My maiden DART voyage

L1011 · 24-09-2014 5:42pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Baically you are saying that Irish Rail should meet the same standard as the Railway in the UK is that it?

And you're not? Why should they be any different/worse?

suicide_circus · 24-09-2014 5:42pm

Sitting here on the platform at Pearse waiting for a southbound dart having just mussed the last one. Why in the name of all that is holy is there a 15 minute gap between darts during rush hour? Can someone please explain this to me? There are about 150 people currently on the platform with me. By the time the next (presumably full) dart arrives, this figure will have doubled. Why such a long gap between services?

foggy_lad · 24-09-2014 5:58pm

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Did you really go all the way from Carlow to Malahide to basically turn straight around and come straight back?

No, I only went back to Dublin. Why the interest in my travel arrangements? Should I be watching out for you in the foliage outside my window?

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 8:19pm

n97 mini wrote: »

What difference does it make! There were no announcements on any PA system, and similarly the main departures board showed everything was A-OK.

The difference is that you were leaving the station and wouldnt have heard any announcements unless you were hanging around. Announcements would have been made in the station plus announcements would be on the loop platforms. Bear in mind though that the person making the announcements in the station could be tied up answering passengers in person or on phone or assisting wheelchair passengers or visual impaired.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 8:25pm

MYOB wrote: »

And you're not? Why should they be any different/worse?

IR should set its own high standards and not fall in line with a railway company across the water . Just because its in the UK it doesnt mean its run better.

devnull · 24-09-2014 8:29pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

The difference is that you were leaving the station and wouldnt have heard any announcements unless you were hanging around. Announcements would have been made in the station plus announcements would be on the loop platforms.

Bear in mind though that the person making the announcements in the station could be tied up answering passengers in person or on phone or assisting wheelchair passengers or visual impaired.

There were not any announcements or any proper information on that night - several people who were there have said the same thing. The scrolling messages were also not updated.

All I keep seeing here are excuses for poor customer service. If this is the kind of attitude that staff in Irish Rail have no wonder the levels of said service are dire, since they always make some excuse rather than tackle the problem.

It just gives an impression that nobody could care less since sorting something out would actually require some effort.

markpb · 24-09-2014 8:46pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Just because its in the UK it doesnt mean its run better.

You're reading it backwards. People are saying we should copy the UK because they do it better, not that they're better because they're the UK.

billyhead · 24-09-2014 8:49pm

Rashers72 wrote: »

Went to drop by refund application into Connolly station this morning for last Fridays points failure.
Man in his early 60's I'd say in front of me came down on the train from Belfast, and wanted to get to Beaumont Hospital.
Older guy on the desk told him nothing to do with trains, and told him to 'go outside and ask around'. Welcome to Dublin, Irish Rail style! Strangely there is another guy on the desk who is brilliant, but then you have this twat treating a customer like that. I genuinely feel sorry for the staff in IE who actually care about their customers, and want to do a good job. There are too many staff simply undoing their good work, every day. Must be incredibly disheartening.

Are we entitled to a refund for last Fridays shambles. I was on the 4.20pm from Connolly North Bound to Drogheda and was late home by 1.5 hours but have an annual pass. How do you go about claiming a refund if its possible just for the inconvenience and I also missed an appointment I had.

n97 mini · 24-09-2014 8:53pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

The difference is that you were leaving the station and wouldnt have heard any announcements unless you were hanging around. Announcements would have been made in the station plus announcements would be on the loop platforms. Bear in mind though that the person making the announcements in the station could be tied up answering passengers in person or on phone or assisting wheelchair passengers or visual impaired.

I wasn't leaving, I had to meet someone in the station and I was there from 17.30 to 19.00! Apart from that sign (which was too small, was only half filled in and was too close to the doors leading to the Luas for a lot of people to see) and yer man impersonating the town crier down by the ticket machines there was no other indication that the network was at a standstill north of Harmonstown.

Co-incidentally we were delayed arriving 12 minutes late into Connolly, usual craic with Maynooth trains seemingly receiving lowest traffic priority, but - rather surprisingly - the driver made an announcement after only 8 minutes into the delay. Semi-impressed I was, though my memory is still fresh of London where a delay of longer than 30 seconds and the driver is on the PA, so even at 8 minutes IE have a lot of room for improvement.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 8:56pm

markpb wrote: »

You're reading it backwards. People are saying we should copy the UK because they do it better, not that they're better because they're the UK.

Nope, im saying there is no proof that they are doing it any better.

Grandeeod · 24-09-2014 9:00pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

The difference is that you were leaving the station and wouldnt have heard any announcements unless you were hanging around. Announcements would have been made in the station plus announcements would be on the loop platforms. Bear in mind though that the person making the announcements in the station could be tied up answering passengers in person or on phone or assisting wheelchair passengers or visual impaired.

Ah I see where you are heading with this one. Cut backs, staff shortages, cuts to subvention. :rolleyes:

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:01pm

devnull wrote: »

There were not any announcements or any proper information on that night - several people who were there have said the same thing. The scrolling messages were also not updated.

All I keep seeing here are excuses for poor customer service. If this is the kind of attitude that staff in Irish Rail have no wonder the levels of said service are dire, since they always make some excuse rather than tackle the problem.

It just gives an impression that nobody could care less since sorting something out would actually require some effort.

I dont believe that there wasnt any announcements made.

markpb · 24-09-2014 9:02pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Nope, im saying there is no proof that they are doing it any better.

Others have given examples of times they felt Irish Rail handled problems poorly. You disagree (of course). If actual customers felt let down, why are you hell bent on trying to claim they're wrong?

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Bear in mind though that the person making the announcements in the station could be tied up answering passengers in person or on phone or assisting wheelchair passengers or visual impaired.

Luas control staff can make announcements at any/all stations from the operations centre. Wouldn't that solve the problem you're trying to use as a possible explanation?

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:02pm

Grandeeod wrote: »

Ah I see where you are heading with this one. Cut backs, staff shortages, cuts to subvention. :rolleyes:

Nope, just reality.

Grandeeod · 24-09-2014 9:04pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Nope, just reality.

Well its a poor reality.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:04pm

markpb wrote: »

Others have given examples of times they felt Irish Rail handled problems poorly. You disagree (of course). If actual customers felt let down, why are you hell bent on trying to claim they're wrong?

Examples of IR handling problems poorly doesnt mean that the railway in the UK is any better.

Grandeeod · 24-09-2014 9:05pm

markpb wrote: »

Others have given examples of times they felt Irish Rail handled problems poorly. You disagree (of course). If actual customers felt let down, why are you hell bent on trying to claim they're wrong?

The customer is always wrong in IEland.

markpb · 24-09-2014 9:08pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Examples of IR handling problems poorly doesnt mean that the railway in the UK is any better.

You're still misreading it. People are saying that some UK railways *do* handle problems better and that we should copy that element of what they do. No one is blindly saying all UK operators are better or that any of them are better in all respects. Why so defensive?

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:08pm

n97 mini wrote: »

I wasn't leaving, I had to meet someone in the station and I was there from 17.30 to 19.00! Apart from that sign (which was too small, was only half filled in and was too close to the doors leading to the Luas for a lot of people to see) and yer man impersonating the town crier down by the ticket machines there was no other indication that the network was at a standstill north of Harmonstown.

Co-incidentally we were delayed arriving 12 minutes late into Connolly, usual craic with Maynooth trains seemingly receiving lowest traffic priority, but - rather surprisingly - the driver made an announcement after only 8 minutes into the delay. Semi-impressed I was, though my memory is still fresh of London where a delay of longer than 30 seconds and the driver is on the PA, so even at 8 minutes IE have a lot of room for improvement.

There isnt a hope that the board would have been by the Luas exit, it would have been up by Easons in the middle of the Concourse.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:13pm

markpb wrote: »

You're still misreading it. People are saying that some UK railways *do* handle problems better and that we should copy that element of what they do. No one is blindly saying all UK operators are better or that any of them are better in all respects. Why so defensive?[/QUOTE]

Its a discussion board ye?

Show me one post on here that proves a different Railway company handles the same incidents better . Im not saying that they do or dont but some believe that just because its the Uk it must be better without providing proof.
Like i said earlier, im all for improvements when possible.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:14pm

Grandeeod wrote: »

The customer is always wrong in IEland.

They are only right when they are

.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:22pm

markpb wrote: »

Others have given examples of times they felt Irish Rail handled problems poorly. You disagree (of course). If actual customers felt let down, why are you hell bent on trying to claim they're wrong?

Luas control staff can make announcements at any/all stations from the operations centre. Wouldn't that solve the problem you're trying to use as a possible explanation?

They do that anyway dont they from CTC for the intermediate halts. It would be better if it could be adapted for inside the stations like Connolly as well in the same mode as the no smoking and unattended luggage announcements .

n97 mini · 24-09-2014 9:25pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

There isnt a hope that the board would have been by the Luas exit, it would have been up by Easons in the middle of the Concourse.

I didn't say it was by the Luas exit, I said it was too close to the Luas exit to be useful to a lot of people.

Which as it happens is pretty much where you describe it.

cmore123 · 24-09-2014 9:26pm

I have to say as a regular both on DARTs and regular trains, that while the odd mishap occurs, the railways are generally way more reliable than the buses. It's unfortunate that the OP had this experience, and those tourists that were also there can't have been impressed as you say.

But I'd say give it another chance. Announcements are more often than not repetitive (and in both Irish and English, as is their statutory duty) rather than rare or non-existent.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:29pm

n97 mini wrote: »

I didn't say it was by the Luas exit, I said it was too close to the Luas exit to be useful to a lot of people.

Which as it happens is pretty much where you describe it.

You said that it was too close to the Luas exit, if it was any further it would be on the loop platforms

.

n97 mini · 24-09-2014 9:34pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

You said that it was too close to the Luas exit, if it was any further it would be on the loop platforms .

No, as already explained, no use to anyone arriving on platforms 1-7, and no use to anyone arriving via the front or back door and up the stairs to the main concourse.

Even of limited use to people coming in the (side) Luas doors, due to its diminished size.

Without getting into specifics (i.e. this sign) the broad point is that IE's information dissemination is brutal.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 9:44pm

n97 mini wrote: »

No, as already explained, no use to anyone arriving on platforms 1-7, and no use to anyone arriving via the front or back door and up the stairs to the main concourse.

Even of limited use to people coming in the (side) Luas doors, due to its diminished size.

Without getting into specifics (i.e. this sign) the broad point is that IE's information dissemination is brutal.

There was notices on the ticket machines and if those comming up those stairs was heading for the barriers then they would clearly see the board.

The board is not there to advice anyone on them platforms , its for those on the main concourse. As for your broad point, i'll take your word for it.

devnull · 24-09-2014 9:50pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I dont believe that there wasnt any announcements made.

So let me get this right all the people on this forum are lying and the one person who works for IR thinks they are right and everyone else is wrong? Of course everyone else must have a hidden agenda, and you who was not even there, must know better than many people who were there?

I can tell you there were no announcements made whatsoever and the displays were showing incorrect information. I'm sorry that you don't believe me, but you honestly are not giving a good impression of your company to posters and users of your services on this forum.

markpb wrote: »

If actual customers felt let down, why are you hell bent on trying to claim they're wrong?

Because in the world of IR, who run a PUBLIC SERVICE, what the actual public customers think does not matter, because the only persons views who matter seems to be that of the staff, if the customers are unhappy they couldn't care less, customers are just an inconvenience to them who moan too much and are always wrong. With this kind of attitude, it's no wonder that such shockingly poor standards are allowed to continue unchallenged.

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Examples of IR handling problems poorly doesnt mean that the railway in the UK is any better.

Did anyone say that the Railway was better in the UK? That is not what we are talking about, I was outlining that the passenger information systems on platforms are pretty poor by European standards and other countries and show little information due to the limited number of lines, information and characters they can display at any one time.

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Show me one post on here that proves a different Railway company handles the same incidents better . Im not saying that they do or dont but some believe that just because its the Uk it must be better without providing proof.

Nobody said it was because it is the UK, I just said that it is because the levels of invformation offered by the passenger information systems generally is better, not because it's British but because of the fact that the screens I pointed out are far more informative.

What does come across is that rather than seeing the crux of the issues being information, you keep mentioning the UK and how it's not better than Ireland which can give one an impression that you have a dislike for said country and that is over-riding your views on what is related to providing better passenger information.

The fact that any customer feedback is being dismissed just makes IR seem unaccountable and just accountable to themselves rather than the people who pay their wages day in day out.

n97 mini · 24-09-2014 10:05pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

There was notices on the ticket machines and if those comming up those stairs was heading for the barriers then they would clearly see the board.

There were no notices on the ticket machines (I topped up my Leap card), and anyone coming up the stairs to the concourse (not talking about the escalators) wouldn't have seen that sign either, as it was too far forward of the stairs.

I'm also scratching my head here as to why we're arguing over the position of a single such low tech and inadequately sized hand written sign, and how anyone could consider it as an adequate response to a serious disruption to the rail network in the capital city of a country in the European union.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 10:05pm

devnull wrote: »

So let me get this right all the people on this forum are lying and the one person who works for IR thinks they are right and everyone else is wrong? Of course everyone else must have a hidden agenda, and you who was not even there, must know better than many people who were there?

I can tell you there were no announcements made whatsoever and the displays were showing incorrect information. I'm sorry that you don't believe me, but you honestly are not giving a good impression of your company to posters and users of your services on this forum.

Because in the world of IR, who run a PUBLIC SERVICE, what the actual public customers think does not matter, because the only persons views who matter seems to be that of the staff, if the customers are unhappy they couldn't care less, customers are just an inconvenience to them who moan too much and are always wrong. With this kind of attitude, it's no wonder that such shockingly poor standards are allowed to continue unchallenged.

Did anyone say that the Railway was better in the UK? That is not what we are talking about, I was outlining that the passenger information systems on platforms are pretty poor by European standards and other countries and show little information due to the limited number of lines, information and characters they can display at any one time.

Nobody said it was because it is the UK, I just said that it is because the levels of invformation offered by the passenger information systems generally is better, not because it's British but because of the fact that the screens I pointed out are far more informative.

What does come across is that rather than seeing the crux of the issues being information, you keep mentioning the UK and how it's not better than Ireland which can give one an impression that you have a dislike for said country and that is over-riding your views on what is related to providing better passenger information.

The fact that any customer feedback is being dismissed just makes IR seem unaccountable and just accountable to themselves rather than the people who pay their wages day in day out.

I dont represent any company on here my friend, and this is not the place where you hand in your feedback to Irish Rail and you dont pay anyones wages at IR.
There isnt a hope that there wasnt any announcements made, you can be sure that there was.
You now think i have a dislike for the UK

You dont know me do you?

.

L1011 · 24-09-2014 10:08pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

IR should set its own high standards and not fall in line with a railway company across the water . Just because its in the UK it doesnt mean its run better.

Nobody other than you has even suggested using somewhere else's standards.

All that's been shown is that they're far, far worse than companies in the UK. Which does appear to be mostly down to apathetic, jobsworth staff.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 10:09pm

n97 mini wrote: »

There were no notices on the ticket machines (I topped up my Leap card), and anyone coming up the stairs to the concourse (not talking about the escalators) wouldn't have seen that sign either.

I'm also scratching my head here as to why we're arguing over the position of a single such low tech and inadequately sized hand written sign, and how anyone could consider it as an adequate response to a serious disruption to the rail network in the capital city of a country in the European union.

The sign is pretty hard to miss to be honest if you head for the barriers no matter from what steps you came up. Even if you came up in the lift you would see it. Did you actually see the sign?

Its not hand written anymore

.
Its not the main response to the disruption now is it.

Hilly Bill · 24-09-2014 10:11pm

MYOB wrote: »

Nobody other than you has even suggested using somewhere else's standards.

All that's been shown is that they're far, far worse than companies in the UK. Which does appear to be mostly down to apathetic, jobsworth staff.

No i didnt, i said they should set their own high standards.

n97 mini · 24-09-2014 10:16pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Even if you came up in the lift you would see it. Did you actually see the sign? Its not hand written anymore .
Its not the main response to the disruption now is it.

I sure did see it. I think I have a photo of it on my phone. The half that was filled in was done so in handwritten misspellings! You obviously didn't see it yourself.

OTOH the main response was yer man by the ticket machines shouting in a Louth accent "No trains past Harmonstown"... unless I missed a more serious main response?

Grandeeod · 24-09-2014 10:20pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I dont represent any company on here my friend, and this is not the place where you hand in your feedback to Irish Rail and you dont pay anyones wages at IR.
There isnt a hope that there wasnt any announcements made, you can be sure that there was.
You now think i have a dislike for the UK You dont know me do you? .

Like many of your posts towards IE customer complaints, this one displays too much arrogance. While I accept you have mentioned improvements and change, the CIE entity and in particular, IE, suffers from an extremely poor public perception that is not unfair. You do seem to have a problem with that.

L1011 · 24-09-2014 10:22pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

No i didnt, i said they should set their own high standards.

What I meant is that you introduced that idea. Nobody is on about their targets. They're on about the reality that Irish Rail are pathetically poor in many many areas

foggy_lad · 24-09-2014 10:56pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

There isnt a hope that the board would have been by the Luas exit, it would have been up by Easons in the middle of the Concourse.

I walked through Connolly on Friday evening at about 6pm after going up from the Luas stop and saw no signs at all apart from the overhead display which showed two dart trains still listed from when the disruption started as next to depart.

There were only 2 staff members there in the station and one of those looked like a manager and was not dealing with customers but was on his blackberry and walking away. The only other staff member was the ticket checker at the end of the ticket barriers allowing people through, he had a large screen behind him which seemed to have up to date information on trains.

There was nobody in the information kiosk, no ticket office staff and the ticket office was closed.

My first thought was Friday evening and the person whose job was to update the displays had gone home, then I just thought that the staff had gone home as if it was a normal Friday evening despite there being a massive backlog of passengers including many who were stuck on trains with no information from anyone.

Rashers72 · 24-09-2014 10:58pm

billyhead wrote: »

Are we entitled to a refund for last Fridays shambles. I was on the 4.20pm from Connolly North Bound to Drogheda and was late home by 1.5 hours but have an annual pass. How do you go about claiming a refund if its possible just for the inconvenience and I also missed an appointment I had.

Yes, should be able to get a refund. I just googled it, but I would assume you could collect a blank form from Connolly information. You need one that covers Northern suburban line.

schemingbohemia · 25-09-2014 8:41am

foggy_lad wrote: »

No, I only went back to Dublin. Why the interest in my travel arrangements? Should I be watching out for you in the foliage outside my window?

No, it just seemed a very long and expensive journey for a 15 minute visit to Malahide, obviously made longer by poor performance by Irish Rail.

foggy_lad · 25-09-2014 11:03am

schemingbohemia wrote: »

No, it just seemed a very long and expensive journey for a 15 minute visit to Malahide, obviously made longer by poor performance by Irish Rail.

Maybe I was there to mind my own business for a while:D

Hilly Bill · 25-09-2014 10:58pm

n97 mini wrote: »

I sure did see it. I think I have a photo of it on my phone. The half that was filled in was done so in handwritten misspellings! You obviously didn't see it yourself.

OTOH the main response was yer man by the ticket machines shouting in a Louth accent "No trains past Harmonstown"... unless I missed a more serious main response?

Post the pic

So if you saw it then others would have seen it as well. Its strange how Foggy missed it

.

The chap at the ticket machines would be the chap from the info desk that Foggy missed :0

Hilly Bill · 25-09-2014 11:02pm

Grandeeod wrote: »

Like many of your posts towards IE customer complaints, this one displays too much arrogance. While I accept you have mentioned improvements and change, the CIE entity and in particular, IE, suffers from an extremely poor public perception that is not unfair. You do seem to have a problem with that.

Erm? Nope.

Where is the arrogance?

Hilly Bill · 25-09-2014 11:06pm

MYOB wrote: »

What I meant is that you introduced that idea. Nobody is on about their targets. They're on about the reality that Irish Rail are pathetically poor in many many areas

I only said that Irish Rail should set their own high standards , whats wrong with that?
I havent disagreed that Irish Rail are poor in many areas.

Hilly Bill · 25-09-2014 11:14pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

I walked through Connolly on Friday evening at about 6pm after going up from the Luas stop and saw no signs at all apart from the overhead display which showed two dart trains still listed from when the disruption started as next to depart.

There were only 2 staff members there in the station and one of those looked like a manager and was not dealing with customers but was on his blackberry and walking away. The only other staff member was the ticket checker at the end of the ticket barriers allowing people through, he had a large screen behind him which seemed to have up to date information on trains.

There was nobody in the information kiosk, no ticket office staff and the ticket office was closed.

My first thought was Friday evening and the person whose job was to update the displays had gone home, then I just thought that the staff had gone home as if it was a normal Friday evening despite there being a massive backlog of passengers including many who were stuck on trains with no information from anyone.

Previous posts in this thread has proved most of this post wrong

I'll had that the ticket office closes at 7pm and you missed the chap at the ticket machines and how did you know the chap had a Blackberry?

Whats the normal Friday shifts Foggy?

.

foggy_lad · 25-09-2014 11:39pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Post the pic So if you saw it then others would have seen it as well. Its strange how Foggy missed it .

The chap at the ticket machines would be the chap from the info desk that Foggy missed :0

No he wasn't! he walked off back to whetever office he came out of.

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Previous posts in this thread has proved most of this post wrong
I'll had that the ticket office closes at 7pm and you missed the chap at the ticket machines and how did you know the chap had a Blackberry?
Whats the normal Friday shifts Foggy? .

The ticket office was closed up and information booth empty at 6pm most likely because there were such problems and most people knew IE would make such a mess they just stayed away.

You were not there so don't dare tell me what I did or did not see!

Colonial · 25-09-2014 11:44pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

An irregular visitor to Dublin, I usually stay very centrally. For a visit this weekend though, lack of availability due to the All Ireland pushed me out to a hotel in Ballsbridge. So, for the first time ever, I used the DART! My experience was as follows:

We planned to get the 16.25 from Connolly to Lansdowne Road (with the train continuing to Greystones). Having checked Irish Rail’s site for real time info, we arrived in good time at Connolly and got our tickets. The departures boards indicated that the 16.25 to Greystones would leave from Platform 6. Arrived to the platform at 16.22. The electronic sign at the (busy) platform listed the next train as leaving in approx. 35 minutes, destined for Bray. This was presumably the scheduled 16.56 service. No mention of the 16.25. A quick flip out of the trusty smartphone showed the 16.25 to Greystones still listed for Connolly. So we waited. And waited. Along with quite a large crowd of confused looking people. No announcements were made. 16.25 came and went. Out with the phone again – the 16.25 listing had now disappeared. The platform sign still just listed the 16.56 to Bray.

Enter “the uncertainty”: did I get this right – surely I can navigate a train station?; did the train leave early?; maybe I should go downstairs and find a staff member – but what if the train arrives while I’m gone? (we were under time pressure and waiting for the 16.56 would put our plans in disarray). Eventually, about 7/8 minutes late, a train approached – no announcements, no change in the platform signage. Getting closer, we could see all its destination boards read “Na Clocha Liatha”. Having a cupla focail, I knew that this was of course Greystones (and presumably our train). The signs remained in Irish though and didn’t cycle to English, meaning the vast majority of locals and tourists of course did not know where this train was headed (still no announcement or change to platform signs). As the doors opened, it was obvious quite a few people didn’t know whether to board or not. We stood near the doors. An American lady called in asking where the train was headed; we answered but I don’t think she heard us as she called in again to an Irish Rail staff member who happened to be walking through that section of the carriage. His response as the doors closed in her face? He laughed at her! I’m sure she’ll be singing the praises of Irish public transport to her countrymates…. At the next two stations, the platform signage again gave no mention of where this ‘ghost train’ was headed, although it was listed at Grand Canal Dock and Lansdowne Road (where we got off).

As I said, I hadn’t used the DART before. Is this level of unreliability, incompetence and downright ignorance normal?

Its a rip off at 120 euro a month just to work and back over a short journey and unless you watch your leap card VERY carefully you will get ripped off multiple times monthly with their unreliable machines. If you need to call them its an 1850 number which will end up costing more to call than what they overcharged you in the first place. They likely also get commission from the rates on such calls.

Hilly Bill · 25-09-2014 11:50pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

No he wasn't! he walked off back to whetever office he came out of.

The ticket office was closed up and information booth empty at 6pm most likely because there were such problems and most people knew IE would make such a mess they just stayed away.

You were not there so don't dare tell me what I did or did not see!

He was Foggy

,I'll give you his name and the time he went home as well if you want Foggy

. If you didnt see him in the first place then how did you see him walk away

?

The ticket office was open till 7pm. Are you sure it wasnt after 7pm you arrived in Connolly seeing that your train from Carlow took 90 minutes . If the trains wasnt going past Harmonstown then how did you get to Malahide?????

You know yourself that you like to add a little extra to your posts Foggy.

How do you know that i wasnt there?

.

Hilly Bill · 26-09-2014 12:03am

Colonial wrote: »

Its a rip off at 120 euro a month just to work and back over a short journey and unless you watch your leap card VERY carefully you will get ripped off multiple times monthly with their unreliable machines. If you need to call them its an 1850 number which will end up costing more to call than what they overcharged you in the first place. They likely also get commission from the rates on such calls.

How is €4:28 a day a rip off? 1850 is a low call number. Who gets commission?
If you had problems tagging on or off , you just ring Leapcard and they will put any money back onto your card if its owed. Failing to use the card properly can lead to being charged more than whats needed.

cython · 26-09-2014 8:48am

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I only said that Irish Rail should set their own high standards , whats wrong with that?
I havent disagreed that Irish Rail are poor in many areas.

Nothing, but until such a time as they do, and they publish same standards, the only reference the general public has for their performance is a comparison against similar operators in other countries, the nearest of which (and thus that people likely have most experience of) happens to be the UK. Nobody that I can see has stated the UK operators as a model to emulate, but simply as an example of someone who does it better.

However maybe I missed someone, just like you missed a post about how a UK operator disseminated information better than Irish Rail:

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Show me one post on here that proves a different Railway company handles the same incidents better . Im not saying that they do or dont but some believe that just because its the Uk it must be better without providing proof.

Here's one:

n97 mini wrote: »

...
Co-incidentally we were delayed arriving 12 minutes late into Connolly, usual craic with Maynooth trains seemingly receiving lowest traffic priority, but - rather surprisingly - the driver made an announcement after only 8 minutes into the delay. Semi-impressed I was, though my memory is still fresh of London where a delay of longer than 30 seconds and the driver is on the PA, so even at 8 minutes IE have a lot of room for improvement.

Or perhaps you just won't accept anecdotal evidence, and will only take the published data from a funded study or some such as proof, in which case I guess we'll (rather conveniently) never convince you, as I would prefer to see that funding go into actually improving the the train system for users rather than a benchmarking exercise. Not to mention that operators can much more easily measure punctuality than information dissemination mechanisms, thus they are more concerned with those figures.

Padraig Mor · 26-09-2014 9:26am

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Where is the arrogance?

Pretty much every post you made last night. "The customer is always wrong".

Hilly Bill wrote: »

He was Foggy ,I'll give you his name and the time he went home as well if you want Foggy . .

If you know the staff comings and goings so intimately, perhaps you can identify the staff member who laughed at the doors closing in a tourist's face I described in my OP (which I notice you haven't commented upon). Can't be that hard to identify the person in question (and I think the incident really made his day). Looking at timetables it would seem to be the 16.00 Howth - Greystones. Presumably it wasn't the driver, so a ticket inspector I'd imagine? I'd be happy to append their name to the complaint I sent to IR and await your response.

My maiden DART voyage

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