DMU Class Seat Reservations

maitias · 10-08-2010, 20:37

Was on a DMU class 18:30 ex Cork to Dublin on Sunday. Something I noticed as soon as we pulled out of Cork was the Seat Reservations notifications disappeared. (Also which I thought was odd was that carriage A was at the back of the train as opposed to the front of the train.)
As we progressed on our Journey I thought the names would reappear at Mallow and they didnt. People got on board and occupied any seat even though I new some were clearly marked reserved from Limerick Jct & Thurles. Some arguing followed where people were saying I had this seat reserved and others said there was no name there. People either moved on or didnt bother to argue when they realised the name was not over the seat. This happened at every station. Is this something that happens on the DMU class after it pulls out of its starting station or a once off where the system was switched off by the host? Quite annoying for people who prebooked a seat and never got it.

corktina · 11-08-2010, 06:35

faulty equipment by the sound of it.Is it time for reservation-only train travel?

Thomas Ralph · 11-08-2010, 08:19

Sounds like bad programming to me. But it's a step above the usual where the reservations don't appear at all on the 22Ks ;(

neoncircles · 11-08-2010, 09:36

Any 22000 I've been on its happened! They should really remain there for the entire journey really.

James Howard · 11-08-2010, 09:57

Reservation only would be a disaster for longer distance commuters. I travel from Edgeworthstown and while I take the same morning train four days a week, I never know which evening train I will be taking. So like most people, I just turn up 10-15 minutes early for the train and I know I'll get a seat.

Apart from Fridays (and the 1805 to Longford), the Sligo line trains aren't really packed enough to need it.

Can you claim your reservation fee back if you don't get the seat you reserved. It strikes me as pretty poor if you pay for a seat and don't get it. In my mind that should be a complete refund - not just the reservation bit.

maitias · 11-08-2010, 10:50

Any of the Mark IV that I have been on the reservations stay up for the journey.
You can make a complaint on the customer service section informing them you didnt get your reserved seat. Not sure if you get a refund or not.

Mark Gleeson · 11-08-2010, 11:08

The ICR fleet have ongoing problems and the reservations disappearing once the doors close at the departure station is a known repeat issue.

Tenders are out to resolve the problem

Dublin Cork was poor for many years but has gradually become the exception for reservations not to be displayed. Further upgrade work is ongoing to replace defective connecting cables which result in the loss of the on train computer and pa system

Refunds apply only if you stand or sit in standard on a first class ticket.

corktina · 11-08-2010, 17:47

my son and daughter booked on the same train, she from Dublin and he booked from home in Cork...they got to sit next to each other!!! I assume the computer allocates seats alphabetically!

Mark Gleeson · 11-08-2010, 18:40

Irish Rail let you pick the seat and coach you want, just like the way Aer Lingus do. You can opt to to automatic seats, which simply gives you a reserved seat from those available more or less at random.

corktina · 11-08-2010, 18:57

as i said , they booked seperately...did not pick their seats...

maitias · 11-08-2010, 19:14

I must say the host on train was not much help to anyone. He only walked through the train after each stop counting vacant seats. The most amazing part was he had to walk past people who were looking for their seat, holding the ticket in their hand and looking for the name/seat number or people asking others to move as they had booked that seat. Never once did he stop to give an explanation offer assistance or apologies.
I have seen this train host in action before where the only duties he carries out is count the empty seat on the train and inform everyone about the quite zone.

10-08-2010, 20:37	#1
maitias New to the board Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Somewhere on the Cork to Dublin mainline Posts: 9	DMU Class Seat Reservations Was on a DMU class 18:30 ex Cork to Dublin on Sunday. Something I noticed as soon as we pulled out of Cork was the Seat Reservations notifications disappeared. (Also which I thought was odd was that carriage A was at the back of the train as opposed to the front of the train.) As we progressed on our Journey I thought the names would reappear at Mallow and they didnt. People got on board and occupied any seat even though I new some were clearly marked reserved from Limerick Jct & Thurles. Some arguing followed where people were saying I had this seat reserved and others said there was no name there. People either moved on or didnt bother to argue when they realised the name was not over the seat. This happened at every station. Is this something that happens on the DMU class after it pulls out of its starting station or a once off where the system was switched off by the host? Quite annoying for people who prebooked a seat and never got it.

11-08-2010, 11:08	#7
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	The ICR fleet have ongoing problems and the reservations disappearing once the doors close at the departure station is a known repeat issue. Tenders are out to resolve the problem Dublin Cork was poor for many years but has gradually become the exception for reservations not to be displayed. Further upgrade work is ongoing to replace defective connecting cables which result in the loss of the on train computer and pa system Refunds apply only if you stand or sit in standard on a first class ticket. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

11-08-2010, 18:40	#9
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Irish Rail let you pick the seat and coach you want, just like the way Aer Lingus do. You can opt to to automatic seats, which simply gives you a reserved seat from those available more or less at random. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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11-08-2010, 06:35	#2
corktina Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 47	faulty equipment by the sound of it.Is it time for reservation-only train travel?

11-08-2010, 08:19	#3
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	Sounds like bad programming to me. But it's a step above the usual where the reservations don't appear at all on the 22Ks ;(

11-08-2010, 09:36	#4
neoncircles Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Limerick Posts: 87	Any 22000 I've been on its happened! They should really remain there for the entire journey really.

11-08-2010, 09:57	#5
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	Reservation only would be a disaster for longer distance commuters. I travel from Edgeworthstown and while I take the same morning train four days a week, I never know which evening train I will be taking. So like most people, I just turn up 10-15 minutes early for the train and I know I'll get a seat. Apart from Fridays (and the 1805 to Longford), the Sligo line trains aren't really packed enough to need it. Can you claim your reservation fee back if you don't get the seat you reserved. It strikes me as pretty poor if you pay for a seat and don't get it. In my mind that should be a complete refund - not just the reservation bit.

11-08-2010, 10:50	#6
maitias New to the board Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Somewhere on the Cork to Dublin mainline Posts: 9	Any of the Mark IV that I have been on the reservations stay up for the journey. You can make a complaint on the customer service section informing them you didnt get your reserved seat. Not sure if you get a refund or not.

11-08-2010, 17:47	#8
corktina Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 47	my son and daughter booked on the same train, she from Dublin and he booked from home in Cork...they got to sit next to each other!!! I assume the computer allocates seats alphabetically!

11-08-2010, 18:57	#10
corktina Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 47	as i said , they booked seperately...did not pick their seats...

11-08-2010, 19:14	#11
maitias New to the board Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Somewhere on the Cork to Dublin mainline Posts: 9	I must say the host on train was not much help to anyone. He only walked through the train after each stop counting vacant seats. The most amazing part was he had to walk past people who were looking for their seat, holding the ticket in their hand and looking for the name/seat number or people asking others to move as they had booked that seat. Never once did he stop to give an explanation offer assistance or apologies. I have seen this train host in action before where the only duties he carries out is count the empty seat on the train and inform everyone about the quite zone.