[Article] Phoenix Park parking problems

[ThomasJ]

From Community Voice
http://www.communityvoice.ie/pages/CV165/CV165n12.htm

Station clamping annoys Dubs fans

The Phoenix Park railway station is regarded by most local commuters as something of a white elephant. In general the number of passengers using it is quite limited due to its remoteness from most local housing areas.

It has however proved to be of benefit for some commuters as a park and ride facility with all day parking available for €4. However a big complaint of many drivers is that there is no ticket machine at the car park and payment can only be made by mobile phone, using a credit or debit card.

To use the system for the first time requires a reasonably long automated phone call whereby motorists have to enter details of their car, their credit card etc.

This can take some considerable time – particularly if the wrong digit of a 16 digit credit card number is entered. Some first time customers have spoken of taking up to ten minutes to complete a transaction and some have even missed trains in the process. However bearing in mind that clampers operate at the station, not completing a transaction can be a painful process.

The car park is operated for Iarnród Éireann by the infamous Apcoa car park company who also manage a number of private car parks in the Dublin 15 area.

On the day of the recent All-Ireland football semi final, Iarnród Éireann put a number of extra trains on the route to meet demand. Some fans decided to use the park and ride facility but ran into such difficulty trying to register and pay for parking on their phones that they abandoned their attempts in frustration. Their frustration was greatly increased when they returned from Croke Park to find their cars clamped.

The cost of removing a clamp is €120 with a surcharge of €35 for clamps removed after 10 p.m.

[Mark Gleeson]

The car park is owned by the private developer, not Irish Rail. Thats why the charge is 4 not 2 euro

NCPS and Euro Car Parks have the Irish Rail contracts

Its not listed online by Irish Rail as a result

[ThomasJ]

it's not helping the stations cause mainly as a park and rail station if its making like difficult for those who choose to park there.

[Mark Gleeson]

The problem is the developer owns the car park and therefore is outside of all controls

It does not fall under Irish Rail's contracts and therefore the National Transport Authority cannot take action.

[Thomas Ralph]

It's been suggested that private clamping is illegal in Ireland under Section 113 the Road Traffic Act 1961.