Irish rail 'offline' prices?

messinkiapina

Is there a big difference between Irish rails online fares and paying on the day?

I'm looking to book a journey that would cost 12.99 to book online, but no mention of how much it costs otherwise. I'd book online but I'm flying into Shannon before that, and delays are always possibile.

myshirt

Big difference typically.

Very recent experience where was 15 from Dublin to Limerick, and 40 on the day despite maybe 50% occupancy.

LXFlyer

The booking office fares are all on the website. Select the appropriate route on the link below to see the fares.

http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/fares-info

messinkiapina

lxflyer wrote: »

The booking office fares are all on the website. Select the appropriate route on the link below to see the fares.

http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/fares-info

Thanks for that. 36 euro vs 12.99 online. That's a bit of a joke.

If I booked a ticket online and missed my train would they let me on a later one? I see something on their site about a €10 charge. Do they actually enforce that?

pajor

For example online fares for Dublin-Cork start at 19.99 each way, I'm pretty sure. An open return ticket bought at station is €86.75

So yeah, cheaper online.

flyingsnail

messinkiapina wrote: »

If I booked a ticket online and missed my train would they let me on a later one? I see something on their site about a €10 charge. Do they actually enforce that?

They do, and if you get caught without having paid you risk a €100 fine.

Heisenberg1

messinkiapina wrote: »

Thanks for that. 36 euro vs 12.99 online. That's a bit of a joke.

If I booked a ticket online and missed my train would they let me on a later one? I see something on their site about a €10 charge. Do they actually enforce that?

How is it a joke? Get the online fare for a Ryanair flight and then go up to the desk on the day of the flight and see the difference.

ArmaniJeanss

lxflyer wrote: »

The booking office fares are all on the website. Select the appropriate route on the link below to see the fares.

http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/fares-info

Hmmm, are the rollup fares a lot cheaper than online fares in some instances or am I reading it wrong?
e.g., Dublin to Newry is Fare H on the grid which is €29 return, but looking on the online booking the cheapest I can find for September is 19.99x2 + booking fee.

Losty Dublin

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Hmmm, are the rollup fares a lot cheaper than online fares in some instances or am I reading it wrong?
e.g., Dublin to Newry is Fare H on the grid which is €29 return, but looking on the online booking the cheapest I can find for September is 19.99x2 + booking fee.

It's come up for me online just now as being €29 return. You need to look at the total fare which is below the trip selection option.

JayRoc

messinkiapina wrote: »

If I booked a ticket online and missed my train would they let me on a later one? I see something on their site about a €10 charge. Do they actually enforce that?

It's Ireland. So the answer is...occasionally.

foggy_lad

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Hmmm, are the rollup fares a lot cheaper than online fares in some instances or am I reading it wrong?
e.g., Dublin to Newry is Fare H on the grid which is €29 return, but looking on the online booking the cheapest I can find for September is 19.99x2 + booking fee.

When you chose your outward and return journeys the total amount will default to the fare listed on the chart on the website, so although showing as 2 x €19.99 for the journeys when you go to book the total return price will show as €29.

Hilly Bill

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Hmmm, are the rollup fares a lot cheaper than online fares in some instances or am I reading it wrong?
e.g., Dublin to Newry is Fare H on the grid which is €29 return, but looking on the online booking the cheapest I can find for September is 19.99x2 + booking fee.

No booking fee. Booking on line in advance can be cheaper or even on the day for single journeys where the saving might be only around €3 with no flexibility over the train times.

LXFlyer

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Hmmm, are the rollup fares a lot cheaper than online fares in some instances or am I reading it wrong?
e.g., Dublin to Newry is Fare H on the grid which is €29 return, but looking on the online booking the cheapest I can find for September is 19.99x2 + booking fee.

The combination of two online fares will always default to the booking office return fare if it is cheaper.

end of the road

Heisenberg1 wrote: »

How is it a joke? Get the online fare for a Ryanair flight and then go up to the desk on the day of the flight and see the difference.

well i'd imagine, it's because we aren't talking about an airline but a railway trying (badly) to be an airline.

ohnonotgmail

end of the road wrote: »

well i'd imagine, it's because we aren't talking about an airline but a railway trying (badly) to be an airline.

so you think the online fares should be the same as the walk-up fares?

Heisenberg1

end of the road wrote: »

well i'd imagine, it's because we aren't talking about an airline but a railway trying (badly) to be an airline.

Nonsense, most railways that sell online use yield management I don't think it's a railway trying to be an airline. I made the comparison to an airline as they use the same system for bookings.

howiya

How far in advance are you able to book online for Irish Rail? 60 days?

Also noted for a journey I intend to take in November that the train to Thurles is 16 minutes slower than the same journey in October. Any reason for this?

LXFlyer

howiya wrote: »

How far in advance are you able to book online for Irish Rail? 60 days?

Also noted for a journey I intend to take in November that the train to Thurles is 16 minutes slower than the same journey in October. Any reason for this?

Saturday engineering works?

Losty Dublin

howiya wrote: »

How far in advance are you able to book online for Irish Rail? 60 days?

Also noted for a journey I intend to take in November that the train to Thurles is 16 minutes slower than the same journey in October. Any reason for this?

60 days is the earliest you can book ahead, yeah.

Some trains serving Thurles call at stations en route while others have it as their first stop. The additional stops will add time onto the journey. If your booking is for a Saturday service then there are amended journey times owing to ongoing track relaying works.

howiya

Both journeys on a Saturday and only serving the one station so it must be planned works on a particular Saturday

LXFlyer

Dates for works are on the website:
http://www.irishrail.ie/news/lineimprovementworks