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The JOKE that is Irish Rail!!!

  • 11-05-2009 8:33am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 195 ✭✭


    Got the train back from Galway yesterday lunchtime. One of our group was made go to the ticket booth by one of the two ticket inspectors who had security with them too. He was sent back as his ticket was a weekender and was €2.15 short!
    As we had booked our seats on line, we shoud have names on each one, guess what, none on the signs. No catering carrage, a cart went down once with 2 sandbos(and I mean 2), red bull (two tins), tea and coffee and a few chocolat bars. No water, coke etc. The thing that was serving from this dropped some lids on the floor. She just kicked them under the table. Her nails were filthy as was her uniform. Pink hair, way to much jewlery etc etc.
    Ok, a little picky I know but here is the best bit. Two scum bag droning smack heads get on in Athlone. They both sit down behind us, make a phone call at the top of their voices confirming a deal, proceed to count out €1000 in cash and then smoke heroine for the rest of the trip. No security, thing with the trolly said what could she do about it, had to move. By the time we have got out of the carrage, most of us were sick as dogs from the smell of the heroine. Getting out quickly I left my ticket on the table. The guy at the stalls was making me go back to find it until I started kicking up hell about the two scumbags that had by now jumped the fence in full view of all. Security with stab jackets just watch them go off on their stoned way.

    Great job Irish Rail!!! Good to see the tax payers €31 Billion is going on a top class rail system. Letter of complaint gone in, lets not hold breath for a reaction!
    Tagged:


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,537 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    nedoo wrote: »
    <snip>
    Letter of complaint gone in, lets not hold breath for a reaction!

    Should be an interesting read, if they even reply.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,329 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭Africa


    Yeah... posting a thread on the bus... handy...

    I agree with the terrible, terrible service. Especially on rural routes. the problem with them is who have they got to compete with - in England at least there is more than one train company and they have to be competitive for this reason. Here any proposal is quashed by the government and no permission is given to other companies to build new tracks/hubs/etc.

    I have been on the service several times when there are blatantly people going into the bathrooms to do drugs. 7 or 8 of them crowding around the tiny cubicles you see on the Dundalk/Wexford lines (the green trains).

    I have been on the Galway line 4 times before and twice i have witnessed drugs on the carriages. Of course no security. I remember going to get food and there was nearly nothing available, and what was was such a rip off i didnt bother.

    As for the tickets - first off the machines often have different prices from the actual booth, sometimes more, sometimes less. Often it is cheaper to get two tickets than the one as well. Also, the biggest problem i have found - fares from balbriggan in north co. Dublin to Dublin is 4.30. This is a rip off itself if you ask me... but go to laytown, the stop after Balbriggan (a total of 7 minutes after it) it will cost you €11... SINGLE.

    And they complain about people driving to Balbriggan and filling up their car parks!


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,663 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    The PR guy Barry something is on George Hook's show on Newstalk regularly, he's probably your best bet to contact.

    Re the heroine, I'd have called the gardai if I felt that staff didnt take the complaint serious


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    nedoo wrote: »

    Got the train back from Galway yesterday lunchtime. One of our group was made go to the ticket booth by one of the two ticket inspectors who had security with them too. He was sent back as his ticket was a weekender and was €2.15 short!


    He was short. Thats not Irish Rails fault. You are meant to have a valid ticket for you journey
    nedoo wrote: »

    No catering carrage, a cart went down once with 2 sandbos(and I mean 2), red bull (two tins), tea and coffee and a few chocolat bars. No water, coke etc. The thing that was serving from this dropped some lids on the floor. She just kicked them under the table. Her nails were filthy as was her uniform. Pink hair, way to much jewlery etc etc.

    Do Irish Rail have to provide a catering carrage? I'm assuming its there to make them additional money (and I think its out sourced as well).
    nedoo wrote: »

    Two scum bag droning smack heads get on in Athlone. They both sit down behind us, make a phone call at the top of their voices confirming a deal, proceed to count out €1000 in cash and then smoke heroine for the rest of the trip. No security, thing with the trolly said what could she do about it, had to move. By the time we have got out of the carrage, most of us were sick as dogs from the smell of the heroine.

    Thats a bit ****. Mind you if I was security I wouldnt go near them. God knows what they are riddled with/carrying.

    Did you call the Garda about it?
    nedoo wrote: »

    Getting out quickly I left my ticket on the table. The guy at the stalls was making me go back to find

    I'd make you go back from it. What makes you different from the lads who jumped the railings without a ticket? How was the ticket checker meant to know if you left it on the table?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,185 ✭✭✭asdasd


    in England at least there is more than one train company and they have to be competitive for this reason.

    Not true. Trust me, I've been on First Great Western and IrishRail ( mostly the Dublin Cork line) and IrishRail is astronomically better.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭penexpers


    faceman wrote: »
    The PR guy Barry something is on George Hook's show on Newstalk regularly, he's probably your best bet to contact.

    Re the heroine, I'd have called the gardai if I felt that staff didnt take the complaint serious

    Honestly, Barry Kenny and the whole "corporate communications" crowd are a waste of space. BK will never admit that there's anything wrong with Irish Rail and that Irish Rail is a top-class transport company and that any problems with Irish Rail are imagined.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭Africa


    Dear Sir/Madam,

    Long time user of the rail system in Ireland. Not a happy user though, and today it really has boiled over.

    First off the price and your recent price hikes - for no reason the prices of tickets rose. Its disgraceful, and does not encourage people to use the trains nor be truthful about their journies. Yesterday i was charged €4.30 to travel from Rush and Lusk, the same price from Balbriggan. However this is not what bothers me the most - how can the company justify €11 from Laytown where i lived until just two months ago? Including parking at the stations now (which i think is a total crime) it can cost a fortune to get in from Laytown to Dublin. No wonder the company has lost a good deal of service to the local bus service. This is a town that is considered to be on the commuter belt but does not pay commuter prices!!

    Second, on the line last night, i was delightfully 'entertained' by a load of junkies blatantly smoking heroin in one of the small toilet cubicles. About 7 or 8 crowded into the tiny area and the smell of the drug filled the whole carriage. Many had to leave because of the sickening smell. No security to be seen or anything.

    This was not the first time i have seen this. People doing cocaine, smoking hash, shooting up or excessively drinking are becoming more common on the lines. When they get to the station as well I nearly always see them hop barriers or jump in behind people with tickets, and nothing is done about it.

    Never mind the intimidating behavior. Now im not a small chap but i can feel intimidated when a whole load of junkies are shouting 'what are you lookin at' or 'you keep that up youll have a big smile to go with the stare'. On other occasions i have seen young girls, some not older than 15, have obsenities shouted at them. Come on lads, we really need some security on the train. And not like one or two, im talking at least 4 or 5. How are 1 or 2 security men supposed to deal with 8 drunken stoned maniacs?

    I hope you can deal with some of these issues. Because its terrible.

    Thanks,

    Left that for them on their complaints page.
    Not true. Trust me, I've been on First Great Western and IrishRail ( mostly the Dublin Cork line) and IrishRail is astronomically better.

    Hmmm... i dont even know where they service. so perhaps they should expand a bit more from the hole they are cowering in from the big bad irish rail!

    Also. If irish rail say they are providing a catering cart or bar they have to have it stocked and open. It says on the boards in the stations and on the tickets. Otherwise that would be false advertising.

    And whats different about it?? they shouldnt have junkies on the train in the first place, they are placing their passangers in danger, and i think that if the person told them about the junkies and they didnt do anything about it, they are not doing their jobs properly. Why should you pay for a service where you are going to be feeling in danger????


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 195 ✭✭nedoo


    kearnsr wrote: »
    He was short. Thats not Irish Rails fault. You are meant to have a valid ticket for you journey



    Do Irish Rail have to provide a catering carrage? I'm assuming its there to make them additional money (and I think its out sourced as well).



    Thats a bit ****. Mind you if I was security I wouldnt go near them. God knows what they are riddled with/carrying.

    Did you call the Garda about it?





    I'd make you go back from it. What makes you different from the lads who jumped the railings without a ticket? How was the ticket checker meant to know if you left it on the table?


    He was short and went back with no objections. I had left my ticket and yes should be made go back but when you take the fact that you can smoke heroine in your seat, dont you think they should sort these issues first?

    The cops were called but the scum were gone when we got into the station. Should have called and had them meet us at an earlier station!


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    nedoo wrote: »


    you can smoke heroine in your seat

    I dont think you can they just did


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,924 ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    in England at least there is more than one train company and they have to be competitive for this reason.

    Not true. While there is some overlap in franchises, for the post part you're stuck with one operator on each route - and as pointed out, they can be pretty damned awful.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Out of interest does anyone know if Irish Rail have to provide a dining carriage or is it up to them?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭penexpers


    kearnsr wrote: »
    Out of interest does anyone know if Irish Rail have to provide a dining carriage or is it up to them?

    It's up to them. Only if you book Citygold service and no Citygold service is provided that you are entitled to a refund (7 euro in this case I believe).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    kearnsr wrote: »
    Out of interest does anyone know if Irish Rail have to provide a dining carriage or is it up to them?

    No they don't have to provide a dining coach.

    Only 10 of the new Intercity railcars are equipped with one, the other 5 6-piece trains and 31 3-piece sets do not.

    There are only certain trains where a full dining coach is required on Monday/Friday - these are indicated with a knife and fork symbol in the public timetable. There is no such facility (except on the Belfast route) at weekends.

    On all other trains where catering is advertised it's just a catering trolley.

    The catering is now privatised and run by Rail Gourmet.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 195 ✭✭nedoo


    Five working days later and no reply yet from Irish Rail. Got an automatic reply saying it would be passed on to the correct manager........


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    nedoo wrote: »
    He was short and went back with no objections. I had left my ticket and yes should be made go back but when you take the fact that you can smoke heroine in your seat, dont you think they should sort these issues first?

    The cops were called but the scum were gone when we got into the station. Should have called and had them meet us at an earlier station!


    So the only issue really is with the lads smoking funky stuff yes?? Which is a matter for the gardai.
    So unless the staff refused to call the gardai, i'm not sure what else Irish Rail can change.

    (I've excluded the names above the seat thing which is a genuine reason to complain but has been discussed to death to no avail).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    If you had complained to the trains guard the gardaí would be called to the next station to deal with the junkies.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Correct me if I am wrong but I thought train guards were no longer present on inter-city railcars? It appears the demanning of trains is having the same result as the demanning of stations but why am I not surprised.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    I assume there is an intercom to talk to the driver?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 195 ✭✭nedoo


    Got a reply:


    Thank you for your email. Firstly, I would like to apologise for my delay in replying to you and also for the distress and inconvenience you experienced on this occasion.



    I am very sorry to learn of the incident experienced when travelling from Galway to Dublin on 10th May 2009. Please be assured, Iarnród Éireann does not condone or accept such undesirable passenger behaviour and reserves the right to remove such offenders from our rail services with the assistance of the Gardaí. Regrettably, due to the nature of our rail services and limited staff availability we are not in a position to guarantee a member of staff on all scheduled services. However, we do have a number of emergency cords located on each train which, when pulled, will bring the locomotive to a stop and will alert the Driver’s immediate attention. Should passengers feel threatened or distressed onboard and are unable to avail of a staff member we would advise them to locate and utilise the emergency cord. The feasibility of introducing Security onboard rail services will be addressed in the near future.



    I will report this matter to the Station Manager, Galway.



    Our catering services are provided by a third party company, Railgourmet. They are committed to providing the advertised catering facilities on selected scheduled trains. All complaints or passenger feedback regarding catering services are reported to the Catering Manager and Onboard Standards Manager for their full investigation. I am very sorry to learn of the lack of catering facilities provided to you. Please be assured I have reported this fall down in service to the Catering Manager for his direct attention. The Catering Manager will also re-brief staff members to ensure all catering trolleys are fully stocked to meet expected passenger demand.



    I would like to thank you for taking the time to report your journey feedback to us. Once again I wish to apologise for the inconvenience and distress caused to you.









    Yours sincerely,




    So there you are, it look like we just have to put up with this or pull a cord that we could get fined for doing so!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,918 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    Pulling the cord in that scenario is ridiculous in my opinion. All it will do is slow up the journey, meaning you have to endure the junkies for longer. Then you probably have to shout into a concealed microphone where the junkies can hear you. They are probably annoyed at getting delayed too. Finally, the cops cannot get to the train to elect the junkies if it is halfway up the tracks.

    Sounds like hands being washed to me!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    With the advent of railcars, there is no longer a requirement for a guard on trains. On certain trains there is no travelling ticket checker either for some or all of the journey, so the train is driver only operated. As a result, pulling the emergency chord is your only option in those circumstances.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,918 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    KC61 wrote: »
    With the advent of railcars, there is no longer a requirement for a guard on trains. On certain trains there is no travelling ticket checker either for some or all of the journey, so the train is driver only operated. As a result, pulling the emergency chord is your only option in those circumstances.

    How long would it take, following the pulling of the cord, to get the train back underway?

    In the circumstances mentioned, what is the driver trained to do with anti-social behaviour on the train?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,074 ✭✭✭BendiBus


    If the official recommendation is to pull the emergency code then I would suggest you do exactly that. BUT! I might be better to wait until you are stopped in the next station before doing it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 195 ✭✭nedoo




  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,537 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    kearnsr wrote: »
    way to jump to conclusions

    Sounds like a junkie to me...

    Gardai wouldn't be treating it so "lightly" otherwise.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    Looks like the new ticket barriers are now installed in Heuston. BUT.... don't expect them to work... nor expect a standard apology for a delay in service.
    Attempted to use the barrier today.. after 5 mins, and my ticket getting stuck the most informative rail attendant that had been watching me the whole time informed me that they weren't working.
    How nice of him to tell me after he observed me trying for 5 minutes. Customer service, yeah right.
    That was only the start of a VERY bad experience with IrishRail.
    Platform of my train was not displayed on the timetable, nor on the main concourse. Further barriers would not work, more rude staff. Reserved seats only to find a man sitting in my friends seat. And had to explain to him why IrishRail hadn't yet put our names above the seats in the LED panel.
    .......Our names weren't displayed for the entire journey. So reserving my seat had been pointless....Even though the helpful (...) staff ensured me that it would indeed show up.
    Utterly disgusted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    So in short, the barriers weren't working and your name wasn't displayed above your seat.

    Both valid complaints. But hardly show stopping stuff. Why be so pernickity about it. If it were me, and I booked a seat and got to my destination I wouldn't see a problem. There is a ranting and raving section which I might suggest you would be better off posting in.

    You clearly are disgusted with some part of your journey, but I don't quite understand why?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    fh041205 wrote: »
    So in short, the barriers weren't working and your name wasn't displayed above your seat.

    Both valid complaints. But hardly show stopping stuff. Why be so pernickity about it. If it were me, and I booked a seat and got to my destination I wouldn't see a problem. There is a ranting and raving section which I might suggest you would be better off posting in.

    You clearly are disgusted with some part of your journey, but I don't quite understand why?

    Wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why I'm annoyed. Ticket barriers didn't work as I most clearly stated. Hardly going to make me ecstatic. Extremely poor customer service, again not impressed. And to top it off seats that I'd reserved were NOT displayed as reserved. Now in my humble opinion I'm not being in the least picky (as pernickity is not actually a word).
    If I reserved a seat, only to find a gentleman sitting there and my name not displayed then of course I'd be annoyed. Both myself and said customer were inconvenienced due to IrishRail.
    "If I were me" .... If you are not you.... then who are you?
    Asides from this; we most clearly have a different view of what we deem to be adequate customer service. I believe it's people like yourself that continually accept such dire practice by IrishRail, that has the company the way it is. Perhaps you already workfor IE?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    You might want to read my post again because you have mis-quoted (and therefore misinterpreted) at least one part of it. Like i said both valid complaints but why are you disgusted at barriers not working. Its a very slight inconvenience at worst. Simply ask the IR person on duty to let you through.

    Its also inconvenient to have to move someone from your seat because the displays aren't working, this I agree with. Still its hardly disgusting nor dire practice. IR deserve their fair share of criticism but this is ridiculous. What outcome do you expect to get by posting in a 2 month old thread about these things?

    Now if you're willing to actually discuss this and stop picking fights over spelling mistakes and whether words are words, then some mutual respect might indeed emerge.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    Poor customer service, as I mentioned in my first post was what I was referring to. If the attendant was looking at me (which he was), then it was his job to approach me not vice-versa. I've worked in customer service for many a year.
    And yes I do believe it is dire, if I went online to specifically reserve my seat and this seat was not displayed as reserved then my time has been wasted. Of course there was no ticket inspector/ no rail staff on board to discuss this with and information booth was not open in my home station. I reserved my seat to avoid hassle. Maybe you should stop belittling others points and just respect where they are coming from.
    The thread is called "the joke that is irish rail" so I felt it was entirely appropriate to post here.
    I would hardly dub my complaints as ridiculous and for you to say such is an insult


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 112 ✭✭ow2h7nft1me9i4


    I think you are right to be very annoyed over what happened. It might seem like small things but when you pair them with the fairly terrible service from most of the staff at the station (and what you said you mentioned in your first post) it can add up to a pretty bad experience.

    Having to ask somebody to move from your seat is also an added annoyance considering the idea of reserving a seat is to be garaunteed having one waiting for you when you get on the train, especially when you have to explain to people that the seat is reserved, and I'm sure alot of people dont even know that seats can actually be reserved in the first place. I

    And it is a thread about "the joke that is Irish Rail". So people definetly have every right to share in detail the experiences they had, even though some people may think otherwise...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    I'm arguing against your points because I don't agree with you. Just because I disagree doesn't mean I don't respect you. You booked a seat, you got a seat. Alls well that ends well no? If the train was full, you would have got a seat while others would not. Therefore you got exactly what you paid for.

    I can't believe your blaming IR for you wasting 5 mins using a machine that didn't work. The fact that the machine was not working is IR fault. You may of course b;ame them for that. The fact that you spent 5 mins trying to use it instead of asking for help is your fault.

    Do you honestly think that a broken ticket machine and an out of order display makes IR a disgrace??? Its a problem and an inconvenience, but is not disgraceful.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    I don't actually believe I mentioned the word disgrace.

    At least you understand my points this time though. Alls well that ends well, it didn't quite end well. The man that was in my seat got quite hostile because I asked him to move and he said he'd just encountered this a few minutes ago.

    Again, help should have been offered. I was using the ticket barrier that was 3 away from the attendant that was blatantly watching me for God's sake. If he knew they weren't operational, any of them, it was his obligation to inform me immediately. IrishRail should of had a sign informing passengers of the new machines, anything is better than nothing.

    The Irish Rails Customer Charter itself states the following:

    We know how important it is that you receive a satisfactory service from our staff at all times.

    So we expect our colleagues to:

    * be polite and helpful


    Now what I experienced was in direct conflict with that. He was neither "polite" nor "helpful" in the least. So yes, once again I'll say IrishRail is to blame for that.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭maninasia


    fh041205 wrote: »
    I'm arguing against your points because I don't agree with you. Just because I disagree doesn't mean I don't respect you. You booked a seat, you got a seat. Alls well that ends well no? If the train was full, you would have got a seat while others would not. Therefore you got exactly what you paid for.

    I can't believe your blaming IR for you wasting 5 mins using a machine that didn't work. The fact that the machine was not working is IR fault. You may of course b;ame them for that. The fact that you spent 5 mins trying to use it instead of asking for help is your fault.

    Do you honestly think that a broken ticket machine and an out of order display makes IR a disgrace??? Its a problem and an inconvenience, but is not disgraceful.

    It is disgraceful customer service...what else could it be described as?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,465 ✭✭✭MOH


    fh041205 wrote: »
    So in short, the barriers weren't working and your name wasn't displayed above your seat.

    Both valid complaints. But hardly show stopping stuff. Why be so pernickity about it. If it were me, and I booked a seat and got to my destination I wouldn't see a problem.
    fh041205 wrote: »
    You booked a seat, you got a seat. Alls well that ends well no? If the train was full, you would have got a seat while others would not. Therefore you got exactly what you paid for.
    How do you work that out?
    You reserve a seat, the seat isn't reserved. If the train is full, you don't get a seat.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    MOH wrote: »
    How do you work that out?
    You reserve a seat, the seat isn't reserved. If the train is full, you don't get a seat.


    He DID reserve a seat. The display was not working but this person still had a seat reserved. He has a receipt for payment and probably a prepaid ticket (which don't actually work in the machines) which would confirm this. Talk about mountain out of a molehill people. There are plenty of things about IR which re worth discussing but these things really aren't.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Jayeire wrote: »
    Attempted to use the barrier today.. after 5 mins, and my ticket getting stuck the most informative rail attendant that had been watching me the whole time informed me that they weren't working.
    So after five whole minutes of attempting to validate your ticket, you still needed a staff member to inform you that the barrier was not operational? Because it probably would have taken me about 10 seconds to realise there was a problem.
    Jayeire wrote: »
    Further barriers would not work...
    “Further barriers”? How many times to Irish Rail require you to validate your ticket these days?
    Jayeire wrote: »
    Platform of my train was not displayed on the timetable, nor on the main concourse.

    Reserved seats only to find a man sitting in my friends seat. And had to explain to him why IrishRail hadn't yet put our names above the seats in the LED panel.
    I trust you have contacted Irish Rail about all of the above?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,918 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    djpbarry wrote: »
    So after five whole minutes of attempting to validate your ticket, you still needed a staff member to inform you that the barrier was not operational? Because it probably would have taken me about 10 seconds to realise there was a problem.

    As a mod of Green Issues you are probably big in to Public transport when you are not driving a Prius or something. Not all of us are so Green as you.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,577 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Jayeire wrote: »
    Platform of my train was not displayed on the timetable, nor on the main concourse.
    Did you see the bit saying that platform numbers aren't displayed until X time before train departure?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I'd be a bit iffy about using the emergency cord for something like this. I was once on a train from Mallow to Dublin which stopped for 45 minutes because someone pulled the cord - they had to reset the whole braking system. There's intercoms in the toilets, maybe use one of these instead? Still, the whole "penalty for improper use, €500" bit would put me off even trying.

    The catering situation isn't really Irish Rail's fault anymore, they subbed it out to Rail Gourmet so they'd be responsible, its their staff.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,650 ✭✭✭kingshankly


    As of interest when you found your seat occupied was there many available seats


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    Victor wrote: »
    Did you see the bit saying that platform numbers aren't displayed until X time before train departure?

    The platform still wasn't displayed when the train pulled in, nor was it on the sign that was just beside the platform it ended it up pulling into.
    As of interest when you found your seat occupied was there many available seats
    No there were not many available, irrelevant anyway seeing as the point of a reservation is to have ones seat reserved

    If I'd wanted to sit in an unreserved seat, then I obviously would not have made a reservation.
    So after five whole minutes of attempting to validate your ticket, you still needed a staff member to inform you that the barrier was not operational? Because it probably would have taken me about 10 seconds to realise there was a problem.

    It's great to hypothetically place yourself in my situation, so many thanks for that... I never stated that I didn't realise there was a problem. I did indeed realise, yet persisted in my attempt to put my ticket through as the attendant was observing me so I assumed I was doing something wrong, as he didn't budge nor did he state otherwise. He was three barriers away, and could easily have opened his mouth to say something.
    I trust you have contacted Irish Rail about all of the above?
    Thanks for the link, but I'm going to write a letter to them tomorrow. http://www.railusers.ie/ states that a letter has a higher chance of getting a response.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭StephenM_smc


    Jayeire wrote: »
    The platform still wasn't displayed when the train pulled in, nor was it on the sign that was just beside the platform it ended it up pulling into.

    Did the train pull onto the platform shortly before the departure time? Before the new barriers went into action trains typically sat at the platforms or arrived some time before boarding. I haven't been using the train as much since the barriers came into operation so I don't know what its like now.

    Also how did you find out which platform the train was departing off in the end?
    Jayeire wrote: »
    I did indeed realise, yet persisted in my attempt to put my ticket through as the attendant was observing me so I assumed I was doing something wrong, as he didn't budge nor did he state otherwise. He was three barriers away, and could easily have opened his mouth to say something.

    They should have intervened sooner, would have given them some credit for having good customer service!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    Did the train pull onto the platform shortly before the departure time? Before the new barriers went into action trains typically sat at the platforms or arrived some time before boarding. I haven't been using the train as much since the barriers came into operation so I don't know what its like now.

    Also how did you find out which platform the train was departing off in the end?

    Train pulled in about 10-15 minutes before hand I think. The third rail attendant I asked (other two didn't know at all) said I should "try" the platform further down on the right hand side and I might be lucky. I asked a lady in front of me if she knew if it was the waterford train, to which she replied that she hoped so, but she didn't know either. The name wasn't displayed on the train wen i was getting on either.:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    Jayeire wrote: »

    Thanks for the link, but I'm going to write a letter to them tomorrow. http://www.railusers.ie/ states that a letter has a higher chance of getting a response.

    Oh dear, railusers.ie rears its ugly head again:rolleyes:. I think its just the right place for your complaint.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Jayeire


    fh041205 wrote: »
    Oh dear, railusers.ie rears its ugly head again:rolleyes:. I think its just the right place for your complaint.

    Why would my complaint go to railusers.ie ? Bit of a silly thing to say. And railusers.ie happens to be quite a beneficial resource actually.

    What is the basis for your comment anyway? Why discredit railusers.ie, seems totally unfounded.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    Believe me you couldn't be more wrong and you will discover this in time. Relying on them for information is a big mistake in my experience. But thats for another time and another thread.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭StephenM_smc


    Jayeire wrote: »
    What is the basis for your comment anyway? Why discredit railusers.ie, seems totally unfounded.

    I was a paid up member of rail users Ireland some time ago. I stopped frequenting their forums and using their information after finding my own opinion of what's reasonable to expect from Irish Rail and a rail users group no longer tied in with what they offered. There is some reasonable information on their site, but I've lost interest in supporting them.


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