No staff in train station?

daylers

Hello, just wondering can anybody help me, I've to get the train next week to see family in Waterford and I'm from Galway, my local station ballinasloe often dosent have any body at the desk to buy tickets from at 6 when the train leaves,apart from buying online is there any other option?
I don't normally use the train but know people who are students who do

Geog1234

A suggestion is to pop into the station the day before and buy the ticket. It is possible to do this - I've done it myself elsewhere (but that doesn't matter as it's the same ticket machines at each ticket office around the country).

It is particularly good to already have the ticket for early-morning journeys as it saves time going to the ticket office/ collecting from the machine.

Hope your trip goes well.

Sean9015

daylers wrote: »

Hello, just wondering can anybody help me, I've to get the train next week to see family in Waterford and I'm from Galway, my local station ballinasloe often dosent have any body at the desk to buy tickets from at 6 when the train leaves,apart from buying online is there any other option?
I don't normally use the train but know people who are students who do

Info on station here. http://www.irishrail.ie/travel-information/ballinasloe

Should be staffed during opening times; if not, as there is no ticket machine you should be able to buy on board. Tip - don't arrive two minutes before your train is due as if it's like Portlaoise the station will be single person staffed, and the staff member may be out on the platform.

cgcsb

why not just book it on the website?

daylers

Geog1234 wrote: »

A suggestion is to pop into the station the day before and buy the ticket. It is possible to do this - I've done it myself elsewhere (but that doesn't matter as it's the same ticket machines at each ticket office around the country).

It is particularly good to already have the ticket for early-morning journeys as it saves time going to the ticket office/ collecting from the machine.

Hope your trip goes well.

Thanks or that, are return tickets valid for a day or do you have to specify if you want one valid for a week

LXFlyer

daylers wrote: »

Thanks or that, are return tickets valid for a day or do you have to specify if you want one valid for a week

First of all - it may be cheaper to buy tickets online - but you would probably have to buy Ballinasloe-Kildare return and Kildare-Waterford return tickets to get the cheapest fares.


You will need to first look at the overall journey train options, and then price the individual legs accordingly.


Booking office fares are either:
1) Day Return; or
2) Open Return


Open return tickets are valid for return within one month.


http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/tickets-explained

savagethegoat

note though that open rerturns must be used on the outward leg on day of purchase I believe.

Victor

savagethegoat wrote: »

note though that open rerturns must be used on the outward leg on day of purchase I believe.

Tickets can be bought in advance. The outward journey needs to be on the outward date of the ticket. The outward journey needs to be completed on the day of departure, unless it is impossible to do so, e.g. Mayo-Kerry, leaving on the evening train.

GM228

Victor wrote: »

Tickets can be bought in advance. The outward journey needs to be on the outward date of the ticket. The outward journey needs to be completed on the day of departure, unless it is impossible to do so, e.g. Mayo-Kerry, leaving on the evening train.

Just to add to that, advanced tickets purchased in a station can only be done in a booking office and not a TVM. Make sure you inform the clerk of the outward journey date (and double check it) as as Victor states the ticket date must be the outward journey date.