Staffing arrangements at lesser frequented train stations

ongarboy

I supposed this is just a curiousity question rather than a need to know but I use Hansfield station on the Dunboyne line daily and interested to know about something. The station while starting to get an increased patronage still probably only gets 150 max rail users each day. The ticket office is nearly always shut but is randomly open about one morning every fortnight or so and then not always on the same day. So even if you wanted to rely on a human, you'd never know what day they were available.

What is the logic of having taxpayer's money spent on a ticket office and staffing on such an ad hoc and infrequent basis and why are the opening hours so random? I'd even understand the logic of a sign saying "open on Monday mornings only from 7-10am only" to give regular commuters a heads up if they need or can plan for human assistance for weekly/monthly/non routine fares etc. I've never once seen a passenger conduct business at the counter (the rare time it's open) as most have multi pass/Leap tickets.

Losty Dublin

Hansfield was paid for by a property company so it's costing Irish Rail nothing bar staff costs and the utility bills. By the sounds of it, it's staffed if staff are spare which apparantly isn't that often.

ongarboy wrote: »

I supposed this is just a curiousity question rather than a need to know but I use Hansfield station on the Dunboyne line daily and interested to know about something. The station while starting to get an increased patronage still probably only gets 150 max rail users each day. The ticket office is nearly always shut but is randomly open about one morning every fortnight or so and then not always on the same day. So even if you wanted to rely on a human, you'd never know what day they were available.

What is the logic of having taxpayer's money spent on a ticket office and staffing on such an ad hoc and infrequent basis and why are the opening hours so random? I'd even understand the logic of a sign saying "open on Monday mornings only from 7-10am only" to give regular commuters a heads up if they need or can plan for human assistance for weekly/monthly/non routine fares etc. I've never once seen a passenger conduct business at the counter (the rare time it's open) as most have multi pass/Leap tickets.