Tipperary on track for Irish Rail fares offer

[Destructix]

From Tipperary Star

RISH Rail is to target householders along the Ballybrophy line with special offers to entice more people to use the local train service. The offer was revealed at this Monday’s Nenagh Town Council meeting by Cllr Virginia O’Dowd, a member of the Nenagh Rail Partnership that has been pushing for more promotion on the line for almost a decade

“The marketing executive, Paul O’Kelly, and a member of his staff, Cathal Lyons, have been travelling to Nenagh and Cloughjordan to discuss how to promote the line, and the fact that they were willing to come here instead of us having to go to Dublin shows they are serious in trying to attract new business on the service,” she told councillors.

Up to 6,000 homes along the line can expect to receive a letter in the post over the coming week giving a 50 per cent reduction on family fares to Dublin.

This means a fare of E33 for two adults and up to four children. The letter will also highlight the offer of E6 return fares to Limerick, with a E3 fare for children.

“This is about getting bums on seats and I appeal to people not to just bin the letters,” said Cllr O’Dowd, who hoped householders wouldn’t confuse the offers with their Property Tax demands.

She acknowledged that commuter traffic alone was not going to keep the line open, and, pointing to the success of the trains to Croke Park in the past two years, appealed to groups and organisations to either talk to Nenagh Rail Partnership or Irish Rail about special offers.

“For instance, it might have been possible to organise a special train to the Ireland- Austria match if around 200 people were interested in travelling. But the regular service can also be used for special occasions,” she said.

Mayor Lalor McGee pointed out that Nenagh railway station was celebrating its 150th anniversary this October and Cllr O’Dowd urged the council help NRP with its plan to restore one of the old water pumps at the station in time for the celebrations. Irish Rail’s heritage officer had urged them to seek Lottery funding for the project.

Cllr Seamus Morris described the offer as a “super deal. Iarnrod Eireann has bought into it and it should be supported.” Cllr Conor Delaney warned people to “use it or lose it,” saying: “You won’t know what you have until it is gone.”

[Jamie2k9]

Its a excellent marketing by IE as they know people won't use it and cutting fares by 50% will mean losses grow and it can be closed. The sooner the better. People have had loads of opportunities to use the service and just don't bother.

One wonders would Rosslare-Waterford still be here if we got these type of promotions.

[Destructix]

Exactly. A few weeks ago in the Nenagh Guardian the NRP claimed that they never asked for the 5:05 Limerick/Nenagh-Dublin service. It was Iarnród Éireanns idea to introduce this service and by doing so they axed the morning commuter service which was the busiest service on the line. Now that the Dublin service is gone and they have reverted to the 2011 timetable those few loyal customers they had in 2011 have now found faster alternatives and they will never get these passengers back.

[ACustomer]

Destructix: it wasn't so much Irish Rail's idea to change the timetable: it was Alan Kelly's and as usual a semi-state had to jump to the wishes of politicians, not matter how daft.

[dowlingm]

the problem the NRP has is that they made nicey nicey with IE's PR when the wind was blowing their way. Hard then to do a 180 when they get screwed. Of course they didn't want an 0505 but when you're not a significant financial contributor to a project you don't get to have much say in it.

[Inniskeen]

Originally Posted by Destructix

Exactly. A few weeks ago in the Nenagh Guardian the NRP claimed that they never asked for the 5:05 Limerick/Nenagh-Dublin service. It was Iarnród Éireanns idea to introduce this service and by doing so they axed the morning commuter service which was the busiest service on the line. Now that the Dublin service is gone and they have reverted to the 2011 timetable those few loyal customers they had in 2011 have now found faster alternatives and they will never get these passengers back.

What morning commuter service was axed ?

If you are talking about the evening commuter service, I think you are not accurately reflecting the actual situation since as persistently reported on this website, that service often turned back at Birdhill if there was no business offering beyond that point.

An 0505 service was never going to be a success as it simply didn't align with the market and was so slow, including being miserably slow between Ballybrophy and Heuston.

[Thomas J Stamp]

morning service from nenagh to limerick wasnt axed as far as i remember.

it was the balls up of the evening limerick-nenagh-ballybrophy which killed things in that regard.

the events of the time are accuratly detailed as they happened on this messageboard.

The idea of a train to the aviva the other night is pie in the sky stuff. I contacted IE when they had special trains for the Germany match to Cork and Limierick and they werent stopping in Tipp full stop - not even on the mainline.

Compairing Tipp in an All Ireland Final to a Soccer match is not realistic. Even last year in the All-Ireland Semi there was no thought given, nor needed of a special on the branch. I assume there was one on the mainline. Given the history of Tipp supporters travel movements to CP it was justified.

[Traincustomer]

If the 16.55 Limerick - Nenagh - Ballybrophy was deferred to, for instance, 17.50 arriving into Ballybrophy at 19.46:

* no apparent pathing issue with a 17.50 departure ex Colbert.
* 17.20 Cork to Dublin would not necessarily need to serve Ballybrophy.
* 18.20 Cork to Dublin could instead call at Ballybrophy (circa 20.00).
* Connection to branch would be available from 19.00 Heuston - Cork (arr. Ballybrophy 19.59).
* Branch train could depart at 20.03 (with allowance to wait if needs be).

Don't know whether this would affect gatekeepers' shifts or if there are other issues/ constraints.

Plus-side is a timing from Limerick likely to suit the vast majority - slight downside passengers coming from Dublin finished business at 5/5.30 may have a slightly longer wait in Dublin than is ideal.