TheCity

Tag: Iarnrod Eireann

  • Heuston Station holding firm on bicycle policy

    Heuston Station holding firm on bicycle policy

    Heuston Station have warned customers that a peak-time bicycle policy, restricting access to trains for bikes, is going to be fully enforced.

    Iarnród Éireann have implemented a programme “to ensure strict application of existing bicycle policies at peak times, in order to ensure safety and following customer feedback”.

    Iarnród Éireann have since advised that bicycles will not be permitted on services arriving into Heuston station from 7 to 9am or services departing from Heuston station from 4 to 7pm from Monday to Friday “unless the bicycle is booked on intercity services in advance online”.

    Conal Mahon is a student living in Portarlington who commutes to Heuston in order to get to college in Dublin. He uses his bike to cycle from the station to Trinity.

    He said: “They’ve always said not to do it really, but now it’s going to be enforced. I’ve never really felt comfortable bringing it [the bike] on anyway because people would look at you, realising you’re taking away any space they have. It’ll be tougher getting into college anyway, I’ll just have to get up earlier I suppose.”

    However, coinciding with this, reservations for bicycle spaces on intercity services will now be free with tickets or reservations that are booked online. Previously, this set people back €6 every time they wanted to bring a bike on board.

    A spokesman for Iarnród Éireann said: “We have done this in response to consistent feedback from customers. We are providing greater clarity on the carriage of bicycles for the benefit of cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

    “Our customers had complained that cyclists who had not been observing our peak restrictions were reducing capacity on peak services in and out, as well as blocking the safe entrance and exit of trains, and stopping movement within carriages. This policy will be strictly enforced from Monday, and this will be extended to all routes in due course.”

    Photo: William Murphy/ Flickr

  • City commuters reach deep into pockets to pay increased transport fares

    City commuters reach deep into pockets to pay increased transport fares

    By: Aidan Knowles

    Photo courtesy: Flickr/Steve A

    AFTER SATURDAY, 1st December 2012 – cash and leap card fares for Dublin Bus, Luas, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann services will increase.

    Prepaid tickets prices will also increase, but this change will not come into affect until early 2013.

    The move, approved by the National Transport Authority, was made due to Ireland’s “difficult economic circumstances” and increasing fuel costs – despite cost cutting measures in the industry.

    For Dublin Bus, the last fare increases were introduced in January 2012.

    What does this mean for the city’s commuters?

    Cash paying commuters are the worst affected by the increase. While those using Leap Card and prepaid tickets will still suffer price increases, these options still offer better value over cash fares.

    On Dublin bus – the new price adjustment will see cash fares increase by an average of 11%. Meanwhile, leap card fares will be increased by an average of 7%.

    For example, a cash paying adult travelling 8 to 13 stages on Dublin Bus previously had to pay €2.15. After December 1st 2012, this same journey will now cost €2.40.

    Dubliners availing of the Dublin Bus’  ‘City Fare’ to get around the capital are also affected – with their cash paying fare increasing from €0.60 to €0.65 cent.

    How do these new fares compare with nearby European capitals?

    Across the pond – London’s bus service charges passengers a flat cash fee of £2.30, or at a discounted fare of £1.35 if using the Oyster Card (similar to Dublin’s Leap Card).

    Meanwhile in Paris, the French pay a flat fee of €1.70 per bus journey.

    Further South, commuters in Madrid pay a flat cash fare of €1.50 per bus journey.

    What adult passengers paid Dublin Bus before the fare increase
    What adult passengers are paying Dublin Bus after the fare increase