CIE set for Pay & display

Little-Devil

I'm not suire if this is the right place so please move.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0717/rail.html

Personally i think this is a disgrace and just another plan from CIE to get more money :mad:

goldfish

Typical Iarnrod Eireann - yet again not offering value for money. On top of having to be herded into a train carraige like sardines each morning with no air conditioning, they now expect payment for 1) Something that's been free up to now (to encourage commuters to use public transport) and 2) Full up by 07:30 each morning (Coolmine station on Maynooth/Longford Line). If IE were adding value (additional carriages/perhaps a seat the odd time) I would not have a major issue. The biggest losers here are going to be the housing estates surrounding the train stations, where people will just park for free.

Ham'nd'egger

goldfish wrote: »

Typical Iarnrod Eireann - yet again not offering value for money.

I defy you to find paid parking in the city centre for €2 a day.

Tipsy Mac

Hamndegger wrote: »

I defy you to find paid parking in the city centre for €2 a day.

I defy you to find city centre parking at any train station

The only CIE parking in the city centre is the free parking offered to CIE employees who ironically all have free travel on CIE buses and trains.

fitzyshea

This has been on the cards for a long time. I commute from Carlow and the carpark there is shocking bad, massive pot holes in it. I hope they intend on doing up the carpark before they start charging!

Run_to_da_hills

Little-Devil wrote: »

I'm not suire if this is the right place so please move.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0717/rail.html

Personally i think this is a disgrace and just another plan from CIE to get more money :mad:

I think this is a good thing because it will keep the locals from using it as a daytime overflow carpark.

markpb

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

I defy you to find city centre parking at any train station

Heuston and Connolly both have public car parking :P

I think some serious questions need to be asked. Why are Irish Rail charging for car parking? Is it because they'll be providing secured, managed car parks and accept liability? Is it to increase revenue for their transport operations? Is is because someone at the top hates passengers and want to discourage them from using the train?

If it's to raise money for operations, people need to start asking their local FF TDs why Irish Rail are short of money. What are the government doing to increase subvention?

If it's to provide proper car parking, people need to ask their FF TDs why the ROC has to pay for what should arguably be a local authority issue. People are going to park somewhere and either the LA provides a proper car park at the train station or they'll park on the side of the road.

Ham'nd'egger

markpb wrote: »

Heuston and Connolly both have public car parking :P

I think some serious questions need to be asked. Why are Irish Rail charging for car parking? Is it because they'll be providing secured, managed car parks and accept liability? Is it to increase revenue for their transport operations? Is is because someone at the top hates passengers and want to discourage them from using the train?

If it's to raise money for operations, people need to start asking their local FF TDs why Irish Rail are short of money. What are the government doing to increase subvention?

If it's to provide proper car parking, people need to ask their FF TDs why the ROC has to pay for what should arguably be a local authority issue. People are going to park somewhere and either the LA provides a proper car park at the train station or they'll park on the side of the road.

There was a precedence set when LUAS were allowed to charge for parking at stops; I'd imagine that has much to do with it.

keefg

Seems like another reason for people not to use public transport and use their cars.


OK, as one poster has pointed out 2 euro a day is cheap compared to city centre parking......but.......how long do you think it will stay at this price?

With a private parking management firm raking in two thirds of the revenue from this nice little earner it wont be long before the parking rates increase.


Also, a little bit off topic but seeing as someone mentioned the Luas in an earlier post.......For the price it costs to park at the Red Cow stop and the return ticket price to and from the city centre....I can drive into Dublin, park up and go about my business and drive home in comfort and still have enough money left over for a sandwich & drink.

On the occasions where I have to spend the entire day in town it may cost me 5-6 more euro than it would getting the Luas but I would rather pay that than sit in a hot, cramped, overcrowded glass tube.

This government needs to do a hell of a lot more to improve the public transport system in this country (not just Dublin) before it will pursuade a lot of drivers to give up their cars.

Introducing additional parking cost might just drive (sorry about the pun) more commuters to use their cars.

daheff

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

I defy you to find city centre parking at any train station

The only CIE parking in the city centre is the free parking offered to CIE employees who ironically all have free travel on CIE buses and trains.

My girlfriend and I get the train in. With the extra parking charge it is almost as cheap to drive to heuston and park there every day (€7 for the day) and walk to the city centre. At least that way we would always get a seat!!!

A lot of people that drive to train stations have no choice (due to stations being outside of towns / unpredicatability of trains meaning people miss feeder buses for these stations). This is just another way of increasing the fare.

Barry Kenny says that charging for car parking won't significantly reduce the amount of people using commuter transport...true...but only because people dont have any choices.

government need to decide if they want people to use commuter transport or not. If they do then stop trying to make it as expensive as they possibly can (through whatever hidden stealth charges they can find).

Ham'nd'egger

keefg wrote: »

Seems like another reason for people not to use public transport and use their cars.


OK, as one poster has pointed out 2 euro a day is cheap compared to city centre parking......but.......how long do you think it will stay at this price?

With a private parking management firm raking in two thirds of the revenue from this nice little earner it wont be long before the parking rates increase.


Also, a little bit off topic but seeing as someone mentioned the Luas in an earlier post.......For the price it costs to park at the Red Cow stop and the return ticket price to and from the city centre....I can drive into Dublin, park up and go about my business and drive home in comfort and still have enough money left over for a sandwich & drink.

On the occasions where I have to spend the entire day in town it may cost me 5-6 more euro than it would getting the Luas but I would rather pay that than sit in a hot, cramped, overcrowded glass tube.

This government needs to do a hell of a lot more to improve the public transport system in this country (not just Dublin) before it will pursuade a lot of drivers to give up their cars.

Introducing additional parking cost might just drive (sorry about the pun) more commuters to use their cars.

LUAS from Sandyford/Tallaght to town is €4.10 return. A day's parking at a LUAS stop is €4; that means the most you pay is €8.10 for a day, including travel on the LUAS. City centre on street parking is circa €2.70 per hour; pay for 3 hours (Most paid parking areas allow 3 hours max and you have paid exactly €8.10 on parking alone. Some off street parking costs over €3 per hour.

I'd love to know where you buy your sandwiches;)

HonalD

keefg wrote: »

Seems like another reason for people not to use public transport and use their cars.


OK, as one poster has pointed out 2 euro a day is cheap compared to city centre parking......but.......how long do you think it will stay at this price?

With a private parking management firm raking in two thirds of the revenue from this nice little earner it wont be long before the parking rates increase.


Also, a little bit off topic but seeing as someone mentioned the Luas in an earlier post.......For the price it costs to park at the Red Cow stop and the return ticket price to and from the city centre....I can drive into Dublin, park up and go about my business and drive home in comfort and still have enough money left over for a sandwich & drink.

On the occasions where I have to spend the entire day in town it may cost me 5-6 more euro than it would getting the Luas but I would rather pay that than sit in a hot, cramped, overcrowded glass tube.

This government needs to do a hell of a lot more to improve the public transport system in this country (not just Dublin) before it will pursuade a lot of drivers to give up their cars.

Introducing additional parking cost might just drive (sorry about the pun) more commuters to use their cars.

Something tells me that you are gone beyond wanting to be "pursuaded" - If the Park and Ride was free and the ticket free........would you re-consider sitting in a "hot, cramped, overcrowded glass tube."................maybe, maybe not, but I'm sure there would be complaint that every dog in the street uses it so why should I?

The whole public transport debate is about Choice, you have a choice (as you pointed out) and you've made your choice SO i don't think the Government (or the Romans) can do much more for those who have chosen.................:)

daheff

markpb wrote: »

Heuston and Connolly both have public car parking :P

I think some serious questions need to be asked. Why are Irish Rail charging for car parking? Is it because they'll be providing secured, managed car parks and accept liability?

Irish rail (or the company running the parking) wont accept any responsibility/liability.

Ham'nd'egger

daheff wrote: »

My girlfriend and I get the train in. With the extra parking charge it is almost as cheap to drive to heuston and park there every day (€7 for the day) and walk to the city centre. At least that way we would always get a seat!!!

Worth looking at this lil beauty if you use it daily

http://www.parkmagic.net/

goldfish

fitzyshea wrote: »

This has been on the cards for a long time. I commute from Carlow and the carpark there is shocking bad, massive pot holes in it. I hope they intend on doing up the carpark before they start charging!

Quite from RTE "CIÉ says that the revenue it collects from commuters will be reinvested in parking spaces". The question is: how long do we end up paying for something that we're apparently going to receive at somepoint in the future. Smacks of another Semi-state, the DAA and T2

Fratton Fred

All the roads near Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Dart stations have been pay and display now for months (Maybe over a year). I'm not sure how the people who live on those roads get on, I presume they get a permit. What it means is the best parking spots are now not right outside the station, they are 500 metres away where parking is free.

keefg

Hamndegger wrote: »

LUAS from Sandyford/Tallaght to town is €4.10 return. A day's parking at a LUAS stop is €4; that means the most you pay is €8.10 for a day, including travel on the LUAS. City centre on street parking is circa €2.70 per hour; pay for 3 hours (Most paid parking areas allow 3 hours max and you have paid exactly €8.10 on parking alone. Some off street parking costs over €3 per hour.

I'd love to know where you buy your sandwiches;)

OK, maybe I was being optamistic with the sandwich comment (at Dublin prices anyway)

However, I was in town (Golden Lane) on Tuesday from 9am until 4pm and it cost me 10 euro for the days parking.

I was able to park at the location instead of trudging accross from Abbey St. with my laptop bag and camera equipment. Much more comfortable and less stressfull than public transport as it is at the moment.

So, like I said, I would rather pay the extra few euro and drive until there is a cheap alternative that will actually get me where I want to go.

godtabh

markpb wrote: »

Why are Irish Rail charging for car parking? Is it because they'll be providing secured, managed car parks and accept liability? Is it to increase revenue for their transport operations? Is is because someone at the top hates passengers and want to discourage them from using the train?

I think you would be hard pressed to find any car park in Ireland that will accept liability.

Its a serviced contract were the operator runs the car park for IR and charge the customers a few for the pleasure. IR get €1m year year out of the deal till 2011.

I dont see how 8 euros a week would discourage passengers using the rail. If the aleternative to the rail is driving the increase in costs is going to be a lot more.

markpb wrote: »

If it's to raise money for operations, people need to start asking their local FF TDs why Irish Rail are short of money. What are the government doing to increase subvention?

What's the problem with raising money for operations? If it provides a better surevice then why not? IR will never be on the top of the list for goverment handouts and if alternative revenue streams present themselfs they should go for it.

markpb wrote: »

If it's to provide proper car parking, people need to ask their FF TDs why the ROC has to pay for what should arguably be a local authority issue. People are going to park somewhere and either the LA provides a proper car park at the train station or they'll park on the side of the road.

Why should the local authority provide parking for some thing that has nothing to do with them? You wouldnt expect the LA to provide parking for a housing development would you?

If they park on the side of the road thats a Garda issue and upto them to inforce it.

I've used the car park at Louisa Bridge to get the train to work for awhile.

I then moved to Louisa Bridge so I've expericned both paying for parking and people not paying for parking. I think its something that should be done.

keefg

HonalD wrote: »

Something tells me that you are gone beyond wanting to be "pursuaded" - If the Park and Ride was free and the ticket free........would you re-consider sitting in a "hot, cramped, overcrowded glass tube."................maybe, maybe not, but I'm sure there would be complaint that every dog in the street uses it so why should I?

The whole public transport debate is about Choice, you have a choice (as you pointed out) and you've made your choice SO i don't think the Government (or the Romans) can do much more for those who have chosen.................:)

I disagree. It is exactly the governments fault for the poor public transport situation across the entire country.

These are the "people" who collect 100 of millions in taxes from us and we entrust them to spend it as efficiently as possible on our behalf.

Who else should we blame for our poor transport network? The farmers? Drug dealers?


As for my comments about the Luas.....you are right, I have made my choice to drive instead of use it because it (IMO ) is a sham.

It created years of misery for motorists whilst it was being built.
It is overpriced.
It us uncomfortable and seriously overcrowded at peak times.
It doesn't even meet up at the terminals so you can change lines!!

I have no problem using public transport as long as it is cheap and efficient. I worked in Holland and Germany for years and I would always use the train/tram/bus when I was there because it was more efficient than driving. Same goes when I visit London or New York.

Why can't we get it right here? I dunno....you would have to ask the government.

Back on topic, my point was that any regular commuter who are on the fence about what is the best option for them (Car or PT) might be pushed into switching to driving their car as this the added cost of parking (which will increase) rules out PT as a viable option.

astrofool

Blackrock dart car park has been pay and display for a good while now also. (€5 for the day)

Ham'nd'egger

keefg wrote: »

OK, maybe I was being optamistic with the sandwich comment (at Dublin prices anyway)

However, I was in town (Golden Lane) on Tuesday from 9am until 4pm and it cost me 10 euro for the days parking.

I was able to park at the location instead of trudging accross from Abbey St. with my laptop bag and camera equipment. Much more comfortable and less stressfull than public transport as it is at the moment.

So, like I said, I would rather pay the extra few euro and drive until there is a cheap alternative that will actually get me where I want to go.

Question; is there a bus handy for you? Given that you are on the Tallaght run, most of the Tallaght buses serve Patrick Street, run up Bull Alley and there you are at Golden Lane. I understand if you have a load to carry that buses/LUAS don't do it for you BTW

godtabh

keefg wrote: »

It created years of misery for motorists whilst it was being built.

Thats one of the more stupid reasons I've heard for not using public trasnport

serfboard

Pedantically he quoted ...

From the item

CIÉ says it will net around €1m from new pay and display parking charges at 37 stations on the greater Dublin rail network.

It then goes on to say:

The stations affected are on lines from Athlone and Longford including the stations on the Portlaoise and Coolmine Arrow routes, the Dundalk line, the Dart routes, the Arklow and Gorey lines.

I'm sure it's news to people in Athlone that they live in greater Dublin

godtabh

serfboard wrote: »

I'm sure it's news to people in Athlone that they live in greater Dublin

It says the lines go to Athlone he didnt say the car parks were in Athlone did he?

Bluetonic

I'm surprise more people aren't printing up their own pay and display tickets these days, they are quite easy to do - after all the tickets are only checked visibly, there's no barcode to check the data information displayed.

I'm obviously not condoning this, it's illegal and very bold.

keefg

kearnsr wrote: »

Thats one of the more stupid reasons I've heard for not using public trasnport

Stupid it may be but it isn't a reason not to use public transport at all, putting up with disruption for any sort of infrastructure development is always worth it in the long run if the finished project is well designed, good quality and works well (and cheap to use in the case of a PT project).

My point with that comment is that despite years of disruption during the Luas project we ended up with a poor transport system (compared to other systems in Europe).

dodgyme

well if you take the average joe soap coming in from commuter town. He knows he will be passing a railway/dart/luas station at some point.

The chances of him parking up if he has to pay for parking, plus the ticket plus the overcrowding, waiting etc is alot less when the parking charges are there. I really think parking at stations should be free to incentivise people to use public transport.

Ham'nd'egger

dodgyme wrote: »

well if you take the average joe soap coming in from commuter town. He knows he will be passing a railway/dart/luas station at some point.

The chances of him parking up if he has to pay for parking, plus the ticket plus the overcrowding, waiting etc is alot less when the parking charges are there. I really think parking at stations should be free to incentivise people to use public transport.

And CIE have to pay to put/lay/manage a car park to be there in the first place, which these days is usually full so the outlay to provide more spaces has to come from somewhere; a vicious circle if ever there was one. Given that there is demand for car park spaces coupled with the cost of providing same, I can understand Irish Rail wishing to recoup/cash in/rip off/invest in bigger sites for same. For some sites, it requires little more than moving into the next site or flat space; for others it may mean multi storey parking facilities which will require investment.

I do agree that it would be beneficial to have parking provided free; however it is accepted to pay for parking elsewhere (Airports, LUAS and on street parking) so there is a precedence.

keefg

Hamndegger wrote: »

Question; is there a bus handy for you? Given that you are on the Tallaght run, most of the Tallaght buses serve Patrick Street, run up Bull Alley and there you are at Golden Lane. I understand if you have a load to carry that buses/LUAS don't do it for you BTW

I don't live in Dublin so I am lucky that I don't have to endure the trip into the city centre on a daily basis.

With regards to the bus option, you are correct, with the gear I had to carry with me on Tues the bus wasn't really an option.

I would use the bus quite regularly when going into town for meals in the evening or for nights out (where I would park my car at the in-laws house in West Dublin) and I think the Nightlink service is fantastic......apart from some of the undesirables you can get on there at 2-3am.

I would only use the bus network for casual or social occasions and not when I have to be somewhere on time when it relates to business because unfortunately the timetables are just too unreliable. Or you have the overcrowding issue to put up with as well, I have been at a bus stop on many occasions and had to wait until the 2nd or 3rd came along before there was room to get on.

keefg

Hamndegger wrote: »

I do agree that it would be beneficial to have parking provided free; however it is accepted to pay for parking elsewhere (Airports, LUAS and on street parking) so there is a precedence.

I am sure most people wouldn't have a problem paying for parking at train stations if all the money was going back into the system to improve the parking situation (multi-story maybe?)

In this case, two thirds of the revenue is going to a private management firm and lining someone's pockets rather than being reinvested into a much needed resource.

HonalD

keefg wrote: »

I have no problem using public transport as long as it is cheap and efficient. I worked in Holland and Germany for years and I would always use the train/tram/bus when I was there because it was more efficient than driving. Same goes when I visit London or New York.

Why can't we get it right here? I dunno....you would have to ask the government.

Back on topic, my point was that any regular commuter who are on the fence about what is the best option for them (Car or PT) might be pushed into switching to driving their car as this the added cost of parking (which will increase) rules out PT as a viable option.

Don't agree that P.T. in London is "cheap" - better service/coverage than here no doubt but not "cheap".

I'm sure that a lot of visitors to Dublin use P.T. because they feel "it was more efficient than driving".

With regard to the "regular commuter" let's add sustainability into the mix as well as the €2 cost of parking, as I said, it is all about choice, one can choose not to travel at all.....................................................

HonalD

keefg wrote: »

I am sure most people wouldn't have a problem paying for parking at train stations if all the money was going back into the system to improve the parking situation (multi-story maybe?)

In this case, two thirds of the revenue is going to a private management firm and lining someone's pockets rather than being reinvested into a much needed resource.

To all posters (not just keefg!) - Why is this a big issue? €2 a day extra for parking, did we not see it coming? Do we expect just because something is free, it must stay free? How many of us (me included) pay for bottled water (oh dear) but will post a "rant and a rave" when water service charges come in - I'm more pissed with the energy companies, watch your ESB/GAS bills rise and rise and rise...........................

BendiBus

keefg wrote: »

In this case, two thirds of the revenue is going to a private management firm and lining someone's pockets rather than being reinvested into a much needed resource.

Is it? From the RTÉ report:

Most of the money collected from these will go to CIÉ with servivce provider Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems receiving a percentage for managing the car parks

I think there's another thread knocking about here pointing out that many of the car parking spaces at train stations are occupied by lazy ****ers who live less than 5 minutes walk from the station. Maybe a parking charge will encourage them to walk instead, making the spaces available to those who are further away.

Regarding some people claiming a €500/year additional cost to commuters, at €8/week, 48(?) weeks per year, that's €384. And it's tax deductible. So it's €226 to €308 per year.

And finally, if it helps fund additional station parking (including bicycle parking?) then it's well worth it.

orbital83

Where are Gormless and Ryan? Oiling their bikes?
I want to hear them explain themselves. This minute.

Explain why their government, ramming public transport down our throats and depicting the car driver as a polluting monster, lets actions like these be taken.

Paid parking in fupping Edgeworthstown? Over my dead body.

Having said that, I gave up using that service long ago, after years of hell.
Last train home at 7.05pm... frozen in the winter, boiled in the summer... waiting endlessly in a passing loop in a bog in Westmeath for the train coming the other way to pass... and of course, the sweet smell of sh*t wafting through the train at 7 in the morning when the lads didn't bother emptying the tanks from the toilet.

Iarnrod Eireann? Give me my car any day. This just makes the choice even more crystal clear.

Phil-Dublin

this is a godsend as far as i'm concerned

now i can find an empty space in the actual portmarnock train station and not have to run the gauntlet of parking with a dodgy parking permit in the nice friendly free parking apartment complex accross the street or up on the pavement, with potential damage to my undercarriage and risk getting clamped for my troubles

well done CIE, hope you make loadsamoney

i used to bring my motor into the city but around merrion square its like €2.60 per hour, this will be €8 per week and no risk of running over at a meter and getting a clamp fee as well for good measure

even if it jumps to a fiver a day, they will still get my dosh, week in week out

what did you think? that CIE would entice you into a nice done up car park for FREE????? yeah sure,,,get real

if they didnt start charging, then you could have moaned all day at their irresponsible waste of semi state tax payers money


some people are never happy

patrickc

the carlow carpark is half owned by IR and half owned by the local brewery wonder how they'll work that one out.

heyjude

Phil-Dublin wrote: »

well done CIE, hope you make loadsamoney

Don't worry they will, once the concept of pay parking at this group of stations is introduced and bedded in, then they'll be looking around for other stations where they can do the same and within a few years, no free station car parks will remain.

Phil-Dublin wrote: »

even if it jumps to a fiver a day, they will still get my dosh, week in week out

Don't worry there is no question of "even", it will jump to a fiver a day its just a question of when. How much did it cost at the M50 toll bridge when it first opened ? and what will it cost to use the M50 this September ? The cost has multiplied several times over and it will in this case too.

Phil-Dublin wrote: »

what did you think? that CIE would entice you into a nice done up car park for FREE?????

Many companies have free car parks for the use of their customers and employees, does this mean that they should all start charging too. The difference is that these other companies regard their car park as a service to help their customers and retain their loyalty, CIE sees no value in such things

Also, as a matter of interest, does CIE charge its own employees/board members for their parking spaces or is it only their travelling customers, who they feel should have to pay for their parking spaces ? Whats good for the goose.....

Besides who would complain, the TDs who enjoy free parking themselves ?

Phil-Dublin wrote: »

if they didnt start charging, then you could have moaned all day at their irresponsible waste of semi state tax payers money

I'm sure that CIE has been guilty of many examples of what some would regard as "irresponsible waste", but at a time when the government is trying to encourage people to make greater use of public transport, doing something that may add €500(for starters in the first year and before fare increases to reflect oil price rise) to many commuters annual travel costs and with CIE getting just €1m a year from this, seems to make no sense.

I await with interest, to see what major practical improvements they make to the car park at my local station and rail users will want to see improvements locally, its no use CIE telling people that some station 50 miles away has had new cameras,lights etc installed, people want to see the money being spent at the station where they park.

Phil-Dublin wrote: »

some people are never happy

Thats quite a common reaction when people feel they are being ripped off.

Ham'nd'egger

patrickc wrote: »

the carlow carpark is half owned by IR and half owned by the local brewery wonder how they'll work that one out.

Are they not actually a tenant of CIE, given that they operate out of the old Goods Store in the station?

Pineapple stu

2 Euro a day is nothing and this charge might stop the supid and dangerous parking at some stations. A lot of people who use these car parks live within 5 to 10min walk of the station so lets hope they leave the car at home and use shanks pony instead.

corktina

parking at Mallow has been €2 for some months now....you still cant find an empty space out on the Navigation Road to park though....

isnt it fairer to charge €2 to all users who benefit equally rather than up the fares by a percentage thus causing a dis-proportionate charge to all users...? improvements have to be paid for

aniascor

So if you pay your €8 for weekly parking, will they guarantee you a space for the week? Or will you end up paying €8 on Monday, and then discover that you can't get a space for the rest of the week so your 1-day of parking ends up costing you €8 instead of €2?

If they are going to start charging for car parking at the stations, they would want to first offer some improvement in service - even some decent CCTV cameras, covering the entire car park and not just one small section. Or are they going to sit back and allow the constant vandalism that takes place in their carparks to continue while happily taking in the money. This year I have seen a number of burnt out cars in Balbriggan train station on a Monday morning, and consistent vandalism of the bicycles that are left there. On Monday morning this week, I noticed that every bicycle that had been in the bike racks over the weekend had had its back wheel buckled. And yet no decent CCTV. There needs to be some guarantees that all of this new income is going to be pumped into better facilities.

chipclub

cymro wrote: »

2 Euro a day is nothing .

Lucky you for whom €2 a day is nothing. At €8 per week it will come to about €400 yearly which, cash in hand, is equivilent to about €750 in earned salary. Would you see a €750 pay cut as nothing? Would you mind if your bin charges increased by €400 per year? You car insurance? Would you pay €2 a day to use boards.ie?

HonalD

aniascor wrote: »

If they are going to start charging for car parking at the stations, they would want to first offer some improvement in service - even some decent CCTV cameras, covering the entire car park and not just one small section. Or are they going to sit back and allow the constant vandalism that takes place in their carparks to continue while happily taking in the money. This year I have seen a number of burnt out cars in Balbriggan train station on a Monday morning, and consistent vandalism of the bicycles that are left there. On Monday morning this week, I noticed that every bicycle that had been in the bike racks over the weekend had had its back wheel buckled. And yet no decent CCTV. There needs to be some guarantees that all of this new income is going to be pumped into better facilities.

Thugs will always be thugs - CCTV won't stop them

HonalD

John J wrote: »

Where are Gormless and Ryan? Oiling their bikes?
I want to hear them explain themselves. This minute.

Explain why their government, ramming public transport down our throats and depicting the car driver as a polluting monster, lets actions like these be taken.

Paid parking in fupping Edgeworthstown? Over my dead body.

Having said that, I gave up using that service long ago, after years of hell.
Last train home at 7.05pm... frozen in the winter, boiled in the summer... waiting endlessly in a passing loop in a bog in Westmeath for the train coming the other way to pass... and of course, the sweet smell of sh*t wafting through the train at 7 in the morning when the lads didn't bother emptying the tanks from the toilet.

Iarnrod Eireann? Give me my car any day. This just makes the choice even more crystal clear.

If you do not like using the public transport service provided and have given up on IE, why would the issue of paid parking at train stations bother you? The majority of posts are from pt commuters who don't seem to see a significant problem with the charge. So what's the problem for car commuters?

is_that_so

heyjude wrote: »

I await with interest, to see what major practical improvements they make to the car park at my local station and rail users will want to see improvements locally, its no use CIE telling people that some station 50 miles away has had new cameras,lights etc installed, people want to see the money being spent at the station where they park.

I think this is the key and most people would not object if the evidence can be seen. I'd also like to see the on-street illegal parking policed and clamping introduced there as well.

Unfortunately everything has a price these days and €8 a week compares very favourably with charges for other things. It's two pints!

HonalD

chipclub wrote: »

Lucky you for whom €2 a day is nothing. At €8 per week it will come to about €400 yearly which, cash in hand, is equivilent to about €750 in earned salary. Would you see a €750 pay cut as nothing? Would you mind if your bin charges increased by €400 per year? You car insurance? Would you pay €2 a day to use boards.ie?

I agree but I think the point is that relevant to the cost of other items, i.e. morning papers, bottle of "pure" water, train tickets themselves, it is realtively "nothing". If someone put €750 on the table in front of me, I wouldn't leave it!!!!!!;)

dodgyme

Hamndegger wrote: »

And CIE have to pay to put/lay/manage a car park to be there in the first place, which these days is usually full so the outlay to provide more spaces has to come from somewhere; a vicious circle if ever there was one. Given that there is demand for car park spaces coupled with the cost of providing same.

more cars parks, more passenger numbers who pay for railway tickets and more money for CIE. Parking should be free as a policy. Its just hitting the motorist again and will be counterproductive. I have often seen the Luas car park in sandyford half empty??? (although its been a year or two since I have been around sandyford regularly, but the point still stands)

mcdonrob

Will Sat & Sun be free?

mobpd

aniascor wrote: »

So if you pay your €8 for weekly parking, will they guarantee you a space for the week? Or will you end up paying €8 on Monday, and then discover that you can't get a space for the rest of the week so your 1-day of parking ends up costing you €8 instead of €2?

Pay parking was introduced at Sallins last year when they opened a new underground car park.
there are signs up saying that buying the weekly ticket does not guarantee you a space on the other days ....and the car park does fill up by about 9am.
In fact the car park cannot be properly controlled as there are already a couple of rusting heaps left there with no sign of a ticket or tax...and they are not clamped or removed

BendiBus

chipclub wrote: »

Lucky you for whom €2 a day is nothing. At €8 per week it will come to about €400 yearly which, cash in hand, is equivilent to about €750 in earned salary. Would you see a €750 pay cut as nothing? Would you mind if your bin charges increased by €400 per year? You car insurance? Would you pay €2 a day to use boards.ie?

I believe this charge is tax-deductible, so no, it's not equivalent to €750 salary. It's €400 salary.

MOH

BendiBus wrote: »

Is it? From the RTÉ report:

I think there's another thread knocking about here pointing out that many of the car parking spaces at train stations are occupied by lazy ****ers who live less than 5 minutes walk from the station. Maybe a parking charge will encourage them to walk instead, making the spaces available to those who are further away.

Regarding some people claiming a €500/year additional cost to commuters, at €8/week, 48(?) weeks per year, that's €384. And it's tax deductible. So it's €226 to €308 per year.

And finally, if it helps fund additional station parking (including bicycle parking?) then it's well worth it.

BendiBus wrote: »

I believe this charge is tax-deductible, so no, it's not equivalent to €750 salary. It's €400 salary.

Source? I've seen nothing to indicate this charge is tax deductible.

aniascor wrote: »

So if you pay your €8 for weekly parking, will they guarantee you a space for the week? Or will you end up paying €8 on Monday, and then discover that you can't get a space for the rest of the week so your 1-day of parking ends up costing you €8 instead of €2?

If they are going to start charging for car parking at the stations, they would want to first offer some improvement in service - even some decent CCTV cameras, covering the entire car park and not just one small section. Or are they going to sit back and allow the constant vandalism that takes place in their carparks to continue while happily taking in the money. This year I have seen a number of burnt out cars in Balbriggan train station on a Monday morning, and consistent vandalism of the bicycles that are left there. On Monday morning this week, I noticed that every bicycle that had been in the bike racks over the weekend had had its back wheel buckled. And yet no decent CCTV. There needs to be some guarantees that all of this new income is going to be pumped into better facilities.

Exactly. You could easily pay €8 at the start of the week and find 3 days out of 5 there's no parking. You're getting no service for your money beyond a patch of ground on which to park your car - there's no security provided, no guarantee the car park will be manned or even have a CCTV.


Besides all this, isn't there already Government (i.e. taxpayer) money lying around for ages to fund IE for providing additional parking spaces (I can't find a source, but I'm sure I saw it mentioned on Boards before)