So Irish Rail changed the system recently and well for some people it has been a negative for others a positive
Some guidance
Quote:
New System
- 10 euro seats are available on EVERY single intercity service on EVERY route including Dublin Belfast
- Each train has a quota of 10 euro seats (and the quota is a number greater than 1)
- When the quota is exhausted the fare increases in stages to 15/20/25 euro etc
- If you book on the same day as you are traveling you pay the standard web fare (half the cash return fare for a single)
- If you book ahead you most likely will be able to find a 10 euro seat on the train of your choice
- 10 euro fares are available even on the busiest trains, but obviously will sell out
Old System
- A fixed price applied to each train this was static and not based on seats sold
- Irish Rail's marketing department set the fare on each train based on a guess of demand with the goal to fill all seats
- Trains known to be quiet had 10 euro fares while busy trains e.g 17:00 Dublin Cork was full price (36 euro)
- No benefit in booking ahead
- Numerous complaints from passengers of being charged full fare on empty trains
- 10 euro fares all but impossible to find on Dublin Kerry and Dublin Belfast routes
- Occasional price cuts on some trains as the date of travel approached causing much frustration if you had already booked
Tips
- Bookings can be made between 28 days and 90 minutes ahead of the trains departure time from its terminus
- Book as far ahead as you can
- Avoid peak hour service to get the lowest fare
- Book all seats together don't book 4 separately
- Use the check fare button at the bottom of the page not the euro icon in next to the train. The euro icon button is known to show the wrong as in higher fare
- If you are an O2 customer avail of the 15% discount through the O2 treats scheme
- Pay by Laser or Visa Debit
- Tickets can be collected from any Irish Rail ticket machine (it doesn't have to be same one as you select during the booking)
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