[T Corolla]

Does anyone feel annoyed at the removal of the promotional day return fair that ran for three years and has been dramatically increased as of this year.
I used to use the promotional fair on a weekly basis and was dissapointed to see it is gone.

[foggy_lad]

Can you give more detail like the destination and the old promotional price compared to the new price? also the specific mode of transport would help.

[T Corolla]

Hi foggy lad. I am refering to the 12 euro midweek day return fair that Irish rail ran for about three years. On Saturday/Sunday it was 15 euro day return.
The promotional fair was from
Longford,Athlone,Dundalk,Portlaoise,Mullingar,Tullamore,Drogheda,Portarlington.
The fair was cheap and saved a fiver on the normal day return fair.

[munchkin_utd]

aha
this promotional fare described on the RUI site so!
http://forum.platform11.org/showthread.php?p=58667

Iarnród Éireann is pleased to announce new promotional fare of €15 from Dundalk, Drogheda, Gormanston, Kildare, Laytown and Newbridge into Dublin before 09.30am.

* €15 adult day return Monday to Friday on all services before 09.30am.
* €12 adult day return Monday to Friday on all services after 09.30am.
* €15 adult day return fare on all services all day Saturday and Sunday.
* Child fare is 50% of the adult fare. Terms and conditions apply (see below).

A promotional fare though by definition is a promotion and not a permanent thing.
That it lasted from September 2010 till now was a damn long promotion but still, it wasnt the standard fare so was liable to be withdrawn at any time!

[foggy_lad]

Promotional fares are still available from the booking office for many commuter journeys, although not directly advertised on the website some promotional fares are listed on the commuter fares page!

http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=199

Off-peak Commuter Promotion available after 09:30hrs Monday to Saturday on all services except Tullamore 10:30hrs onwards, Portarlington 09:45hrs onwards and Gorey 08:20hrs onwards. Offer available all day Sunday to/from Dublin.

there are less fares listed in this promotion but it is Monday to Saturday and all day sunday.

[ardmacha]

Promotional fares are still available from the booking office for many commuter journeys, although not directly advertised on the website some promotional fares are listed on the commuter fares page!

How, exactly, can a fare promote travel if you can't easily find out about it?

[lxflyer]

Well to be fair the fares are clearly listed in the commuter fares section - they are hardly hidden away.

[demanufactured]

These fares are very fair.

[dublinseven2]

Originally Posted by T Corolla

Does anyone feel annoyed at the removal of the promotional day return fair that ran for three years and has been dramatically increased as of this year.
I used to use the promotional fair on a weekly basis and was dissapointed to see it is gone.

Hi TC,

Yep.I'm annoyed at it.

Costs 18 euro in diesel (at 156.9 c/l) to go from Tullamore up to Dublin and back.

With the train return at 12/15 euro + 2 euro parking in the station, the "promotional" (only promotional in Rip Off Republic terms) fare made some sense.

At 21 euro return on the train now (add 2 euro parking to that), you probably don't even consider being green, you just jump in the car based on convenience and cost.

The trains are pretty empty most of the time, so why don't the profiteering bar stewards charge 20 return on peak trains and a tenner on off-peak trains. They'd probably make more money with the fuller trains (I don't mind them making money on overpriced crisps and drinks) and get a pat on the back for encouraging us to be green.

That's what the rest of Europe does.

The trains are in good nick now, why not encourge the public to use them?

[Victor]

On top of the €10 internet fares, there is a variety of booking office fares here: http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=199

[foggy_lad]

Originally Posted by Victor

On top of the €10 internet fares, there is a variety of booking office fares here: http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=199

There are very few €10 on-line fares available and they are not available on commuter services as these can not be booked on-line. and there are serious anomalies in the reductions offered on the routes around Tullamore Clara etc compared to the much higher reductions for Dundalk Drogheda Portarlington Kildare etc

[Victor]

Originally Posted by foggy_lad

There are very few €10 on-line fares available and they are not available on commuter services as these can not be booked on-line. and there are serious anomalies in the reductions offered on the routes around Tullamore Clara etc compared to the much higher reductions for Dundalk Drogheda Portarlington Kildare etc

Most, if not all Tullamore services are intercity. By distance, Tullamore is charged cheaper that trips on Cork-Dublin-Belfast, so there is less room for a discount.