Irish Rail not selling tickets on trains

k99_64

Did anyone hear about this in advance? My girlfriend just got fined for not having a ticket on a train going from Sallins to portarlington (100euro).

L1011

Irish Rail haven't sold tickets on trains in an absolute age. If there is no open ticket desk you can get your ticket at your destination (you're not oblidged to use the ticket machines). If there is an open ticket desk you HAVE to get a ticket before boarding, no ifs no buts.

k99_64

MYOB wrote: »

Irish Rail haven't sold tickets on trains in an absolute age. If there is no open ticket desk you can get your ticket at your destination (you're not oblidged to use the ticket machines). If there is an open ticket desk you HAVE to get a ticket before boarding, no ifs no buts.

This was from Sallins which has a ticket machine (on the dublin side, which she was not on) But no desk...

L1011

You also need to argue your case with the trained monkey with the fixed-fare book.

kc56

Tickets are sold on some commuter services such as Newbrige/Kildare to Heuston but almost never on the longer distance 'suburban' services. This evening three checkers appeared on the 1840 to Thurles which is a rare occurance - mostly there are no on-board staff.

Rud

if there was a working ticket machine at the station then there really should be no excuse for getting on the train without a ticket,that's just the way it is.imposing a fine like that is crazy and i bet the trained monkey enjoyed been the big man for a few minutes but he should have never been given the chance to fine.just buy a damn ticket

L1011

Rud wrote: »

if there was a working ticket machine at the station then there really should be no excuse for getting on the train without a ticket,that's just the way it is.imposing a fine like that is crazy and i bet the trained monkey enjoyed been the big man for a few minutes but he should have never been given the chance to fine.just buy a damn ticket

The ATVM's do not sell every choice of ticket. This is why you're not oblidged to use them.

DWCommuter

Interesting dilemma.

Sallins has a TVM on the Dublin bound platform only. There's also a part time ticket office at the rear of this platform housed in a "container".

There is a hand written sign on the Dublin bound platform directing you to the "container". There is also a poster warning you to purchase a ticket before you get on the train. But across the tracks on the other platform there is no TVM and no instructions as to how you purchase a ticket. Its not easy to spot the TVM on the other platform either. If you are not a regular user, you will get on the train and expect to pay on board.

It appears that IE are only interested in the Dublin bound traffic (which to be fair, is the busiest). But they have failed to provide adequate information to passengers using the other platform. I'd photograph the situation and fight the fine.

deRanged

MYOB wrote: »

Irish Rail haven't sold tickets on trains in an absolute age.

They still do on the Cobh/Cork/Midleton line. Or did up till last week anyway.
A bunch of stations still don't have any ticket desks or machines.
They seem to have closed the ticket office in Glounthaune now too, which means arguing with the helpful new Revenue Protection Service guys wearing their bat belts.
"You should have bought a ticket"
"How?"

To be fair I've never had a problem explaining that the ticket office was closed. I would love to know what's in all the pouches on the bat belt though.

k99_64

Rud wrote: »

if there was a working ticket machine at the station then there really should be no excuse for getting on the train without a ticket,that's just the way it is.imposing a fine like that is crazy and i bet the trained monkey enjoyed been the big man for a few minutes but he should have never been given the chance to fine.just buy a damn ticket

Again though the machine is on the other side of the tracks, I know its there but the gf didn't, tis not a easy thing to spot.

Also where be the posters telling you about using the machine and what not?

L1011

deRanged wrote: »

They still do on the Cobh/Cork/Midleton line. Or did up till last week anyway.
A bunch of stations still don't have any ticket desks or machines.
They seem to have closed the ticket office in Glounthaune now too, which means arguing with the helpful new Revenue Protection Service guys wearing their bat belts.
"You should have bought a ticket"
"How?"

To be fair I've never had a problem explaining that the ticket office was closed. I would love to know what's in all the pouches on the bat belt though.

Theres railways outside the Pale? :eek:


:P

punkindrublic

They do on the Sligo-Dublin line, sometimes they huff about it but they do it anyways. I have had to run to make the train many times and go my ticket from the inspector on the train. Our ticket office is closed on Sundays and early enough on weekdays so they're used to it

ronano

MYOB wrote: »

The ATVM's do not sell every choice of ticket. This is why you're not oblidged to use them.

This!

I know it's possible to buy a ticket but i had a situation start of the month went to buy monthly bus and rail shorthop and the ticket sellers machine was malfunctioning. He wanted me to buy a single from the machine,whats the issue with updating the software to put every variation of ticket on the automatic ticket machines?

L1011

Your guess is as good as mine. Also the Connolly ATVMs sell to more destinations than the Maynooth ones for instance - no Dhu Varren* on the ones here!.


*small NIR halt I've had a reason to go to once.

MJohnston

Plus theres no anything at Broombridge! I've had to pay at Connolly from there dozens of times.

Mycroft H

Where the Board gives notice that a station is unattended or the booking office is closed, or where any person is instructed by an authorised person to board a train at a station without purchasing a ticket at the booking office so as not to delay the departure of the train from the station, any person not in possession of a valid ticket entitling him or her to travel may enter a vehicle at that station for the purpose of travelling but that person must obtain a ticket or other authority from an authorised person on the train as soon as practicable after entering any vehicle or from an authorised person on arrival at the station to which such person is travelling by the train.

Excerpt from IE by-laws.

Roughly translated this means you can get on a train without a ticket only from a station without a booking office or a ticket machine (that cant issue you the ticket you want)

DWCommuter

landyman wrote: »

Excerpt from IE by-laws.

Roughly translated this means you can get on a train without a ticket only from a station without a booking office or a ticket machine (that cant issue you the ticket you want)

Laws are easy to quote. The problem arises when they are implemented in an unfair and/or confusing manner. Sallins station is one such example.

Hungerford

MJohnston wrote: »

Plus theres no anything at Broombridge! I've had to pay at Connolly from there dozens of times.

In fairness, trackside furniture at Broombridge has an average lifespan of 0.5 seconds.

k99_64

Just wondering now about the sallins station again, there be the only one machine on the dublin side and u have to walk up a stairs and across a footbridge, there is no lift.

What if someone is in a wheelchair and doesnt wish to go to dublin? How do they buy a ticket?

foggy_lad

k99_64 wrote: »

Just wondering now about the sallins station again, there be the only one machine on the dublin side and u have to walk up a stairs and across a footbridge, there is no lift.

What if someone is in a wheelchair and doesnt wish to go to dublin? How do they buy a ticket?

walk or wheel yourself out of the station and cross the roadbridge over the railway and re-enter the railway from the other side, buy your ticket then make the journey back to the right side! very awkward for anyone mobility impaired.

but then irish rail dont care much for the disabled as their newly refurbished Carlow station shows! they still have a barrow crossing as the only way onto platform 2 and the wheelchair accessible toilets and waiting room are behind a permenantly locked door the key of which can only be obtained by entering the ticket office through a narrow doorway with a step.

back to the op's issue, i would fight the fine.

BT!

What if someone is in a wheelchair and doesnt wish to go to dublin? How do they buy a ticket?[/QUOTE]

wouldn't they and a companion have free travel ?

L1011

BT! wrote: »

wouldn't they and a companion have free travel ?

Not if they were only in it temporarily, for instance.

slimjimmc

landyman wrote: »

Excerpt from IE by-laws.

Roughly translated this means you can get on a train without a ticket only from a station without a booking office or a ticket machine (that cant issue you the ticket you want)

Does the definition of "booking office" include a ticket machine? I don't see any mention of a ticket machine in that quote only "booking office" and "authorised person". Does this mean the OP's girlfriend may have a defence if she chooses to challenge the penalty?