Irish Rail experiences

[goosebump]

An interesting anecdote for champions of public, union-run, monopolies like Irish Rail.

Having become fed up with the hidden and ancillary costs of 'budget' air travel, I've decided to make my next trip to London by rail. It will take a bit longer, but it will cost less and reduce the emissions associated with the trip.

So, I looked up Irish Rail's website to find out how I book a ticket.

There a snippet of information, and the user is told to call a Dublin number (not a Lo-call number) to book their ticket.

So I call this number and what do I get?

An answering service with a message saying they are too busy to take my call and goodbye.

Perhaps SIPTU/ITGWU could publish a timetable of Irish Rail teabreaks so that my call might be answered next time?

[seabhcan]

Check out the site seat61.com

You can buy a ticket to any UK station, including the ferry, from any Irish Rail ticket office.

I wouldn't advise it though. If you travel mid week you'll be ok. But travel on the weekend and you'll find that large sections of the UK network will be closed for repairs - "busses replace trains" as they call it.

Despite all the extra charges - you are still better off flying, and rail travel is unlikely to cost less.

Also, despite all the eco-babble, the diesel trains used on the route to London are actually more polluting than air travel.

[goosebump]

Check out the site seat61.com

You can buy a ticket to any UK station, including the ferry, from any Irish Rail ticket office.

I wouldn't advise it though. If you travel mid week you'll be ok. But travel on the weekend and you'll find that large sections of the UK network will be closed for repairs - "busses replace trains" as they call it.

Despite all the extra charges - you are still better off flying, and its unlikely to cost less.

Also, despite all the eco-babble, the diesel trains used on the route to London are actually more polluting than air travel.

I've called 5 times now. The call goes straight to the voicemail message every time.

Flying involves a 3 hour car journey each way for me as well as the plane trip and the transfer to central London, so the emissions are significant.

I figure the cost of flying, when I factor in parking, tolls, petrol, airport transfer at other end will be in the region of €200, comparred to about €130 for the train trip.

What I am not sure about is the amount of time it will take, although flying will take about 10 hours door to door.

[DaveM]

Dunno about the UK but I used Iarnrod Eireann for an intercity journey for the first time in a few years recently. Did Killarney - Dublin return in a single day. Reserved a specific seat online for both legs - website was really easy to use and I say that as someone who is not good with computers. Train was on time to the minute on both journeys. Have to say I thought the service was good value for money.

I know there are problems that need to be sorted in Iarnrod Eireann and there are downsides to monopolies, e.g. the constant wildcat strikes by workers at Cork station come to mind. The thing is we don't have a rail network big enough to sustain competition. By and large Iarnrod Eireann has been steadily improving in recent years and I say we simply need to support them in the way they are going.

[seabhcan]

The ferry takes about 1h30 to 3h30, plus time on each end to get on and off. The train from Holyhead takes from 4h30 to 8h depending on connections.

Train, plus luas, plus bus/taxi to dublin port takes another couple of hours at least.

look at thetrainline for the english trains and tickets.

[seabhcan]

Because of all the connections and the high chance that parts of the UK network will be closed on any given day, going by bus is actually more reliable and can be quicker.

Its also a lot cheaper. Around €40 return to London...

[Kevin Doyle]

Dunno about the UK but I used Iarnrod Eireann for an intercity journey for the first time in a few years recently. Did Killarney - Dublin return in a single day. Reserved a specific seat online for both legs - website was really easy to use and I say that as someone who is not good with computers. Train was on time to the minute on both journeys. Have to say I thought the service was good value for money.

I know there are problems that need to be sorted in Iarnrod Eireann and there are downsides to monopolies, e.g. the constant wildcat strikes by workers at Cork station come to mind. The thing is we don't have a rail network big enough to sustain competition. By and large Iarnrod Eireann has been steadily improving in recent years and I say we simply need to support them in the way they are going.

I would agree with this. Look at the mess in England.

I am no fan of wildcat strikes though and believe they serve no purpose to the wider workforce and are more the tool of niche groups. Wildcat strikes should be banned as they actually undermine the hard fought IR mechanisms already in place to deal with arbitration on any issue.

[grainne whale]

Dunno about the UK but I used Iarnrod Eireann for an intercity journey for the first time in a few years recently. Did Killarney - Dublin return in a single day. Reserved a specific seat online for both legs - website was really easy to use and I say that as someone who is not good with computers. Train was on time to the minute on both journeys. Have to say I thought the service was good value for money.

I know there are problems that need to be sorted in Iarnrod Eireann and there are downsides to monopolies, e.g. the constant wildcat strikes by workers at Cork station come to mind. The thing is we don't have a rail network big enough to sustain competition. By and large Iarnrod Eireann has been steadily improving in recent years and I say we simply need to support them in the way they are going.

If you were a regular user of the commuter lines, you may think otherwise.

[goosebump]

The ferry takes about 1h30 to 3h30, plus time on each end to get on and off. The train from Holyhead takes from 4h30 to 8h depending on connections.

Train, plus luas, plus bus/taxi to dublin port takes another couple of hours at least.

look at thetrainline for the english trains and tickets.

If you take a direct train from Holyhead to Euston its about 4 hours.

You definitely need to be flexible, which I am.

At the moment, I've worked out the cost of the trip by train to be €140. That's my home town direct to Euston Station in London. It would take about 13 hours, which I don't mind, cos I like trains and don't like aeroplanes.

If I fly, costs will be:

Petrol €20
Tolls: €11
Parking: €30
Transfer to central London (2 ways): €20
Checked in bag:€16
Flight ticket: €70

Total €167

And it will take me about 10 hours.

[DaveM]

If you were a regular user of the commuter lines, you may think otherwise.

I commuted by DART for years and always found it to be a very good service. I know there are still serious capacity problems on the likes of the Maynooth and Kildare lines but this merely underlines how badly the DART interconnector project is needed.

The train isn't an option for my commute these days.