Irish Rail Student Fares

cson

I notice that IR are promoting a €20 student fare to Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and €30 to Cork, Westport and Killarney. It's any train any time.

I'm interested to see if the students around here see that as good value? I travel Dub - Gal/Lim pretty frequently and tbh I don't think this will make me change. Dublin Coach and the X20/GoBus/Citylink are all broadly similar prices and personally I prefer travelling by coach when its not packed - i.e. I have 2 seats to myself. Don't find the train to be altogether more comfortable.

The student return on the X20 @ €15.20 is cracking value imo.

I imagine the €30 to Cork etc would tempt a good few though.

foggy_lad

Don't forget that these fares are not from Dublin City Centre but only from Heuston so add on the return fare on the 145 or Luas. As for Waterford and Limerick JJ Kavanaghs fare is now €15 (return within 45 days).

Bus fares are still going to be quite a lot cheaper for a City Centre to City Centre journey.

cson

Just to add to this I note the advertising blurb has the Student Travelcard or valid College ID as sufficient for travelling on this ticket. Thats a significant departure from the norm from IR.

blubloblu

cson wrote: »

Just to add to this I note the advertising blurb has the Student Travelcard or valid College ID as sufficient for travelling on this ticket. Thats a significant departure from the norm from IR.

So, they're accepting the fact that student ID proves you're a student now? Or will it only apply to this promotion for some inexplicable reason.

dowlingm

The Department of Education/HEA could help with this by creating a single third-level student identification card for the entire country. The registering student would get a temporary ID for freshers week, the registering official take a digital snap with a webcam and fill in the details on a webform hosted by HEA and a card would issue by post with uni logo, HEA logo, student name, picture, course, uni id number, DOB and academic year end. Is there really any need for universities to create/source their own?

highlydebased

foggy_lad wrote: »

Don't forget that these fares are not from Dublin City Centre but only from Heuston so add on the return fare on the 145 or Luas. As for Waterford and Limerick JJ Kavanaghs fare is now €15 (return within 45 days).

Bus fares are still going to be quite a lot cheaper for a City Centre to City Centre journey.

JJ Kavanagh takes well over 3 and a half hours from Limerick, no thanks.

I think what they are more worried about is the Dublin Coach service to Limerick which services UL...no need for people to haul their stuff onto the city bus and walk to the station. 20 return

foggy_lad

blubloblu wrote: »

So, they're accepting the fact that student ID proves you're a student now? Or will it only apply to this promotion for some inexplicable reason.

It is only for this promotion!

Victor

dowlingm wrote: »

The Department of Education/HEA could help with this by creating a single third-level student identification card for the entire country. The registering student would get a temporary ID for freshers week, the registering official take a digital snap with a webcam and fill in the details on a webform hosted by HEA and a card would issue by post with uni logo, HEA logo, student name, picture, course, uni id number, DOB and academic year end. Is there really any need for universities to create/source their own?

There seems to have been local resistance to this. "This is our card. None other shall pass"-type behaviour. Of course, with a smart card, you could have multiple 'cards' on the one card.

mk6705

dowlingm wrote: »

The Department of Education/HEA could help with this by creating a single third-level student identification card for the entire country. The registering student would get a temporary ID for freshers week, the registering official take a digital snap with a webcam and fill in the details on a webform hosted by HEA and a card would issue by post with uni logo, HEA logo, student name, picture, course, uni id number, DOB and academic year end. Is there really any need for universities to create/source their own?

Not hugely if it was negotiated but for example UCC use them for room access and WIT have some kind of WIT card thing or other for on-campus purchases.

mydiscworld

I was just on Irish Rail's website to see if the student fares deal will be extended further. It has been running since early 2012.

Unfortunately, it may be due to end.

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4479&p=118&n=144&ci=4

Any valid ticket purchased on or before 7th January 2013 is valid for travel. Any further updates will be promoted in advance

mydiscworld

Website now reads promotion is valid til Jan 20th