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Irish Rail Web Sale

  • 23-04-2012 10:28AM
    #1
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,411 ✭✭✭✭


    Given all of the recent discussion on this topic, the notice below that I spotted this morning may well appeal to people:

    http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4577&p=118&n=144&ci=4

    From Monday 23rd April 2012, for 6 weeks Iarnród Éireann is offering single/ one-way fares only online from €9.99-19.99* all seats all trains available on irishrail.ie once purchased 3 or more days in advance. Terms and Conditions apply.
    The following table illustrates the fares available only online during the sale;
    *One-Way Seat Sale to/ from Dublin

    Belfast, Nenagh, Rosslare or Waterford
    Book 3+ Days in Advance €9.99
    Book 1 or 2 Days in Advance €14.99
    Book on Day of Travel €19.99

    Ennis, Galway, Limerick, Mayo or Sligo
    Book 3+ Days in Advance €14.99
    Book 1 or 2 Days in Advance €19.99
    Book on Day of Travel €29.99

    Cork or Tralee
    Book 3+ Days in Advance €19.99
    Book 1 or 2 Days in Advance €29.99
    Book on Day of Travel €39.99

    **Children under 16 years - half the appropriate adult fare
    Return fares will either be the sum of the two single/ one-way fares or the InterCity regular fare, whichever is cheaper.

    Terms and Conditions
    • Promotion will be available until 3rd June 2012
    • All promotional fares exclude transaction and credit card fees
    • Bookings only availble up to 28 days in advance
    • Any extension of the promotion will be communicated
    • Promotional fares are standard class only
    • Promotional fares do not apply to First Class
    • Only available on www.irishrail.ie or Lo Call 1850 366 222
    • Promotion not available from the booking office
    • Available both directions to/from Dublin (terminus of train)
    • Luas Add (€1.60 each way) is only available by selecting “Dublin City Centre” as an origin/ destination when travelling to/ from Cork/ Ennis/ Galway/ Limerick/ Mayo/ Nenagh/ Tralee/ Waterford
    • No service time restrictions apply
    • No exclusion dates apply
    • No quota limit per service
    • Subject to availability online
    • €10 Surcharge applies to customers travelling on services other than the times printed on the ticket except where; a customer has paid the InterCity regular fare or the maximum web single fare (listed above) has been paid for the journey
    • Bookings close out 90 minutes before departure (subject to change without notice)
    • All other normal online Terms & Conditions apply
    • Where the regular single fare from intermediate stations on these routes to/ from Dublin is normally greater than the online promotional fares listed, the promotional fare will be applied.
    • Where the regular single fare from intermediate stations on these routes to/ from Dublin is normally less than the online promotional fares listed, the lower regular fare will be applied.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    LeftBlank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 504 ✭✭✭LeftBlank


    On the Cork route, the booking office single would be cheaper on the day of travel?

    Seems like they might be experimenting with simplifying their online fares to bring it away from the yield based model slightly.


  • #3
    Lunaarli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 450 ✭✭Lunaarli


    I was going to book a rail fare Wed from Dublin to Athlone, it was €10 each way.. Just checked now it's fecking €15 each way!!!!

    How can they do that! I checked and even booking very far in advance it's the same..

    Bus Eireann and an extra four hour journey it is so..


  • #4
    highlydebased
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,486 ✭✭✭highlydebased


    suntottie wrote: »
    I was going to book a rail fare Wed from Dublin to Athlone, it was €10 each way.. Just checked now it's fecking €15 each way!!!!

    How can they do that! I checked and even booking very far in advance it's the same..

    Bus Eireann and an extra four hour journey it is so..

    There are only a certain amount of seats at 10 euro. Why didn't you book it while those seats were there?


  • #5
    cson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,614 ✭✭✭✭cson


    Are you going via Limerick or what? I mean you must not be going direct if its going to take 4hrs to get to Athlone from Dublin on the bus.


  • #6
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    suntottie wrote: »
    I was going to book a rail fare Wed from Dublin to Athlone, it was €10 each way.. Just checked now it's fecking €15 each way!!!!

    How can they do that! I checked and even booking very far in advance it's the same..

    Bus Eireann and an extra four hour journey it is so..
    It is probably because of their WEB SEAT SALE Which is most likely twaking up the quota of cheaper seats so all other cheap seats are raised in price to fund cheap seats on failing routes! http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4577
    *One-Way Seat Sale to/ from Dublin
    Book 3+ Days in Advance Book 1 or 2 Days in Advance Book on Day of Travel
    Belfast, Nenagh, Rosslare or Waterford €9.99 €14.99 €19.99
    Ennis, Galway, Limerick, Mayo or Sligo €14.99 €19.99 €29.99
    Cork or Tralee €19.99 €29.99 €39.99

    It appears they have removed all other cheaper fares on these routes and replaced them with these often higher sale prices! all athlone fares are now €14.99 for all trains while this sham is going on and the return fares are also dearer as they default to the normal booking office fares of €24.50 day return or €30 for an open return for which you MUST specify the time and date of your return at time of booking or face a €10 surcharge.

    The bus is just as fast and still a lot cheaper!
    http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1314893562-20.pdf
    http://www.citylink.ie/index.php/routes-a-timetables/timetables/98

    The same applies on the Carlow route with tickets online today costing €16 one way plus Fees and Charges of a few Eoro and the exact same ticket bought in the ticket office is only €16.

    the online price also defaults to the normal return price for tickets bought in advance meaning no saving at all for passengers!


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  • #7
    BenShermin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 701 ✭✭✭BenShermin


    Have IÉ totally gotten rid of their "yield management" €10 single fares on the Dublin to Cork route as a result of this promotion? I've tried booking a few dates in mid-May and only the €19.99 fares are available.

    If so that's me finished as an IÉ customer on that route, hello Aircoach/Go Bus.


  • #8
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Already discussed here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2056615573

    Clearly they have removed all the cheaper web fares and replaced them with their sale prices which means in many cases where a return is required it is cheaper to buy your ticket in the booking office!


  • #9
    highlydebased
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,486 ✭✭✭highlydebased


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    It is probably because of their WEB SEAT SALE Which is most likely twaking up the quota of cheaper seats so all other cheap seats are raised in price to fund cheap seats on failing routes!

    Ah will you go away out of that. Nonsense!


  • #10
    BenShermin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 701 ✭✭✭BenShermin


    So before this "sale" I was able to get a Dublin to Cork return for €20, now the cheapest fare I can get is €39.98. Sale my arse!


  • #11
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,389 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    the online price also defaults to the normal return price for tickets bought in advance meaning no saving at all for passengers!
    To be fair, IE did say it was a ONE WAY sale, not a return sale.

    I'll get me coat... :D


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  • #12
    Lapin
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    suntottie wrote: »
    Bus Eireann and an extra four hour journey it is so..

    Hardly.

    Also, the train is cheaper than the bus now over most of the Dublin - Galway route during midweek.


  • #13
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Lapin wrote: »
    Hardly.

    Also, the train is cheaper than the bus now over most of the Dublin - Galway route during midweek.

    Dont you mean the Bus is cheaper still? open return on most of the Galway route is now €30 plus €10 if you need to change your return time or date while the real Open return on the bus is usually less than €20 and you can travel on any service up to one month from the date of the outward journey.


  • #14
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,307 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    BenShermin wrote: »
    So before this "sale" I was able to get a Dublin to Cork return for €20, now the cheapest fare I can get is €39.98. Sale my arse!

    Fair point though all fares on all services are now cheaper than their listed price rather than on the first come first served basis that would sell out fairly quickly. Overall, this is a good deal for the majority of passengers.


  • #15
    Hilly Bill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,053 ✭✭✭Hilly Bill


    Are you on commission Foggy? :)


  • #16
    Sea Filly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭Sea Filly


    BenShermin wrote: »
    Have IÉ totally gotten rid of their "yield management" €10 single fares on the Dublin to Cork route as a result of this promotion? I've tried booking a few dates in mid-May and only the €19.99 fares are available.

    If so that's me finished as an IÉ customer on that route, hello Aircoach/Go Bus.

    Yup, me too, plus don't have to be booking a month in advance for the bus!


  • #17
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,002 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    Hilly Bill wrote: »
    Are you on commission Foggy? :)

    I doubt it Hilly Bill,but like poor oul Albert Einstein,he has a lot of time on his hands....:D


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #18
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Losty Dublin wrote: »
    Fair point though all fares on all services are now cheaper than their listed price rather than on the first come first served basis that would sell out fairly quickly. Overall, this is a good deal for the majority of passengers.
    Fares to intermediate stations are also set at the maximum even though before they were a lot cheaper so this is actually making it more expensive for most passengers rather than less!

    Sale me arse! At least there are enough bus alternatives to put this sham of a company out of business!


  • #19
    xtradel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 545 ✭✭✭xtradel


    Would be nice to be able to check prices and book a seat.....looked up Galway-Limerick return for the 1st May and no prices available.


  • #20
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    xtradel wrote: »
    Would be nice to be able to check prices and book a seat.....looked up Galway-Limerick return for the 1st May and no prices available.
    It is not a proper intercity service so you can't buy online or book seats on the railcars.


  • #21
    xtradel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 545 ✭✭✭xtradel


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    It is not a proper intercity service so you can't buy online or book seats on the railcars.

    I know this is probably a really thick question....but why??? I know you cant reserve a seat on the commuters but why cant i buy a ticket online? All i want to do is take a spin down to limerick on the cheap but there's no way i'd risk going in to ceannt to get stung by some crazy fare!

    Maybe its because of the roaring success of the wrc they dont need normal folk going on daytrips :rolleyes:


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  • #22
    Cokeistan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 361 ✭✭Cokeistan


    The Aircoach for Cork - Dublin is about to get a hell of a lot more business me thinks


  • #23
    schemingbohemia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    Fares to intermediate stations are also set at the maximum even though before they were a lot cheaper so this is actually making it more expensive for most passengers rather than less!

    Sale me arse! At least there are enough bus alternatives to put this sham of a company out of business!

    Sure why bother reading the T&C in the OP foggylad?

    Where the regular single fare from intermediate stations on these routes to/ from Dublin is normally greater than the online promotional fares listed, the promotional fare will be applied.
    Where the regular single fare from intermediate stations on these routes to/ from Dublin is normally less than the online promotional fares listed, the lower regular fare will be applied.


  • #24
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    xtradel wrote: »
    I know this is probably a really thick question....but why??? I know you cant reserve a seat on the commuters but why cant i buy a ticket online? All i want to do is take a spin down to limerick on the cheap but there's no way i'd risk going in to ceannt to get stung by some crazy fare!

    Maybe its because of the roaring success of the wrc they dont need normal folk going on daytrips :rolleyes:
    Booking office fares are very often cheaper than online fares even when there is a web fare sale on! There are no credit card charges using the booking office. As for why, you should ask Barry kenny. Only intercity journeys can be booked or bought online, it may be a fraud prevention measure?


  • #25
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    schemingbohemia wrote: »
    Sure why bother reading the T&C in the OP foggylad?

    Where the regular single fare from intermediate stations on these routes to/ from Dublin is normally greater than the online promotional fares listed, the promotional fare will be applied.
    Where the regular single fare from intermediate stations on these routes to/ from Dublin is normally less than the online promotional fares listed, the lower regular fare will be applied.
    Carlow to Dublin booked in advance open online return costs €20 PLUS €3 fees and charges

    Carlow to Dublin booking office walk up fare costs €20.50

    These are repeated across the network

    It's not rocket science


  • #26
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    http://irnirishrailwaynews.yuku.com/topic/2550/Irish-Rail-defends-unannounced-new-fares-structure#.T5lGt9nHm2Y

    http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/irish-rail-defends-unannounced-new-fares-structure-191659.html#ixzz1t3E7hAri
    Irish Rail defends unannounced new fares structure

    By Dan Buckley

    Wednesday, April 25, 2012

    The days of €20 return train fares between Cork and Dublin are gone.

    Irish Rail has almost doubled its cheapest inter-city online fares and has also increased its standard charges, bringing the return fare from Dublin to Cork or Tralee to just two cent shy of €86, if transaction and credit card fees of up to €6 are included.

    However, a greater number of fares for less than half that price will be available to book within three days of travel. Until now, passengers hoping to avail of €20 return fares had to book three weeks in advance and the number of cheap fares available was extremely limited.

    The unannounced changes — which came into effect this week — will see a far greater number of cut-price fares available to book online. Online fares from Cork and Tralee will be €19.99 each way regardless of travel time, if booked online up to three days in advance of travelling.

    A spokesman for Irish Rail yesterday defended the new fares structure, saying it would benefit more train travellers and offer better value overall.

    "This will give far more people the chance of making use of cheaper fares," said Andrew Roche, the company’s business development manager. "Up to now, there were only a few selected times that cheaper fares applied to and that did not suit everyone. From now on, discounted online fares will apply to all travel times once they are booked up to three days in advance. That means that far more people will benefit."

    One odd aspect of the new fare structure, however, is that some relatively short inter-city journeys will cost far more than others that take longer. Passengers on the Tralee-Cork-Dublin line will, for instance, pay relatively more than those on the Galway to Dublin or Waterford to Dublin lines.

    The online fare from Waterford to Dublin-Heuston is now €9.99 each way, a journey that can take up to three-and-a-half hours. At the same time, the fare from Charleville to Dublin, which takes as little as two hours and two minutes, now costs more than double that figure, at €19.99 each way.

    Similarly, fares from Limerick or Galway to Dublin, at €14.99, are far better value — mile for mile — than the fare from Thurles.

    While the Galway journey takes almost three hours and at least two hours 15 minutes, the journey from Thurles is one hour less than that at 74 minutes, yet the fare is the same.

    Passengers should also be aware they may be "fined" on board trains if they get on a train earlier than the one they have booked, even if the same fare applies.

    One angry passenger complained to the Irish Examiner that, having booked an online fare of €19.99 from Dublin to Cork for a 3pm train journey last week, she had to pay a surcharge after getting on the 2pm train instead. "I managed to get to the station early, so I got on the earlier train, which was not full.

    "The online fare for the 2pm train was exactly the same, yet I had to pay an extra €18 which I think is grossly unfair. In fact, it could have been worse as I was told by the inspector that I could have been ‘fined’ €100 for getting on the early train."

    Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/irish-rail-defends-unannounced-new-fares-structure-191659.html#ixzz1t9ROFmCb


  • #27
    mickydoomsux
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,287 ✭✭✭mickydoomsux


    Only our marketing department could manage to make the newspapers for running a "promo" that somehow makes ticket prices higher.

    Not a brain between them.

    I actually had to email them recently because they had printed some blurb about the recent student return promo on the last set of bank-holiday timetables. The original date for the end of the promo was the Friday before the bank holiday weekend so they had to change it.

    This is what we're up against.


  • #28
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    mickydoomsux wrote: »
    Only our marketing department could manage to make the newspapers for running a "promo" that somehow makes ticket prices higher.

    Not a brain between them.

    I actually had to email them recently because they had printed some blurb about the recent student return promo on the last set of bank-holiday timetables. The original date for the end of the promo was the Friday before the bank holiday weekend so they had to change it.

    This is what we're up against.
    I understand what they are doing or trying to do but they should really stop while at least some passengers remain loyal!!

    Nobody actually benefits from this as they have removed all the cheaper seats from all routes and set a pricing structure which people will just not pay when the bus is so much more frequent and far cheaper!

    They have greatly increased all their online prices yet call it a sale while to encourage online sales thay make the booking office fares several euros cheaper!

    The Railway Children could have done a better job with a jotter, pencil and abacus.


  • #29
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,762 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    It is interesting that the price of intermediary like Charleville now cost more then longer distance intercity routes.

    It seems that IR are trying to reduce the price of routes where they face competition from the new direct bus services, while pumping up the prices where they face no competition. Lovely!

    Having said that it isn't a bad idea, if they can bring the normal price down to €43 and the speed down to at least 2 hours 30 minutes and even better 2 hours, then that would be reasonable and they might actually be able to compete with the new direct bus services.

    BTW this pricing system was recommended by the consultants in the recent report into intercity travel. So it seems they are trialing it now. I assume in response to the extra competition.

    However I think they need to be far more flexible on people changing their booking or taking earlier or later trains, only charging the price difference.

    The bus companies are much more flexible about this IME, they seem to have no problem changing a booking to another day or time, and if you turn up early or late the drivers don't mind as long as there is space.

    Also IR really need to drop the stupid booking fees. The bus companies don't require any booking fees for online booking.

    Also IR need to drop the fee for carrying a bike, that is really a very nice advantage of the bus companies.

    Isn't competition great :)


  • #30
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,411 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    It probably has far more to do with the recent appointment of a new Commercial Manager, who is from outside the company.


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  • #31
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,389 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    bk wrote: »
    It seems that IR are trying to reduce the price of routes where they face competition from the new direct bus services, while pumping up the prices where they face no competition.
    Welcome to capitalism and PD mandated competition.

    This is interesting:
    http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR330495


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