into the validation machine and the barrier opens to permit exit. Similarly for customers departing from Heuston, insert your ticket in the validation machine for the barrier to open to allow access to the platform and the train.

Those in possession of an “online reservation” must use the barrier marked “online tickets” where their tickets will be validated.

Customers with special needs will still be assisted by the Customer Service Duty Officer through the barriers and to and from their chosen train. A special wide gate will be provided at each station for the passage of mobility impaired persons, including customers in wheelchairs, but also catering for those with buggies and with heavy luggage.

Those not in possession of a valid ticket for travel will be subject to an on-the-spot penalty fare of €50 plus the price of the ticket, and may face court prosecution.

Iarnród Éireann thanks customers for their cooperation with these arrangements.

[RadarControl]

Once again all machines turned on this morning with out of service message displayed. Conductor on my train this morning reckons next week before it will be working.

[iridium]

They were working this evening at about 17:00. People looked confused!

[plant43]

Turned on again this morning. Large queues waiting to exit.