Online account with Irish Rail

10000maniacs

I want to buy a rail ticket through the irishrail.ie website.
I don't have an account set up.
Any normal website would have a "Create Account" or "Sign In" option for people first visiting the website. But not Irish Rail.
There is only a "My Account" button. No "Create Account" button.
They should sack the simpleton who designed that website.
Anyway:

How do I
1: Create an account?
2: Buy a return ticket to Galway using my laser card.

KC61

10000maniacs wrote: »

I want to buy a rail ticket through the irishrail.ie website.
I don't have an account set up.
Any normal website would have a "Create Account" or "Sign In" option for people first visiting the website. But not Irish Rail.
There is only a "My Account" button. No "Create Account" button.
They should sack the simpleton who designed that website.
Anyway:

How do I
1: Create an account?
2: Buy a return ticket to Galway using my laser card.

You go through the entire process of selecting the trains you want, the fare, then the seat, and then it will prompt you either to enter your account details, or click on "new customers". At this point you can set up an account.

Biffo The Bare

KC61 wrote: »

You go through the entire process of selecting the trains you want, the fare, then the seat, and then it will prompt you either to enter your account details, or click on "new customers". At this point you can set up an account.

How retarded is that? Oh I forgot. We are talking about Irish Rail and the brain power contained within.:o
People using the website will be extremely confused at not being able to create an account.
They even screw up the easy things to get right.

10000maniacs

I am too flabergasted for words. :eek:

KC61

Biffo The Bare wrote: »

How retarded is that? Oh I forgot. We are talking about Irish Rail and the brain power contained within.:o
People using the website will be extremely confused at not being able to create an account.
They even screw up the easy things to get right.

In fairness it tends to be exactly the same with each UK Rail operator's website.

etchyed

10000maniacs wrote: »

I am too flabergasted for words. :eek:

Whilst I think that Irish Rail's website is generally crap, I can't see the problem with this. Why would you need to register before ever booking a train?

xper

Yep, this is fairly common practice across many retail websites. Let the customer select what they want, start the checkout process, then set up the customers account if they're a first timer. Hasn't stopped Amazon from doing quite well. Of course, also having an option of creating your account first would be good - that way you meet everyone's expectations.

bbsrs

I've just used the irishrail "website" and it is very poor , if Micheal o Leary had something this crap for ryanair i think they would have gone bust by now .

And this is the first impression alot of visitors get of our country when they try to book a train journey out of our capital city .

Whats wrong with use credit card to pay your money , print your ticket , thank you .

When I go to the ticket desk in heuston , I say Limerick Junction single , they reply 44 euro while trying to keep a straight face after seeing the shock on my face as i've just flown from the other side of europe for 20 euro. They dont require my address , email and a very very secure password.

Crazy stuff , crazy.The mind boggles.

Ham'nd'egger

bbsrs wrote: »

I've just used the irishrail "website" and it is very poor , if Micheal o Leary had something this crap for ryanair i think they would have gone bust by now .

Why is it poor, exactly? It looks no worse than Ryanair's site and it flows well when you are on it. If you want you can have your ticket mailed to you or you pick it up on the day without a need for printers (Another hidden cost needed for airline tickets). It lets you book a ticket and a seat if you like and all within 60 minutes of departure time; it takes laser and it doesn't scam you for bags or large credit card "handling fees" per person per portion of your trip, something people constantly complain about airline booking regimes. In short it's easier and more flexible in many ways; try getting onto the next flight if your late or not allowed to board

bbsrs wrote: »

Whats wrong with use credit card to pay your money , print your ticket , thank you .

Rail tickets are collected using your credit/laser card and are validated prior to boarding so printed tickets won't work. It's also a mainly staffless system, something airlines love to tell you is good.

bbsrs wrote: »

When I go to the ticket desk in heuston , I say Limerick Junction single , they reply 44 euro while trying to keep a straight face after seeing the shock on my face as i've just flown from the other side of europe for 20 euro. They dont require my address , email and a very very secure password..

Why do the ticket office require your details?

Victor

bbsrs wrote: »

Whats wrong with use credit card to pay your money , print your ticket , thank you

Not every one can print a ticket and there are different issues relating to train tickets (carriage is based on your ticket) and airline tickets (carriage is based on your identity and you have verifiable ID).

bbsrs

Sorry All,

Fabulous site ( irish rail that is), easy to navigate and very fast to book a ticket !Long live the efficient state run company. The irish taxpayer gets value for money at every level.

I will say though any of the rail employees I've met have been very helpful. Its just a pity the mangement are putting it simply , crap and that includes our minister for transport , although thats what you get when promotion isn't performance related and more based on time served old pal.

Cheers.