Online Fares

changepartners · 02-04-2014 4:58pm #1

The train I want is 9.99 online currently might it be a totally different price if I go to buy it at the station in the morning?

IR fares often seem a bit random to me.

spurious · 02-04-2014 5:53pm

It will almost certainly be more expensive, possibly a lot more expensive. Buy online is the thing to do.

Mrs OBumble · 02-04-2014 6:23pm

Ahh, for 9.99, why didn't you just buy it when you were looking at it????

Trains and planes have same pricing approach. Online is cheaper. There are specials, grab 'em when you can. Last-minute is dearer.

Flights often seem random too, but you don't complain about those!

LXFlyer · 02-04-2014 7:18pm

Online tickets are generally sold at a discount to the station price.

Station fares are at the link below.
http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/fares-info

Pick the relevant route, then see what letter applies to your combination of stations, and look for the appropriate fares which are listed further down the page.

changepartners · 02-04-2014 7:36pm

Thanks folks I booked online. Think I saved about 15 euro.

1huge1 · 02-04-2014 7:46pm

http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/dublin-limerick

If I am reading this right, buying at the station to go from Dublin to Limerick costs €52.20, the same ticket bought online is generally in the region of €9.99-€15.

A appreciate that online should be cheaper but those fares charged at the station are ridiculous to be honest. Not very fair to the tourists who would usually buy it at the station I imagine.

LXFlyer · 02-04-2014 8:15pm

The online fares are discounted fare offers, which vary depending upon how far in advance you buy it, but may cost the same as at the station at certain times.

The station fares are the regulated fares set by the NTA (formerly by the Department of Transport).

I think that you underestimate tourists' abilities to buy online.

Fred Swanson · 02-04-2014 8:54pm

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Hilly Bill · 02-04-2014 8:58pm

lxflyer wrote: »

The online fares are discounted fare offers, which vary depending upon how far in advance you buy it, but may cost the same as at the station at certain times.

The station fares are the regulated fares set by the NTA (formerly by the Department of Transport).

I think that you underestimate tourists' abilities to buy online.[/QUOTE]

1huge1 has a point, a lot of tourist want to visit Cork and Belfast for the day but when told of the price they end up in Howth or Malahide instead.

LXFlyer · 02-04-2014 9:05pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

That generally only applies if you are making a journey that requires a transfer from Connolly to Heuston (e.g. Cork to Belfast, Waterford to Sligo, etc.).

1huge1 · 02-04-2014 9:08pm

Case in point, my friend from the Netherlands was over in Ireland, he was 24 at the time but never would of thought that the price difference between buying at the station would be so high versus paying online.

He was astonished when he paid €50 at the station, and not happy when we told him that if he had booked it online a day or two earlier could of got it for €10.

Personally, I've been to Germany many times, I usually just go to the train station and buy the ticket there and then, mostly because the price doesn't seem to differentiate that much from the online price.

While with Irish Rail, it is almost like they are penalising people with their station prices... €52 vs €9.99... come on. (or perhaps I misread your post and you are trying to say that Irish rail have no input with the station price and it is all the NRA?)

LXFlyer · 02-04-2014 9:20pm

1huge1 wrote: »

Case in point, my friend from the Netherlands was over in Ireland, he was 24 at the time but never would of thought that the price difference between buying at the station would be so high versus paying online.

He was astonished when he paid €50 at the station, and not happy when we told him that if he had booked it online a day or two earlier could of got it for €10.

Personally, I've been to Germany many times, I usually just go to the train station and buy the ticket there and then, mostly because the price doesn't seem to differentiate that much from the online price.

While with Irish Rail, it is almost like they are penalising people with their station prices... €52 vs €9.99... come on.

I think that you'll find that the €9.99 fares are generally only available in limited quantities on most trains and generally well in advance, the exception being on off-peak trains where there is low levels of demand, and it's an effort to stimulate usage on those in particular, or where there is a seat sale.

A friend booked a single ticket for a trip in Germany and saved almost €20 by booking online (and that was a day in advance).

Compare advance online and anytime (walkup) fares in Britain and you might re-appraise your view.

Most railway companies across Europe offer decent discounts if you book online in advance for intercity journeys.

Fred Swanson · 02-04-2014 9:22pm

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killbillvol2 · 02-04-2014 9:32pm

1huge1 wrote: »

Case in point, my friend from the Netherlands was over in Ireland, he was 24 at the time but never would of thought that the price difference between buying at the station would be so high versus paying online.

He was astonished when he paid €50 at the station, and not happy when we told him that if he had booked it online a day or two earlier could of got it for €10.

Personally, I've been to Germany many times, I usually just go to the train station and buy the ticket there and then, mostly because the price doesn't seem to differentiate that much from the online price.

While with Irish Rail, it is almost like they are penalising people with their station prices... €52 vs €9.99... come on. (or perhaps I misread your post and you are trying to say that Irish rail have no input with the station price and it is all the NRA?)

Your friend must be living in a bubble. Cheaper online advance fares are the norm all over Europe. The idea that tourists coming here aren't aware of online rail booking is ridiculous.

1huge1 · 02-04-2014 9:34pm

Fair enough, I know when to admit defeat

Thanks for the info everyone

Irish Halo · 03-04-2014 7:55am

1huge1 wrote: »

my friend from the Netherlands )

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Cheaper online advance fares are the norm all over Europe.

The important point in 1huge1's post is "The Netherlands". Train travel within the Netherlands does not have a discount if you purchase in advance, the fare is the same bought online in advance, from a TVM or using your OV-Chipkaart. The only time it is more expensive is if you buy from a ticket desk in a station where they charge you an extra €0.50.

You can save money by buying limited release day tickets sold by Albert Heijn, Blokker, Hema, etc but these are a strange anomaly (they are day tickets that cover travel in the entire country but are only sold between certain dates and only valid between certain dates).

Mrs OBumble · 03-04-2014 1:17pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Or even £300 Chester-London. Been there, done that, will be insisting on advance booking or the bus in future!

Anyone done a walk-up to Dublin airport and asked to go to London lately? How'd you get on?

Oh - and since when has being fair to tourists ever been required? Tourists are cash-cows in most countries, and they know it.

devnull · 03-04-2014 1:25pm

Here are the fares for reference

London to Manchester
Advances from 12.50 single
Anytime Single 161
Anytime Return 321
Off Peak Single 78.70
Off Peak Return 79.70

London to Chester
Advances from 12.50 single
Anytime single 130
Anytime Return 261
Off Peak Single 78.70
Off Peak Return 79.70

Although with a railcard, you can save 33% on all fares and railcards are available for any two people traveling together, disabled people, those aged 16-25, for families and for those over 60. In essence, everyone apart from the lone traveler between 26-60

Also if you are going to London or any major cities you can effectively get access to pretty much all the major attractions for half price if there are two of you just for traveling by train, even on the cheapest tickets

I agree the price of the service is more in the UK, but there are ways of reducing that, offers that give large discounts on leisure attractions, and a far higher frequency of services than you'll get here. I've been to other countries which have had cheaper tickets, but as for frequency of service they have always been far worse for everything but the biggest stations.

On the other hand I think Irish rail are heading in the right direction, I'd rate them as average these days, which is better than I'd rate them a couple of years ago, but there still is plenty of work to do.

Fred Swanson · 03-04-2014 1:31pm

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devnull · 03-04-2014 1:36pm

The prices I quoted are not fantasy, they come straight out of a booking engine

Anytime and off-peak prices are exactly the same online as they are at the station bought on the day, there is no difference or online discount applied to these as they are open ended tickets.

Advance, departure specific tickets can also be bought at the station for the same price that they are online, although obviously they need to be booked in advance and not on the day.

Jamie2k9 · 03-04-2014 4:43pm

1huge1 has a point, a lot of tourist want to visit Cork and Belfast for the day but when told of the price they end up in Howth or Malahide instead.

Our European friends should be well trained on the best methods to buy train fares.

Was in Spain and it wasn't exactly planned but was charged 305 for two return tickets to Madrid on a Saturday. Not even a working week.

Hilly Bill · 03-04-2014 9:53pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Our European friends should be well trained on the best methods to buy train fares.

Was in Spain and it wasn't exactly planned but was charged 305 for two return tickets to Madrid on a Saturday. Not even a working week.

Maybe so but its those that chose to do it last minute that gets the shock.

Online Fares

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