Irish Rail Changes Bicycle Policy

Manchegan

Booking a Westport-Heuston ticket online today and I see an option

"Bicycle Spaces Required? (Available from 1st Jan 2011)"

Selecting the checkbox brings a popup:

You have selected that you wish to reserve bicycle spaces. There is an additional € 12 charge per bicycle space.

On the next screen you must choose bicycle spaces for all passengers in order to continue.

If only some passengers require bicycle spaces, please book those not requiring bicycle spaces separately.

Is this a change of heart from the ad hoc attitude heretofore?

The cynic in me wants to see it before I believe it. Would love it to be true though.

Karma

wonder what happens when your turn up with your ticket...
I checked the site,and found the student tickets cost more than the adult prices. classic Fcukknucklery

penexpers

It's true - you can now reserve bike spaces online.

Cookie_Monster

bear in mind space will be very limited. All IC apart from Cork and Belfast have those awful 22k class rail cars which have only 3 bike space per 3 car set iirc.

Cork has DVTs which should be able to take more, but the days of gen vans with luggage space for lots of stuff is long gone.

penexpers

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

bear in mind space will be very limited. All IC apart from Cork and Belfast have those awful 22k class rail cars which have only 3 bike space per 3 car set iirc.

Cork has DVTs which should be able to take more, but the days of gen vans with luggage space for lots of stuff is long gone.

Only 2 spaces per 22k set are reservable.

mgmt

Cant you just dismantle your bike into a bike bag and put it on for free as general luggage.

Run_to_da_hills

mgmt wrote: »

Cant you just dismantle your bike into a bike bag and put it on for free as general luggage.

That would be my choice, I wouldn't leave an expensive bike in any bike rack.

Cabaal

mgmt wrote: »

Cant you just dismantle your bike into a bike bag and put it on for free as general luggage.

pfft, or just leave it in one piece and wrap it with wrapping paper/brown paper...its a present don't you know :pac:

morana

Dónal wrote: »

The cynic in me wants to see it before I believe it. Would love it to be true though.

I am doing the Photo shoot with Cuffee this am. You can bring them on the Dart as well!!!

penexpers

This is interesting

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=987

For the first time cyclists are now able to take bikes onboard DARTs and Commuter trains at off-peak periods. Bikes will be carried free of charge on DART and Commuter services (including Dublin commuter and Cork commuter services) between 10.00hrs and 15.30hrs, and after 19.00hrs, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday (excluding times of major fixtures / concerts and similar events at Aviva / Croke Park).

jeffwode

Finally! It's about time. €8 for a bike was ridiculous.

Run_to_da_hills

About time.

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=987

CramCycle

Brilliant, I can take my bike back home for a spin now FOC, I presume when it says Dublin commuter that includes the Mullingar/Longford commuter run.

FatSh!te

mentioned in independent today as well:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cyclists-get-to-take-bikes-on-trains-for-free-2482341.html

Seems it's free on off peak and weekend DART trains.

Chips Lovell

Threads merged

Haleakala

This is brilliant. I love it when a policy comes together. Must plan a route from Greystones or Maynooth!

Does this raise etiquette questions for sweaty cyclists on trains?

CramCycle wrote: »

Brilliant, I can take my bike back home for a spin now FOC, I presume when it says Dublin commuter that includes the Mullingar/Longford commuter run.

Presume it covers Mullingar and Longford, but only the commuter services that terminate there and not Sligo. Still, pretty nifty - will be excellent for weekends going home.

Victor

A big thanks to Michael Murphy, Westport (a cycle tourist) for being the inspiration for this.

No, its not everything that was wanted, but its better than the situation that evolved.

Karma wrote: »

wonder what happens when your turn up with your ticket...
I checked the site,and found the student tickets cost more than the adult prices. classic Fcukknucklery

Not quite. The terms and conditions on a student ticket are different to those on an webfare, which is tied toa specific train.

Haleakala wrote: »

Presume it covers Mullingar and Longford, but only the commuter services that terminate there and not Sligo. Still, pretty nifty - will be excellent for weekends going home.

Most Longford commuter services are at peak times. So of 22 services between Longford and Connolly today, one one can carry bikes for free - the 2105 from Longford. However, about half (accounting for intercity and higher frequency at peak times) Connolly-Maynooth services would be free.

Run_to_da_hills

Haleakala wrote: »

Does this raise etiquette questions for sweaty cyclists on trains?

They will be asked to stay in the pass through.

ClareVisitor

Pressure should be put on to make it free to carry bikes at all times. I take my bike on the train to work here in England every day and wehn I started cycling it never even dawned onme that there might be a charge!

Victor

ClareVisitor wrote: »

Pressure should be put on to make it free to carry bikes at all times.

In fairness, if a train can carry 1,600 people (8-car DART at crush loading) at peak times and there are 1,600 wanting to travel, are you going to let someone with a (free) bike displace 2-3 of those people?

CramCycle

At peak times, you should enjoy the pleasure of a cycle in the direction of home and if its to far to go all the way by bike, just go a few stops out until the crowding has died down a bit.

I'm sure thats what they are trying to promote

ClareVisitor

Victor wrote: »

In fairness, if a train can carry 1,600 people (8-car DART at crush loading) at peak times and there are 1,600 wanting to travel, are you going to let someone with a (free) bike displace 2-3 of those people?

I just thought it weird, here if someone is on the train with their bike then it's just tough if there's no more space.

And charging to take them is a complete liberty, shouldn't a state company be looking to cut carbon emissions whatever way they can, bringing bikes for free so people can power their own journey at either end of the train ride would be a start.

Undercover Elephant

ClareVisitor wrote: »

Pressure should be put on to make it free to carry bikes at all times. I take my bike on the train to work here in England every day and wehn I started cycling it never even dawned onme that there might be a charge!

The trams need a bit of a push, though.

penexpers

ClareVisitor wrote: »

I just thought it weird, here if someone is on the train with their bike then it's just tough if there's no more space.

And charging to take them is a complete liberty, shouldn't a state company be looking to cut carbon emissions whatever way they can, bringing bikes for free so people can power their own journey at either end of the train ride would be a start.

Bikes taking up space is costing them revenue.

Macha

What do they do with baby prams? Some of them can be folded but still take up a feck-load of space. They'd never consider not allowing them on.

superrdave

I just checked on the irish rail website trying to book a bike on the enterprise and they wanted to charge me 6 euro for it.... previously, this had been free (as it is on all other NIR services). Is this a change in policy or will it remain free to take bikes on the enterprise? It would seem a little odd if you could take it free from north to south but not from south to north. This isn't idle curiosity on my part as i tend to take my bike on the enterprise about 5-10 times a year.

_sparkie_

Victor wrote: »

In fairness, if a train can carry 1,600 people (8-car DART at crush loading) at peak times and there are 1,600 wanting to travel, are you going to let someone with a (free) bike displace 2-3 of those people?

depends if those 2-3 displaced people drove to the station.:p

Captain Havoc

Having it free off peak is a step in the right direction. I know I've blasted Iarnród Éireann for carp service to cyclists many times in the past and I still think having lived in Switzerland, France and England where trains are cheaper and bicycles are free that they should make it free but with the option to pay €6 to guarantee your bike and maybe insure it also.

ChipPanBuddha

Great news. It might also make sense to allow bikes on Suburban routes "counter rush hour" like they do on some train services into and out of central London and the suburbs. For example, morning trains travelling southbound are going to pretty much empty out once they get south of Grand Canal Dock or Lansdowne Rd and trains Northbound would empty out once they get north of Connolly. The opposite would be the case in the evenings. Or maybe I'm just being fussy! Welcome todays news though.

nomdeboardie

Glad to see some common sense on the off-peak Dart situation. Step in the right direction indeed

Run_to_da_hills

And I only meant it as a joke.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055871445&highlight=dart

Ant

el tonto wrote: »

Threads merged

As a rule, I always like to see similar / related threads being merged as it makes it a lot easier for forum users to stay up to date.

Having seen this article on the Dublin Cycling Campaign site, I was actually going to start a thread on the fact that cyclists are now able to take their bikes on the DART and other commuter trains at off-peak times. Before doing so, I thought I'd check pre-existing threads to see if the info had already been posted as it's pretty big news and I figured it's likely another boardsie would have already posted this before me.

I'd suggest that this thread be renamed to something like "Online booking for bicycles on Intercity trains / Free off-peak bike carriage on commuter trains" so that other forum users are aware of this very newsworthy change in policy.

Victor

superrdave wrote: »

I just checked on the irish rail website trying to book a bike on the enterprise and they wanted to charge me 6 euro for it.... previously, this had been free (as it is on all other NIR services). Is this a change in policy or will it remain free to take bikes on the enterprise? It would seem a little odd if you could take it free from north to south but not from south to north. This isn't idle curiosity on my part as i tend to take my bike on the enterprise about 5-10 times a year.

Irish Rail have always charged for bikes. NIR don't. So there doesn't seem to be any change.

When I tried last night, I found I couldn't book a bike space on an Entreprise though.

superrdave

Victor wrote: »

Irish Rail have always charged for bikes. NIR don't. So there doesn't seem to be any change.

When I tried last night, I found I couldn't book a bike space on an Entreprise though.

Well my point is no matter where I've travelled on the Enterprise, I've never been charged, even starting in Dublin. I don't think that has changed.

setanta159

superrdave wrote: »

I just checked on the irish rail website trying to book a bike on the enterprise and they wanted to charge me 6 euro for it.... previously, this had been free (as it is on all other NIR services). Is this a change in policy or will it remain free to take bikes on the enterprise? It would seem a little odd if you could take it free from north to south but not from south to north. This isn't idle curiosity on my part as i tend to take my bike on the enterprise about 5-10 times a year.

Just curious re Enterprise as myself and 2 friends are looking at cycling from Dublin to Warrenpoint next month or early March, stopping overnight and cycling through Mournes ending up in Newry with the intention of taking train back. If you can't reserve bike spaces what is the likelihood of them being available by the time the enterprise reaches Newry (on a Sunday afternoon). Apologies if this is a bit off topic.

tomasrojo

Ant wrote: »

I'd suggest that this thread be renamed to something like "Online booking for bicycles on Intercity trains / Free off-peak bike carriage on commuter trains" so that other forum users are aware of this very newsworthy change in policy.

Certainly, I would have assumed from the thread title that this thread would deal mostly with how deficient Irish Rail has been in providing for cyclists. Instead, it's two pieces of news, both good.

The news about online booking for bicycles is notable in and of itself, but the really big news is, as the DCC post puts it, Bikes to go free on off-peak trains. It's the bigger story, because it potentially affects thousands of people annually in a positive way.

superrdave

setanta159 wrote: »

Just curious re Enterprise as myself and 2 friends are looking at cycling from Dublin to Warrenpoint next month or early March, stopping overnight and cycling through Mournes ending up in Newry with the intention of taking train back. If you can't reserve bike spaces what is the likelihood of them being available by the time the enterprise reaches Newry (on a Sunday afternoon). Apologies if this is a bit off topic.

I generally show up on spec on a sunday afternoon at portadown and i'm usually the only one with a bike. The guards car is pretty spacious too so i can't see there being an issue. You don't even need to reserve. Btw, rather than paying cash fares book online through translink's website. The booking engine for cheap webfares is sometimes difficult to find so here is a link. As a word of warning, you must book at least 72 hours in advance as they post a voucher out to the address you supply (and even then the voucher may not reach you on time in which case you have some phonecalls to make). Also, I don't think it includes a seat reservation which can be a bit of a pain (while you will definitely get a seat, getting three together, especially if you are joining at newry, could be difficult... the alternative is to go up the canal towpath to portadown), although your bike will be pretty safe even in the guards car which is left open and everyone walks past when the train reaches connolly.

Sorry for going completely off topic, but this might be a decent route. There are other threads on here about cycling in the mournes, but any route worth its salt takes in the kilkeel - spelga dam road. That route (here on mapmyride, so you can see elevation) is a lot more undulating than it looks although the route from Scarva to Newry is really flat and quite fast. Unfortunately you can't use those mapping tools to show the canal towpath, but the UK national cycle network runs a route along a canal towpath from scarva to newry that is well surfaced and well used by cyclists and pedestrians and pretty traffic free. If you follow the route above as far as scarva then join the towpath, it should make for an easy wind-down to finish off your cycle.

p

Does anyone know if this is as a result of the Green Party's work?

Cookie_Monster

p wrote: »

Does anyone know if this is as a result of the Green Party's work?

I have no doubt that they will claim that it is.

Why is there no before rush hour in the morning option available?

ThisRegard

Cuffe was just on Newstalk talking about this. The various texts being read out subsequently from listeners is quite depressing. The massive consensus being that it's a load of rubbish, who cares, why waste time on this, give cyclists penalty points, the greens are a waste, all the usual venom use see over at Motors forum and the big Commuting and Transport thread aimed at cyclists.

Chips Lovell

Thread title changed.

Cookie_Monster

ThisRegard wrote: »

Cuffe was just on Newstalk talking about this. The various texts being read out subsequently from listeners is quite depressing. The massive consensus being that it's a load of rubbish, who cares, why waste time on this, give cyclists penalty points, the greens are a waste, all the usual venom use see over at Motors forum and the big Commuting and Transport thread aimed at cyclists.

*sigh*

the only thing people should be giving out in regards to this is that it was not done 20 years ago like the rest of Europe. There is no downside, its fantastic and about feckin time.

Who honestly cares if it was the greens, IE, the EU or Bertie who came up with it tbh, its positive and promotes cycling and fitness that little bit more.

Beasty

morana wrote: »

I am doing the Photo shoot with Cuffee this am. You can bring them on the Dart as well!!!

Nice to see a boardsie get his picture in all the papers today morana ...

lafors

ChipPanBuddha wrote: »

Great news. It might also make sense to allow bikes on Suburban routes "counter rush hour" like they do on some train services into and out of central London and the suburbs. For example, morning trains travelling southbound are going to pretty much empty out once they get south of Grand Canal Dock or Lansdowne Rd and trains Northbound would empty out once they get north of Connolly. The opposite would be the case in the evenings. Or maybe I'm just being fussy! Welcome todays news though.

When I saw the story title earlier I thought brilliant, about time.
But then read the details and realised it wasn't as good as it sounds.

Exactly as you say ChipPan they should have it free for counter rush hour trains.
Currently I have to drive from D9 to Leixlip for work, i leave at 6am and travel home at 7.30pm I'd love to take my bike to drumcondra and get the train rather than driving, I'd be travelling against regular commuters but alas no they're not clever enough to let this happen ....I'm just grumpy as I thought they'd do it properly

superrdave

lafors wrote: »

When I saw the story title earlier I thought brilliant, about time.
But then read the details and realised it wasn't as good as it sounds.

Exactly as you say ChipPan they should have it free for counter rush hour trains.
Currently I have to drive from D9 to Leixlip for work, i leave at 6am and travel home at 7.30pm I'd love to take my bike to drumcondra and get the train rather than driving, I'd be travelling against regular commuters but alas no they're not clever enough to let this happen ....I'm just grumpy as I thought they'd do it properly

email them and ask if it is okay cos the train will be empty. that spokesperson.... Barry Kenny, I think his name is. tell them you think the policy is fantastic and ask if you could do this.... i don't think they will have a problem. Oh, and if you get a response, print it out and keep it to stop officious station staff stopping you.

flickerx

Nice to be able to bring the bike on the train to Rosslare, then get the the ferry to France. I always thought it was ridiculous they never let bikes on that train. Massive missed business opportunity.

ChainWhip

Tried it on the Dart tonight from Blackrock into Connolly. Worked a treat.

Victor

p wrote: »

Does anyone know if this is as a result of the Green Party's work?

The reservations are down to Rail Users Ireland and pressure from various cyclists / organisations (cyclist.ie, GCC, DCC), Michael Murphy and me - I'm the overlap.

While we have been pressuring for bikes on commuter services, the actual result seems to have come from Cuffe, who ordered them to do it.

ChipPanBuddha wrote: »

Great news. It might also make sense to allow bikes on Suburban routes "counter rush hour" like they do on some train services into and out of central London and the suburbs. For example, morning trains travelling southbound are going to pretty much empty out once they get south of Grand Canal Dock or Lansdowne Rd and trains Northbound would empty out once they get north of Connolly.

Blackrock, certainly to Connolly can be quite busy going against the peak flow, while yes, south of Dalkey you could have the carriage to yourself.

I think we should see how things bed in for the moment and if some tweaking can be done, then so be it.

One thing I would ask is that people attend to their bikes and keep them out of the way. Leaving them free standing by the doors (like in the photo above) isn't great for people getting on and off.

Iwannahurl

Well done to all concerned.

Cranky Mc Funhouse

ChainWhip wrote: »

Tried it on the Dart tonight from Blackrock into Connolly. Worked a treat.

I'm guessing leaving your bike like this will make us the enemy real soon.

(sorry-was already mentioned!)