Daily seat Lottery - Connolly to Mullingar not 17.05 but 18:05

[Colm Donoghue]

I got on an RER in Paris one satuday evening- it was so packed I couldn't take my arms down after putting my bag up on the rack for 2 stops.
I have never seen anything approaching this level of crammed people on trains in Ireland. the only thing that comes close is the front of a rock gig.

In Tokyo they have people to push you in the doors at stations so the doors can close.

There's about 3 times the seating capacity as standing room on the commuter trains Irish Rail use - i.e. 48 seats and 144 standing room approx.

You could travel by coach, where you couldn't get on if there are no seats left...

Mick O Leary has to obey the law regarding a seat for each passenger. there is no law regarding passengers getting on a railway service. The official govt advice is
"If you feel a train is overcrowded when it arrives at the platform, you should not board." [1]

I presume you get a seat halfo of the way home and in to work most mornings?
A pregnant woman I know has stood 35 mins each way for the last 8 months, except for the 7 times someone has offered a seat.


[1]http://www.rsc.ie/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pID=139

[Mark Hennessy]

Originally Posted by Colm Donoghue

In Tokyo they have people to push you in the doors at stations so the doors can close.

I've experienced the Tokyo situation first hand and while trains can get jammed (especially the last trains!) the chronic overcrowding only last brief periods , 7-10 mins.

My experience on the Maynooth line is that 20 mins of serious crowding from Tara to Ashtown is the norm and I can live that.

I would hate to spend 50 mins to an hour each day in those conditions though.

[Ballymore]

I used to be a daily Tube user in London and at rush hour was crammed in and as it's only for 10 -15 mins you get used to it and you live with it but thats about the limit I would expect to stand - also bear in mind in most of those other places mentioned you dont pay exhorbitant prices like with IE.

[Mark Hennessy]

Originally Posted by Ballymore

I used to be a daily Tube user in London and at rush hour was crammed in and as it's only for 10 -15 mins you get used to it and you live with it but thats about the limit I would expect to stand - also bear in mind in most of those other places mentioned you dont pay exhorbitant prices like with IE.

In fairness you cant compare a city network like the tube to a long distance location like Mullingar when comparing prices.

In the UK, you pay a serious amount (probably twice that of your current ticket) for an annual ticket if commuting from 40-50 miles out from the city.

[Ballymore]

In fairness yes I wasnt thinking of it in context of an annual ticket for an equally long commute so probably an unfair comparison re the prices.

[James Shields]

I think we have to accept that standing during peak hours is the norm. The only way to avoid it would be to have hundreds of extra trains that stand idle except for two trips per day, and that's not practical.

That does not mean it's acceptable to have every train ar crush load for an hour plus. IE need to set targets for the acceptable levels of standing - both in terms of numbers and duration. It's not surprising people are rude when the alternative is to stand for the better part of an hour.

Most importantly, IE need to monitor and report on levels of crowding, so we can see an unbiased account of the situation, and so that they can target extra trains where they are needed most.

Personally, I get the train to Drogheda. I'm not sure if it's as bad as the Maynooth one, but it's close. I do try to avoid the worst of it by working late some days and leaving early others.

[Mark Gleeson]

Unnoticed to most several of the 29k railcars have passenger counting equipment

A large number of DART coaches, maybe 30 plus have passenger counters as well

What the do with the info god only knows