Cheap web fares

[topnotch]

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

There appears to have been a reshuffle on what trains are eligible for the lower fares.

Yea it now appears that there are none.

[Colm Moore]

The National Plough Championships is on next week and some colleges are back.

This may have affected things http://railusers.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=12759

[Mark Gleeson]

I can now confirm FREE tickets are now online. Book far enough in advance on Dublin Galway and chances are a zero cost for you.



Now it becomes clear why there is a 2 euro transaction charge, you have to pay something to complete the transaction.

[Eddie]

I would have thought that Irish rail need to be careful about imposing compulsory charges like this. Better to have a 2 euro fare and a way of paying without charges like Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Irish Ferries and Stena Line all do.

Someone with enough of a mind to could challenge this easily.

Incidentally, much as I prefer travelling by train, I have just booked a 6 euro (with no transaction fee) Friday evening flight from Dublin to Cork in November which looks like it would have cost 36 by train, plus a transaction fee, if indeed I could book more than 28 days in advance. I hope Dublin to Cork becomes demand based soon. They lost me this time.

[MOH]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

I can now confirm FREE tickets are now online. Book far enough in advance on Dublin Galway and chances are a zero cost for you.

Attachment 1234

Now it becomes clear why there is a 2 euro transaction charge, you have to pay something to complete the transaction.

More that by gouging 2 or 3 euro on every booking they're offsetting (or even covering?) the cost of the (very limited) free tickets.

They could have just charged a cent for the 'free' fares.

[Mixupat]

Anyone know when the cheaper fares will be available across the board. I'm a weekly user of the Dublin to Sligo route.

[Colm Moore]

I don't know. The Galway-Dublin route does have a lot of competition on it, hence it was first.

[Mark Gleeson]

Irish Rail has gone public with the free tickets as of lunchtime today

It is in theory possible for 6 people to travel return Dublin Galway for the grand sum of 2 euro, which can't be beaten. Discount codes are set against the full cost so someone did manage a single for 1.60 earlier this month.

Fares are demand based

1. Avoid Friday and Sunday afternoons
2. Book as far ahead possible
3. Many trains on bank holiday weekend are already heavily booked.
4. Single fares are 0, 10, 15 & 25 euro

The 0 fares exist on a wide range of services on the route

[Mark Gleeson]

Latest iteration went live over the weekend

Yield managed fares should now apply on the Dublin Cork route, so book far enough in advance and you should see 10 euro fares on most trains

Book for today and you should see only 36 euro as discounts are not offered on day of travel beyond the normal web fare

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Yield managed fares should now apply on the Dublin Cork route, so book far enough in advance and you should see 10 euro fares on most trains

Great news! Not good news for Bus Eireann or Mr O'Leary's one remaining daily Dublin to Cork shuttle (can you believe he used to have 5 each way only a couple of years ago?), though I suppose some will always prefer the plane.

[Mark Gleeson]

You can even get 10 euro on the 17:00 Dublin Cork on a Friday if you book ahead

Big advice DO NOT BOOK ON DAY OF TRAVEL you will always pay the full price regardless of seats available

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Great news! Not good news for Bus Eireann or Mr O'Leary's one remaining daily Dublin to Cork shuttle (can you believe he used to have 5 each way only a couple of years ago?), though I suppose some will always prefer the plane.

I think Ryanair only had about 3 return Cork-Dublin flights, but before that Aer Arann had 8 return flights with smaller aircraft, which dropped to about 3.