Irish Rail

KillerKity

They really REALLY represent rip off Ireland. I normally drive to Dublin from Galway but on this occasion I decided to take the train to avoid traffic. BIG MISTAKE. To begin with a return ticked cost €48 and for that price one would expect a proper service? Oh no! The train was over an hour delayed on the way to Dublin. I couldn't hear why as the intercom wasn't working. On the way back I was informed there would be a stop over at Athlone. I thought ok, just get onto another train no big deal. Except there wasn't another train it was a bus transfer! If I wanted a bus I would have paid a hell of a lot less for one!!! Grrr never again will I travel with this company....

Why can't be have a reliable, reasonably priced inter-city rail service?

Victor

You can get single fares for €10 when you book on the internet.

If you were delayed, you are entitled to a discount. http://www.irishrail.ie/home/faq.asp?faq_id=20#20

http://www.irishrail.ie/images/pdfs/Southern Western Discount Form.pdf

k99_64

They are not 10euro they charge 2euro for the booking charge and another 2euro for a credit card charge.

unamused

Also the 10 euro tickets are the ones that leave a stupid o'clock in the morning or night otherwise it ranges from 20 to 30 euro one way (this is my experience from dublin to cork)
however am loving the guy on the trains that organises who sits where when people didnt book tickets on my last trip back from cork instead of sleeping great amusement was had watching him march people up and down the train finding seats

Victor

k99_64 wrote: »

They are not 10euro they charge 2euro for the booking charge and another 2euro for a credit card charge.

The booking charge is only if you have an ticket already (e.g. annual ticket) and want to make a reservation. I believe it is €3.

If you buy one of the internet specials there is no booking charge.

The credit card charge doesn't apply to Laser, if that is any help.

91011

KillerKity wrote: »

They really REALLY represent rip off Ireland. I normally drive to Dublin from Galway but on this occasion I decided to take the train to avoid traffic. BIG MISTAKE. To begin with a return ticked cost €48 and for that price one would expect a proper service? Oh no! The train was over an hour delayed on the way to Dublin. I couldn't hear why as the intercom wasn't working. On the way back I was informed there would be a stop over at Athlone. I thought ok, just get onto another train no big deal. Except there wasn't another train it was a bus transfer! If I wanted a bus I would have paid a hell of a lot less for one!!! Grrr never again will I travel with this company....

Why can't be have a reliable, reasonably priced inter-city rail service?

How is €48 return from city to city a rip-off? In comaprison to most european countries the prices of train service in Ireland are considered to be excellent value.

London to Birmingham can cost as much as £146 return.

And don't start me on unannounced delays on the UK train system :eek:

poisonated

Yeah I was shocked with the price of the trains in England.
The food and drink on the train in Ireland is an a complete rip off. One thing that really stood out for me was a can of beer for about 5/6 euro.

Mr_Roger_Bongos

A return from Belfast to Dublin is cheaper bought from Translink and Irish Rail, equally if booked online.

Only a few euro, but crazy that your paying more for exactly the same service. Irish Rail would probably put it down to their own costs.

91011

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

A return from Belfast to Dublin is cheaper bought from Translink and Irish Rail, equally if booked online.

Only a few euro, but crazy that your paying more for exactly the same service. Irish Rail would probably put it down to their own costs.

This was brought up before and found to be false.

A 9am Belfast to dublin train is not the same as 9am Dublin to belfast. The more popular service is Dunlin to belfast in mornings, hence its priced according to demand. Price a 5pm service Dublin to Belfast & Belfast to Dublin, as Dublin to belfast at 5pm is less popular, this is cheaper on irish rail than the Translink belfast to dublin at the same time.

Standard web booked return belfast to dublin = £30
Standard web booked return dublin belfast = €36
Bank rate of exchange excluding commission = 1.206

Mr_Roger_Bongos

91011 wrote: »

This was brought up before and found to be false.

A 9am Belfast to dublin train is not the same as 9am Dublin to belfast. The more popular service is Dunlin to belfast in mornings, hence its priced according to demand. Price a 5pm service Dublin to Belfast & Belfast to Dublin, as Dublin to belfast at 5pm is less popular, this is cheaper on irish rail than the Translink belfast to dublin at the same time.

I've only done 1 example but;
Both Journeys Tuesday 1st June

Belfast > Dublin - 20.10 - €18 - From Irish rail, booked online (+€3 credit card charge)
Belfast > Dublin - 20.10 - £8.99 - From Translink, booked online.

That's the same train so no popularity arguments.

91011

you can't book one way tickets from belfast to dublin on irish rail, so realistic comparison cannot be made.

regular daytime single belfast to dublin £13.99 June 1st
regular daytime single dublin to belfast €18 June 1st

feck all difference

Mr_Roger_Bongos

91011 wrote: »

you can't book one way tickets from belfast to dublin on irish rail, so realistic comparison cannot be made.

regular daytime single belfast to dublin £13.99 June 1st
regular daytime single dublin to belfast €18 June 1st

feck all difference

Realistic Comparison?

The same train costs £9 in the north or €18 from irish rail.

You would save the difference of this by booking your trip to Belfast with Irish Rail and buying your return when you get there/online.

Brianderunner

91011 wrote: »

London to Birmingham can cost as much as £146 return.

And don't start me on unannounced delays on the UK train system :eek:

Smart people will get a sail and rail from london to dublin for £30 and get off in birmingham. It always amazes me when i see idiots buying train tickets in holyhead for £70-£80 single after paying 30 euro for a single ferry when the sail and rail from Dublin to London would have cost 38-39 euro.

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Brianderunner wrote: »

Smart people will get a sail and rail from london to dublin for £30 and get off in birmingham. It always amazes me when i see idiots buying train tickets in holyhead for £70-£80 single after paying 30 euro for a single ferry when the sail and rail from Dublin to London would have cost 38-39 euro.

How does this work? Where do you get the 'sail and rail', sounds good!

Is there a reason for getting off in Birmingham?

Victor

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

How does this work? Where do you get the 'sail and rail', sounds good!

Irish Rail, Irish Ferries or Stena.

Is there a reason for getting off in Birmingham?

He means for people wanting to go to Birmingham, they should pay the £30 Sail Rail ticket, not the ordinary £100+ ticket.

Brianderunner

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

How does this work? Where do you get the 'sail and rail', sounds good!

You get it at the ferryport. 36 euro for sail and rail to north wales and chester, and it increases by a euro to a max of 39 euro to anywhere in the uk. You can get the sail and rail to aberdeen from Dublin Ferryport for 39 euro if you want, amazing value. Its even cheaper from the uk side.

k99_64

Victor wrote: »

The booking charge is only if you have an ticket already (e.g. annual ticket) and want to make a reservation. I believe it is €3.

If you buy one of the internet specials there is no booking charge.

The credit card charge doesn't apply to Laser, if that is any help.

I got charged for both but dont have a ticket already

Alwayson

Just sent this message to Irish Rail after clicking a "cheap" car hire link on their site:

I'd like to know why you are associating with the company Economy Car Hire. It's not an Irish company and I got a quote for 309 STERLING for 5-day hire of a 2-door Opel Corsa picking up in Dublin! There are far cheaper prices available from Irish hire companies such as Argus who quote me 155 EURO for the same type of car, same period of hire. The company you are partnering with is by far the most expensive online - I have tried them all - and I don't think you're doing yourselves any favours by associating with them.

hots

Hi guys,
I know it's a bit off topic but does anyone know the number for Fairview maintenance depot? i was told this is the place to ask for cctv footage?

Any help would be much appreciated!!

91011

Alwayson wrote: »

Just sent this message to Irish Rail after clicking a "cheap" car hire link on their site:

I'd like to know why you are associating with the company Economy Car Hire. It's not an Irish company and I got a quote for 309 STERLING for 5-day hire of a 2-door Opel Corsa picking up in Dublin! There are far cheaper prices available from Irish hire companies such as Argus who quote me 155 EURO for the same type of car, same period of hire. The company you are partnering with is by far the most expensive online - I have tried them all - and I don't think you're doing yourselves any favours by associating with them.

Why did you e-mail Irish Rail? These are adverts placed by google. - The car hire company paid google to put the advert there via a word association link and google paid Irish Rail. - If you saw an advert for a product on the side of a bus and had a bad experience from the product, would you complain to Dublin Bus?

Yag reuoY

Apart from the way they spitefully announce Irish place names first, then after a long pause finally follow up with English(the first language of this country), I don't have too much of a problem with Irish Rail.

€10 Cork - Dublin is chuffing good value. :pac:

bigtuna

went to buy a single ticket dublin to galway yesterday and €48!!! I thought it was a mistake but nope. What a joke. Got the Citylink from outside station for €11. How can they justify these prices?? I mean one way ...

91011

bigtuna wrote: »

went to buy a single ticket dublin to galway yesterday and €48!!! I thought it was a mistake but nope. What a joke. Got the Citylink from outside station for €11. How can they justify these prices?? I mean one way ...

That's their standard single way price. If you booked online, it would probably have been €10.

Compare this to the single London to Birmingham walk up ticket - £68 and its a bargain.

Victor

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Hi guys,
I know it's a bit off topic but does anyone know the number for Fairview maintenance depot? i was told this is the place to ask for cctv footage?

Any help would be much appreciated!!

I would think you need to write to them formally.

To ensure it is kept. contact the main number and http://www.irishrail.ie/contact_us/ ask them for the Fairview number.

redarmyblues

E2.10 on Irish rail for hot water to heat a babies bottle, he gave it to me in a cup too small to fit the bottle in and then tried to deny that he had the plastic glasses (which I needed) that they give out with cans.

I have never seen one of those E10 fares when I tried to book one.

91011

redarmyblues wrote: »

E2.10 on Irish rail for hot water to heat a babies bottle, he gave it to me in a cup too small to fit the bottle in and then tried to deny that he had the plastic glasses (which I needed) that they give out with cans.

I have never seen one of those E10 fares when I tried to book one.

Irish rail don't offer a baby bottle warming service. What you paid for is a cup of hot water served on a train. What you used the water for is of no consequence. The way the servers stock is counted is by way of number of cups sold. - Should we all bring a tea bag with us and then get free cups of water???

If you had a cup or bowl and asked them to fill it with some hot water, then I'd guess there would have been no charge.

redarmyblues

I didn't ask for a cup of hot water, I asked for hot water, I could have used a container of my own and I have never being charged before.

91011

redarmyblues wrote: »

I didn't ask for a cup of hot water, I asked for hot water, I could have used a container of my own and I have never being charged before.

so Irish Rail didn't rip you off. Many times they have obliged you with a complimentary cup of hot water and then the one time the person who is just doing his job asks for money, you moan about it on public boards???

That is NOT a rip off. It may be an error or a mis judgement but NOT a rip off as it is NOT irish rail policy as per your statement that you have frequently received this service absolutely free.

btw - all catering on Irish Rail is provided by Rail Gourmet - an inetrnational operational that operates rail catering services throughout Europe.

redarmyblues

No matter how you try and wrangle out of this E2.10 for a cup of hot water is an absolute rip off, but then again so is the vile and stinking coffee, the overpriced drinks the stale sandwiches and the rock hard buns and everything else from the trolley. Furthermore I was ripped off by a most discorteous individual who took pleasure in doing so and made me a triumphant look on every subsequent pass at his great victory over a babies hunger. Gourmet on Irish rail what a freakish contradiction in terms.

In fact Irish rail staff would be far better employed ensuring that passengers do not block the space reserved for wheelchairs with luggage than on coming on here in pursuit of the indefensible.

91011

redarmyblues wrote: »

In fact Irish rail staff would be far better employed ensuring that passengers do not block the space reserved for wheelchairs with luggage than on coming on here in pursuit of the indefensible.

So someone has a different view than you, so they MUST work with the company:D:rolleyes:. Laughable comment and utterly stupid.

You erroneously made a complaint about Irish Rail. I corrected you.

If you have a problem in Mc Donalds in Liffey Valley do you complain about Liffey Valley itself?

And I can absolutely assure you that not only do I ahve no connection with irish rail, I don't even remember the last time I was on a train in Ireland. (20+ years ago!) - I have been on Uk trains and the service and price is appalling over there.

number10a

Yag reuoY wrote: »

€10 Cork - Dublin is chuffing good value. :pac:

€12 Cork to Dublin with Ryanair is much better value.

From my front door in Cork to Dublin city centre it takes two to two and a half hours. Much less stress, the cheap fares are available most of the time (not 1% of the time) and it's still quicker!

I will never again sit into a train from Cork to Dublin. Absolute torture-wagons.

redarmyblues

91011 wrote: »

So someone has a different view than you, so they MUST work with the company:D:rolleyes:. Laughable comment and utterly stupid.

You erroneously made a complaint about Irish Rail. I corrected you.

If you have a problem in Mc Donalds in Liffey Valley do you complain about Liffey Valley itself?

And I can absolutely assure you that not only do I ahve no connection with irish rail, I don't even remember the last time I was on a train in Ireland. (20+ years ago!) - I have been on Uk trains and the service and price is appalling over there.

I think there is a laughable and stupid person on this thread and that is the person thinks that E2.10 is good value for for 250ml of hot water.

91011

redarmyblues wrote: »

I think there is a laughable and stupid person on this thread and that is the person thinks that E2.10 is good value for for 250ml of hot water.

reduced to personal attacks?

Attack the post - not the poster. #1 rule of boards please.

keithclancy

redarmyblues wrote: »

I think there is a laughable and stupid person on this thread and that is the person thinks that E2.10 is good value for for 250ml of hot water.

Bring a flask next time.

redarmyblues

91011 wrote: »

reduced to personal attacks?

Attack the post - not the poster. #1 rule of boards please.

I didn't attack you personally, I merely suspected you of stupidity and I still do so will you confirm or refute my suspicion by telling this board whether or not you believe E2.10 is good value for 250ml of hot water.

paulgalway

Travelled to Dublin many times, never seen a €10 fare on peak time trains, it would appear you have to book a week in advance to avail of the €10 fare.

Also, when booking a ticket online, be aware of the following from the Terms and Conditions


Changes and cancellations
Passengers wishing to travel on the same day but on an alternative train other than the time shown on their ticket can provided seats are available, by paying a surcharge. The surcharge of up to €40 should be paid at the booking office before boarding the train. If a booking office is not open the surcharge must be paid on board the train. All tickets are only valid for travel on the dates printed on the ticket. Travelling on an invalid ticket will result in a fine of €100 in addition to the appropriate surcharge.


So if I finish my business in Dublin early and get an earlier train than planned; I should pay a surcharge of €40. If I don't and inspector looks at my ticket, I could be fined €100.

This does not apply to those who buy a ticket on the day as there no train times stamped on the ticket.

keithclancy

redarmyblues wrote: »

I didn't attack you personally, I merely suspected you of stupidity and I still do so will you confirm or refute my suspicion by telling this board whether or not you believe E2.10 is good value for 250ml of hot water.

Compared to what ... ???

Its anything up to 2.50 for a bottle of cold water in a Petrol station.

keithclancy

Meh ..

By International Standards Iarnroid Eireann is around the same price.

Not really a ripoff imo.

redarmyblues

keithclancy wrote: »

Compared to what ... ???

Its anything up to 2.50 for a bottle of cold water in a Petrol station.

Compared to free every other place I have brought a baby, I mean you turn on a tap and out it comes

91011

redarmyblues wrote: »

I didn't attack you personally, I merely suspected you of stupidity and I still do so will you confirm or refute my suspicion by telling this board whether or not you believe E2.10 is good value for 250ml of hot water.

yes you did, but back to your topic.

You said "and I have never being charged before". But still you claim "rip off irish rail"?

Basically you got a narky bollox who couldn't give a sh1te about his job or customer service and decided himself to charge you 2.10. I suspect it is not on any price list and as you said you were never charge it before.

Your issue is with the narky person serving the hot water, make a complaint about him, not Irish rail rail gourmet who as you said do not have a policy of charging for hot water to heat a baby's bottle.

That's what I'm trying to get across.

If the published price was €2.10, then yes it would be ridiculous, but is not a normal price charged and your issue is down to one individual on a bad day. - My suggestion is to send an e-mail to rail gourmet who can then issue a memo to servers that hot water for warming a bottle is to be provided at no charge.

keithclancy

redarmyblues wrote: »

Compared to free every other place I have brought a baby, I mean you turn on a tap and out it comes

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=64289090&postcount=1
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=66859593&postcount=1

Yes, hot water costs money.
Its there, you want it, you pay for it.

Next time bring a flask, then you can have it for 'free' out of your own kettle at home.

Try this at home, turn everything off at home then go out and boil the kettle, you'll see the meter ticking over, also you had to buy that kettle and unless you stood outside and caught the rain then you also paid for the plumbing coming into your house.

Or perhaps even call around to your neighbour and ask for some free hot water.

redarmyblues

91011 wrote: »

yes you did, but back to your topic.

You said "and I have never being charged before". But still you claim "rip off irish rail"?

Basically you got a narky bollox who couldn't give a sh1te about his job or customer service and decided himself to charge you 2.10. I suspect it is not on any price list and as you said you were never charge it before.

Your issue is with the narky person serving the hot water, make a complaint about him, not Irish rail rail gourmet who as you said do not have a policy of charging for hot water to heat a baby's bottle.

That's what I'm trying to get across.

If the published price was €2.10, then yes it would be ridiculous, but is not a normal price charged and your issue is down to one individual on a bad day. - My suggestion is to send an e-mail to rail gourmet who can then issue a memo to servers that hot water for warming a bottle is to be provided at no charge.

The server said that it was company policy to charge for hot water if I had an issue take it up with the company which I won;t I will instead never buy from them again. Just to clarify, when I said I have never been charged before I meant, never anywhere, my charge rate on Irish rail is 50% free on the way up dear on the way down.

@KeithClancy I mentioned earlier that there was an award for stupidity for anyone who believed that 2.10 represented good value for 250ml of hot water, CONGRATULATIONS you have won that prize and the prize is a lifetime supply of hot water at a super cheap price of 1.80 per 250ml from my company. You are an unlikely candidate for reproduction given your contributions on here but if you do beat the odds I will supply it for free.

Good luck and good night.

keithclancy

Have reported your offensive comment,

I never said it was good value, I simply accept that items that are not readily available normally cost money.

i.e.
Music festival, shower could cost 3 euros, so I bring a solar shower and shower tent.
Commuting to work, sure coffee is just a bit of powder and some hot water, I bring my own saves me 1.80.
Compressed air, yes the stuff you breath into your lungs costs money in Petrol stations.

So keep your offensive comments to yourself please, bring a flask of hot water next time.

dave45dave

Keithclancy cop yourself on

LFCFan

Thread closed because it's just a series of insults at this stage!!