yourdeadwright wrote: » I got on to Irish rail this morning as I wanted to book tickets to go down to Kilkenny in a few weeks time with the family but I noticed on there web site the only tickets available are flexi Tickets, So you can't actually book a seat , They told me because of the current Covid times I can not book seat but also that booking the flexi tickets does not guarantee us a spot on the train as they also sell tickets at the station as well as online, So I just have to turn up early and hope for a spot, Surely a company of there standing could come up with a better way and surely because of Covid it would be better to only allow seats to be booked in advance ? Makes absolute no sense to me to just take booking and see how many turn up given the current climate, its a bit of a farce to be honest, Anyway that's my rant over , I'll be driving,
biko wrote: » What did they say when you approached them with your ideas Shirley?
Working class heroes wrote: » In the current climate I see nothing wrong with the response you got OP.
Dravokivich wrote: » It's a bit odd they they don't seem to allow you to book an individual train. But the standard ticket has been a "flexi ticket," for as long as I can remember. Even if you booked a ticket for a particular departure, it is loaded on a first come first served basis and there is no means to control when someone with a "Flexi Ticket," is going to appear. Are you suggesting they should stop selling their standard tickets?
yourdeadwright wrote: » Well normally you can also book a seat but at the moment you can't , Your only option is the flexi ticket, Surely it would have made more sense to get rid of the flexi ticket and keep the seat booking system given the current climate with Covid ?
yourdeadwright wrote: » Would you not think it would make more sense for them to just take bookings ? Surely that's safer than just having a large number turn up for each train and start long queues from early to make sure they get a spot , Then when people are refused a spot you have a number of people waiting around in the station for the next train, All that could be avoided by letting people book seats that are available online ?
Effects wrote: » What's wrong with first come first served in the current climate? Surely someone who wants to ensure they have left adequate time and books their ticket ahead of time should get preference ahead of someone who just shows up on the day?
Working class heroes wrote: » Nothing. In normal circumstances that happens, but I suppose they can’t change there systems for what should only be a temporary situation, hopefully....
Dravokivich wrote: » They'd have to overhaul their ticketing setup. The Flexi Ticket is the standard/default product they sell, it's also quite open ended for the return variants. They can't just nullify every ticket that is currently active.
satguy wrote: » The more people CIE can force off trains and into their cars, the less real work their union members will have to do. But we will still pay their wages through our taxes. It's a win win for CIE workers.
end of the road wrote: » you mean a win for the management, because it sure as hell won't be a win for the workers on the ground. management make decisions, workers work, unions make representations if there is an issue but cannot make decisions over the running of a company. and yes, we will pay the wages of staff running public services from our taxes, as that is generally how public services are funded.
goingnowhere wrote: » But this is CIE, where the unions act as if they run the place and progress is held up and used as a bargaining element to force matters. Remember cycling is easier...
yourdeadwright wrote: » I don't get this "Change of system " They HAVE changed the system they took away the ability to book a seat, when it would have made sense to take away the ability to buy a flexi ticket, They had the system in place of booking seats in advance , they just had to make that the only option ,
Del.Monte wrote: » Not to mention Complete Incompetence Expected followed closely by Cash In Everything.
Working class heroes wrote: » Not like you to be bad mouthing all things CIE, IR, BE, DB now, is it...:rolleyes:
end of the road wrote: » the unions don't think any such thing, they already have years of experience under their belt to show them they don't run anything. unions in any company may not agree to certain things if it negatively effects their members, or as part of negotiations in relation to other issues, collective bargaining 101. management and government are why irish rail are the way they are. government for not forcing them to improve and management for not being interested. as already mentioned dublin bus have managed to improve hugely over the years and are now actually a decent enough operator, not perfect and certainly there will be room for improvement i would imagine, but they have made a good effort, and that is dispite having CIE as it's parent. anyway, good to hear the op got his problem sorted in the end.
Working class heroes wrote: » None so blind as those who won’t see. This post is all twaddle. The transport unions are a bunch of chancers. Half of them can barely send an e-mail. They have no idea where the shift or CAPS button is on the keyboard.
end of the road wrote: » 100% incorrect on the first 2 counts and the third cannot be proven without surveying all union members and reps to show your claim to be the case.
yourdeadwright wrote: » I got on to Irish rail this morning as I wanted to book tickets to go down to Kilkenny in a few weeks time with the family but I noticed on there web site the only tickets available are flexi Tickets, So you can't actually book a seat , They told me because of the current Covid times I can not book seat but also that booking the flexi tickets does not guarantee us a spot on the train as they also sell tickets at the station as well as online, So I just have to turn up early and hope for a spot, Surely a company of there standing could come up with a better way and surely because of Covid it would be better to only allow seats to be booked in advance ? Makes absolute no sense to me to just take booking and see how many turn up given the current climate, its a bit of a farce to be honest, Anyway that's my rant over , I'll be driving, (TURNS OUT I WAS ADVISED INCORRECTLY, I can book seat I just can't chose them)
gmisk wrote: » It's same for the enterprise. Only way to book a seat is to go first class....
