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Unread 17-07-2008, 18:12   #21
Colm Moore
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Originally Posted by thedailygrudge View Post
So we are now going to have to pay another 400-800 euros per month for the pleasure of parking in a carpark in Mullingar with no tar, no correct road markings and no security cameras...
Mullingar town is full of free parking. And as Mark said "So 48 week year at €8 per week €384" - €384 per year, not per month.

Last edited by Colm Moore : 17-07-2008 at 18:20.
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Unread 17-07-2008, 18:31   #22
dowlingm
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At the end of the day, parking is not sustainable. For Dublin DART/inner suburban stations, they should be torn out and replaced with development and feeder services/pick-up drop-off zones. For outer suburban you're probably going to need a car park because of insufficient density but feeders should be possible in places like Drogheda.

As for free parking in Mullingar, if IE is raking in money along with their private company partners, how long will it take the local council to realise they're missing a trick, especially when their constituents complain there's no parking because out of town commuters are all over the road?
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Unread 17-07-2008, 19:19   #23
tigger1962
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you can tell Dempsey doesn't use train judging by his comments on tv! He probably has his chauffer driven car paid for by tax payers! Maybe if and ever the Navan station open up with pay and display there he might change his tune come election time. Until then the monopoly that is Irish rail has their own way! I've been talking to a few people on the way home as did my partner and they intend to bombard Dermot Ahern with letters and park on the street rather than pay the charge
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Unread 17-07-2008, 21:13   #24
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Up north, park and ride is free and the new facilities have site security. Bangor has feeder buses. Irish Rail is a disgrace to the nation.

Only way it will change is if enough people get FF and FG to turn on IE and kick some sense into it, starting by sacking the entire senior management
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Unread 18-07-2008, 08:05   #25
Mark Gleeson
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Only way it will change is if enough people get FF and FG to turn on IE and kick some sense into it, starting by sacking the entire senior management
Trust me a widespread sacking exercise would be the first thing to do, entire CIE board could go as well, they don't serve any purpose.

We have come up against a brick wall with this, we have had the meetings with IE, we have it writing, there is no talking to these guys.

Now I know of a two commuter towns effected by this pay parking lark and there is sustained talk of mass disobedience. There currently are about 5,500 spaces at these 37 stations, they don't have 5,500 clamps. We don't condone breaking the law but it does show what lengths people want to go to

Apparently we don't talk to Irish Rail, we do, we talk to the people who make the decisions not excuses.

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Unread 18-07-2008, 08:16   #26
Mark Hennessy
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I hear Dempsey was on the news last night saying the charges were reasonable.

Anyone got a link?

Anyone know where Gormley and Greens are hiding out on this one?
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Unread 18-07-2008, 08:29   #27
Mark Gleeson
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Linky

http://www.railusers.ie/podcasts/aud...dayFM_News.mp3
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Unread 18-07-2008, 08:38   #28
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Are Irish rail employees going to have to pay this charge as well or is it a case of one rule for the company and another for those using the company!
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Unread 18-07-2008, 09:47   #29
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And todays [fri 18-7-2008] Independent has more on it

Quote:
More rail stations will impose parking charges
New rail parking charges to cost commuters €500 a year
By Shane Phelan


Friday July 18 2008

EVEN more rail stations across Ireland will be targeted in the pay-for-parking blitz.

CIE is set to expand its controversial railway station pay parking regime even further than was first revealed in yesterday's Irish Independent.

The semi-state company initially confirmed plans to charge for parking at 37 commuter stations serving the greater Dublin area.

However, the Irish Independent has learned that plans exist to extend pay parking even further in the coming years.

The plans include introducing parking charges at new stations being built, including Dunboyne and Clondalkin Fonthill, as well as at the new M3 park and ride on the Dunboyne line.

News of the second raft of stations to be hit with parking charges comes just a day after the Irish Independent exclusively revealed how thousands of commuters will have to fork out up to €500 a year more just to get to work because of the introduction of parking fees at the 37 commuter stations.

The charges are being introduced from September.

The stations being initially targeted are on the Northern, DART, Heuston, Maynooth/ Longford and Wicklow/Gorey lines.

The revelation sparked uproar yesterday with some commuters threatening a campaign of civil disobedience in protest at the charges.

The Irish Independent has learned that the contract signed by CIE with clamping company Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems also provides for further roll out of "pay and display".

The contract will also include pay parking at new car park facilities being planned at existing stations and at new stations," admitted CIE spokesman Barry Kenny. "We will also examine the possibility of car park charges at some intercity stations where charging currently does not apply."

The new regime will see commuters charged €2-a-day or €8-a-week to park.

Stations where pay parking already exists with a weekly charge of €5 will also see that fee increase to €8.

Opposition politicians and commuters reacted with fury to the new charges.

Fine Gael labour affairs spokesman Damien English described the charges as "a stealth tax that will hurt commuter town families who have no choice but to pay the fees to get to work."

Mr English called on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to order CIE to drop the charges.
http://www.independent.ie/national-n...s-1435088.html
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Unread 18-07-2008, 12:26   #30
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Quote:
C I É is committed to attracting more customers to using public transport. To achieve this objective, we must continue - and accelerate - our investment programmes to further improve the quality of our products and services in response to what you, the customer, demand.
So we will attract you by charging you the consumer for parking at our highly improved carparks while you stand in cramped conditions for up to an hour on our quality trains
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Unread 18-07-2008, 18:17   #31
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Originally Posted by tigger1962 View Post
Are Irish rail employees going to have to pay this charge as well or is it a case of one rule for the company and another for those using the company!
I don't see that happening.
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Unread 19-07-2008, 13:53   #32
Mark Gleeson
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Don't get excited its 2003, when CIE was told to take a hike
Quote:
Car park charges not to proceed for rail commuters by Press Office

Following discussions between CIÉ and the Minister for Transport yesterday (24 February), it has been agreed that the proposed introduction of nominal parking charges for rail commuters at Booterstown, Clontarf Road and Malahide Stations will not now proceed.

The feasibility of proceeding with charges for non-commuters at these stations will be reviewed in light of this development. Iarnród Éireann will endeavour to ensure that car parking facilities at these stations are available for rail commuters only.
http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...iew&news_id=63



Quote:
Monday, February 24, 2003 :
Pressure mounts over DART charges

By Eddie Cassidy
PRESSURE is expected to intensify on Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to resist Iarnród Éireann plans to charge commuters for parking at selected DART stations.
Opposition parties yesterday rejected the rail company’s move as illogical and counterproductive. The company confirmed new charges could cost up to 50c an hour at three stations.
Iarnród Eireann last year shelved plans for parking charges at more than 30 stations. However, a spokesman said the company decided to press ahead with the charges at Booterstown, Clontarf Road and Malahide due to the high levels of non-commuters using the stations’ car parks.

The charges will be applied this summer, possibly as part of a pilot project. Fine Gael’s deputy leader, Richard Bruton said the plan made no sense and was counterproductive to efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Dublin.

The Labour Party demanded Mr Brennan should oppose the new parking levies. Last year, the minister criticised as anti-commuter Irish Rail proposals for passenger parking in Dublin stations. He warned the move would be a disincentive to people using public transport services.

However, Iarnród Éireann said yesterday it was forced into the decision as local authorities had introduced car park charges on-street in areas adjacent to its Booterstown, Clontarf Road and Malahide stations.

“As a result, we are introducing controls into these car parks to ensure facilities are available to commuters,” the spokesman said.

He dismissed suggestions the introduction of charges at the stations was part of a pilot scheme for wider charging at DART and commuter stations.

The company, said the spokesman, had examined the option of charging at stations across the board last year but decided against proceeding with the proposal. The spokesman added that rail commuters will have heavily discounted nominal charges for parking with higher rates applying for non-commuters.
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer...y823130820.asp
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Unread 19-07-2008, 21:18   #33
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Can they not just do what Veolia do, and charge little or nothing for parking for season ticket holders and €45 a day for non-ticket-holders?
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Unread 20-07-2008, 00:06   #34
Derek Wheeler
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Brennans decision in 2003 was made on the basis that he didn't realise that Luas/Veolia/RPA were doing the pay parking deed in their park and rides. Successive meetings took place between CIE and the DOT in relation to this. I posted proof of it on our original forum years ago. Result=DOT gave the go ahead to CIE to do the same. Its old news and if blame needs to be accredited then it goes to the DOT. End of story.
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Unread 21-07-2008, 14:43   #35
Colm Moore
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I'm not certain, but i think the original plan for the RPA was free parking. However, a year before they opened they were getting phonecalls asking them when people who working Sandyford Industrial Estate could use their car parks there. So minds were changed.

€8 a week in a train station certainly beats the proposed €130.50 per week (assuming 5 days x 9 hours x €2.90 per hour) in Dublin City Centre - thats €6,003 over a 46 week year.

http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTra...t)ByeLaws.aspx
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Unread 22-07-2008, 09:31   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Victor View Post
Mullingar town is full of free parking. And as Mark said "So 48 week year at €8 per week €384" - €384 per year, not per month.
Apologies for typo, I meant per year. Where abouts is the free parking near the train station?
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Unread 22-07-2008, 09:42   #37
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Default Media reporting on car park charges

We had the journos interviewing people in Mullingar station this morning and taking photos of the car park if you can call it that! Look out for article in the Westmeath Examiner!
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Unread 23-07-2008, 13:02   #38
Mark Gleeson
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Well folks its not just the 37 stations in Dublin

EVERY station will be charged for, even those in the Midleton and KRP project despite no mention at the time the projects where approved

Will they have the neck to charge on the WRC, don't think so
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Unread 23-07-2008, 15:21   #39
tigger1962
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Default one of my friends sent me this

1
Quote:
Thank you for your e-mail, regarding Iarnród Éireann’s introduction of a Pay and Display parking system across the network, beginning this autumn.
The reason for the charges is to fund the major program of car park expansion thought out the rail network. The program will provide over 13,000 new spaces and the revenue from the charges will fund the program and its upkeep. The income will also help Iarnród Éireann address the increasing operation costs in the current economic environment.

Our research in other public transport ‘park and ride’ facilities, be they operated by Iarnród Éireann, Luas or local authorities, show that commuters are not discouraged from using public transport, particularly with such a comparatively low nominal charge. What we have found in fact, is an increase in the catchments area for public transport. The passengers who live within walking distance of stations tend to leave their car at home, thereby helping free up spaces for people from the wider area to benefit from the parking facilities. Take Leixlip Louisa Bridge for example, where charging has been in place for over a year, sees large numbers of cars from areas such as Clane, and Straffan, using the car park. The same has been the experience in Co. Meath station car parks, where customers otherwise would not be able to use our services. Customer numbers using the stations have increased by 20% in a 12-month period. With the soaring fuel costs and high parking charges in cities, our commuting costs remain extremely low by comparison.

The cost of the new charges will be €2 per day, or €8 per week (the existing car parks such as Leixlip Louise Bridge, and Gormanston, where weekly rate is currently €5 per week, will also go to €8 per week). I would make the point, that the Luas park and ride is currently in operation charges €4 per day, with no weekly discount.

The program contract will also include pay parking where new car park facilities are planned at existing stations, and at new stations (for example on the forthcoming Dunboyne line).

Thank you for taking the time to express you concerns.

Yours Sincerely
Paul Slowey
Customer Relations Manager
Northern & Eastern Connolly
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Unread 23-07-2008, 15:23   #40
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note this line from above!! so it is a money making exercise!!

Quote:
The income will also help Iarnród Éireann address the increasing operation costs in the current economic environment.
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