Ticket Machines in DART stations

Rockshamrover · 22-09-2008 9:10pm #1

Hello, I was in Raheny Dart station the other day with my Kids. I had to get them tickets to head into town. There was nobody in the ticket booth so I had to use the machine.

I was surprised to find that it is not possible to buy childrens tickets using th machine. I had to buy them adult tickets.

I was just wondering is this some form of discrimination on the part of Irish Rail? If nothing else it's another Irish rip off.

What do ye think?

22-09-2008 9:18pm

thats ridiculous??? what about kids going to school?

Just thinking - its probably to stop adults buying kids tickets just to get through the barrier? still stoopid,,

Victor · 22-09-2008 9:37pm

In such circumstances, that is ticket office closed and the appropriate ticket not available, they are allowed travel without a ticket, but must purchase one at the first oppurtunity.

Run_to_da_hills · 22-09-2008 9:56pm

Its probably just to disencourage kids travelling at night i.e. less chance of vandalism and antisocial behaviour. When the "smart card" comes into full swing they will simply be denied access unless accompanied by an adult.

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 6:46am

Thanks for the replies people.

You could be right there Run, Irish Rail are involved in a covert mission to save us from the dreaded Teenager.

All the same though, this is probably a real case of age discrimination at best or a sneaky way of skimming more money from the poor commuter.

Cookie_Monster · 23-09-2008 8:24am

Complain about it, see if you can get your money back.
It may not be much but its the principle that counts

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 5:52pm

I hear what you are saying Cookie and I may do (even though I am not likely to get anywhere).

Run_to_da_hills · 23-09-2008 6:41pm

Rockshamrover wrote: »

I hear what you are saying Cookie and I may do (even though I am not likely to get anywhere).

Iarnrod Eireann should have CCTV footage of the ticket machines and platform areas with you and the kids next to you. You have the corresponding adult tickets to match the times.

As a matter of principal get on to them and explain the situation and what has happened. If it was in your error they would be quick enough to slap and chase up e50 in fines.

weehamster · 23-09-2008 8:09pm

Why was the ticket office unmanned. Was their a notice stating that the office was closed. There should be a sign up stating the opening times of the ticket office. If you were there when it should be opened, write in and complain about this and complain why the ticket machines don't offer child fares.

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 8:17pm

Run, I no longer have the tickets but I didn't know they had cc tv of the machines. I wonder do the guys in the ticket booths turn off the cc tv when they are on extended lunch breaks:D

cormie · 23-09-2008 8:25pm

Victor wrote: »

In such circumstances, that is ticket office closed and the appropriate ticket not available, they are allowed travel without a ticket, but must purchase one at the first oppurtunity.

If this is the case, which it probably is since Victor said it

Then I don't think there's much point trying to get a refund for something you didn't have to pay for in the first place and decided to do so by your own accord. Nice thing to know anyway!

Run_to_da_hills · 23-09-2008 8:27pm

Rockshamrover wrote: »

Run, I no longer have the tickets but I didn't know they had cc tv of the machines. I wonder do the guys in the ticket booths turn off the cc tv when they are on extended lunch breaks:D

They would have them there more as a precaution to stop vandals trying to get the cash out of them. Most IR stations are now well covered with CCTV.

What do you mean lunch break

They do virtually nothing any more with these automated ticket machines in place and when the smart card comes in to effect im sure they will all get the ass like the staff at the Westlink :pac:

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 8:31pm

Weehamster, there was no sign up.
My neighbour called into a Dart station on Sunday afternoon to get a weekly ticket for himself so as to avoid the queues on Monday morning.
When he got there, 6 people were standing at the booth. Nobody was visible inside but the all Ireland final was heard coming from a room within the ticket booth. The people were knocking on the glass but got no reponse. It was probably an official tea break or something:D. No sign up on this occasion either.

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 8:38pm

Hi Cormie, I guess I am just to law abiding.

I wonder have I broken any laws in using adult tickets for children? What do you reckon Victor?

cormie · 23-09-2008 8:41pm

Hehe, well if the law is that you don't need to buy them a ticket if there are no means but you must do so at the first opportunity, then the adult tickets you bought couldn't be viewed as for them, so would technically be just for you for backups

mgsrocks · 23-09-2008 8:46pm

Your not the first to have problems with those machines. One of the most frustrating parts for me is that they dont issue a feeder ticket (which are the same price as a regular dart ticket).

I wrote to Iarnród Eireann about this and was told 'There is no legal obligation to use the machine if the booking office is closed'

So there you go, if the ticket office is closed, you dont need to use the machines.

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 9:07pm

hey that's really interesting them saying that. It kind of opens the flood gates. Anybody caught without a ticket can just say the booth wasn't staffed and that the didn't feel a legal obligation to use the machine.

Wouldn't it be much easier to give the people what they want, a full range of ticket types for all train commuters. Maybe there's a really good reason that they don't do this.

I know what it is, the reason the machines don't give you what you want is to keep the people in the complaints department busy.

That makes sense.

Run_to_da_hills · 23-09-2008 9:14pm

Rockshamrover wrote: »

hey that's really interesting them saying that. It kind of opens the flood gates. Anybody caught without a ticket can just say the booth wasn't staffed and that the didn't feel a legal obligation to use the machine.

Wouldn't it be much easier to give the people what they want, a full range of ticket types for all train commuters. Maybe there's a really good reason that they don't do this.

I know what it is, the reason the machines don't give you what you want is to keep the people in the complaints department busy.

That makes sense.

There was a recent thread on this subject. It think the outcome was that I.E can do you when it suits them.

KC61 · 23-09-2008 9:25pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

There was a recent thread on this subject. It think the outcome was that I.E can do you when it suits them.

Eh, no that's not quite the case.

The rules are:

If the ticket office is open, then you must buy the ticket before you board the train. If it is not, you pay at your destination.

There is no obligation to use the ticket machines, as not all ticket types can be issued from the machines.

Those are the rules.

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 9:28pm

Wouldn't you know. they always have a way to squeeze the little guy. The concept of keeping the customer happy just isn't on their radar.

Overature · 23-09-2008 9:30pm

i think they do it to stop adults getting kids tickets for themselves and thus ripping off darts.

Rockshamrover · 23-09-2008 9:42pm

You are probably right but it doesn't make sense as you could buy a childs ticket from the ticket booth and pretend it's for a child. Or have a child buy one for you. Picture the scene, gangs of adults hanging around Dart stations asking passing kids to buy them tickets. Exactly like outside of an off license on a Saturday night, only reversed.

Run_to_da_hills · 23-09-2008 10:38pm

KC61 wrote: »

Eh, no that's not quite the case.

The rules are:

If the ticket office is open, then you must buy the ticket before you board the train. If it is not, you pay at your destination.

There is no obligation to use the ticket machines, as not all ticket types can be issued from the machines.

Those are the rules.

There must be a "cut off" time when CIE ticket inspectors will say, "OK, offices in some stations will be unmanned from this tome on, we will hold off prosecuting"

Run_to_da_hills · 23-09-2008 10:40pm

KC61 wrote: »

Eh, no that's not quite the case.

The rules are:

If the ticket office is open, then you must buy the ticket before you board the train. If it is not, you pay at your destination.

There is no obligation to use the ticket machines, as not all ticket types can be issued from the machines.

Those are the rules.

There must be a "cut off" time when CIE ticket inspectors will stop prosecuting those with out tickets.

cast_iron · 23-09-2008 11:16pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

There must be a "cut off" time when CIE ticket inspectors will say, "OK, offices in some stations will be unmanned from this tome on, we will hold off prosecuting"

Yes. That would be the closing time of the station in question.

Run_to_da_hills · 23-09-2008 11:28pm

cast_iron wrote: »

Yes. That would be the closing time of the station in question.

Sometimes 9.00 PM would be the closing time in Glenageary. Last Saturday night I was met by a barrage of ticket inspectors at Pearse, they were taking caah and were prepared for the crowd.

cast_iron · 23-09-2008 11:47pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Sometimes 9.00 PM would be the closing time in Glenageary. Last Saturday night I was met by a barrage of ticket inspectors at Pearse, they were taking caah and were prepared for the crowd.

Well there you go then. As per IR regulations, those passengers without tickets were obliged to pay at their destination. I'm glad to see they were prepared for the crowd they expected.

Ticket Machines in DART stations

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