[Article] Pay and Display on the way

[chipper]

Signs are now up in stations along the Northern Line to tell us that car parking charges will be in force from Monday September 1. It does not mention the clamping fee but I am pretty sure I remember Barry Kenny saying it is a punishing €160 or €180.

I can only speak about my own experience in Drogheda but I can't see this putting people off the train. Even if you get free parking in Dublin the petrol alone would cost more than the combined tax saver fare and train station parking. I can only hope that this will put off those who can walk to the station. I know a few who are now going to leave the car at home and if there are enough of them it might leave a few spaces every morning. My biggest gripe about getting the train is the necessity to leave early to get parking so maybe this will give me the option of an extra hour in bed.

[coffeedrinker]

Originally Posted by chipper

I can only hope that this will put off those who can walk to the station. I know a few who are now going to leave the car at home and if there are enough of them it might leave a few spaces every morning. My biggest gripe about getting the train is the necessity to leave early to get parking so maybe this will give me the option of an extra hour in bed.

Everywhere is within walking distance of a train station (it might take hours to walk there) but what one person's walking distance is, is different than anothers. I live 'within walking distance' of the station - yet I drive - I normally have something to do after work and don't head straight home - should I not use the car park at the station even if I;m willing to pay for it. - I pay my taxes just like everyone else!!

[Trampas]

I live 10 miles away from my station.

A bit far for me to walk.

Maynooth car park is full of holes. I would be surprised to see it been resurfaced.

I'll just have to park on the Staffen road outside as no yellow lines

[Laois Commuter]

Originally Posted by Trampas

I live 10 miles away from my station.

A bit far for me to walk.

Maynooth car park is full of holes. I would be surprised to see it been resurfaced.

I'll just have to park on the Staffen road outside as no yellow lines

So you choose to live 10 miles from the station. Why should you be subsidised by those who live closer? When looking for my current home, walking distance to the station was one of the criteria I used.

There has been little cash for maintenance I suspect (repairs come under maintenance, not capital works). This is an attempt to address it - but the revenue stream is needed first.

Car use has a cost, and why such users feel that they should not have to pay is beyond me. I would love to see the irate responses if UK levels of station parking charges were implemented - see my earlier post.

LC

[Trampas]

Originally Posted by Laois Commuter

So you choose to live 10 miles from the station. Why should you be subsidised by those who live closer? When looking for my current home, walking distance to the station was one of the criteria I used.

There has been little cash for maintenance I suspect (repairs come under maintenance, not capital works). This is an attempt to address it - but the revenue stream is needed first.

Car use has a cost, and why such users feel that they should not have to pay is beyond me. I would love to see the irate responses if UK levels of station parking charges were implemented - see my earlier post.

LC

I would love to get the Bus Eireann bus to work but that doesn't go near where I work cause all it goes to Busaras and leaves from there.

What do you mean by why should I be subsidised?

The car park in Maynooth has been there for years. They are not buying any extra land. As been said before all this is pay parking is extra money for IR.

[dowlingm]

this issue has just raised its head here too, albeit more in the withdrawal of free parking for pass holders. TTC lots cost more to operate though because of snow removal costs and that some parking is on leased land.

[plant43]

Originally Posted by Trampas

What do you mean by why should I be subsidised?

Maintaining car parks costs money. If you don't pay to park, then you are being subsidised.

Of course, the car parks in train stations haven't been well maintained so far, but maybe this revenue stream will change this.

[Mark Gleeson]

Other way to look at is why is Irish Rail facilitating non rail users in the car park

They have made no efforts to block non passenger usage, if they where serious about providing a proper car park facility for rail passengers that would be the first thing to do. In many cases it would free up a lot of space without impacting on the long suffering and already overcharged commuter.

If I shop in the shopping centre and buy something I get free parking, if I buy nothing I pay. Everyone has a train ticket so why can't they work it out

[chipper]

Originally Posted by Laois Commuter

So you choose to live 10 miles from the station. Why should you be subsidised by those who live closer? When looking for my current home, walking distance to the station was one of the criteria I used.

Car use has a cost, and why such users feel that they should not have to pay is beyond me. I would love to see the irate responses if UK levels of station parking charges were implemented - see my earlier post.

LC

I live near Slane, approximately 11 miles from Drogheda train station. I do so because of family, my wife's job and my children's school. I am not going to move house and force my children onto a school bus.

Slane is slap-bang on the N2 and just 30 miles from O'Connell Street but public transport is simply not provided. Check it out. If you can find a way for me to get to Dublin before 9am without having to drive to either Drogheda train or bus stations or Navan for the bus then let me know. I have tried them all, including the private bus service that runs right through Slane, but only the train can get me to work on time and home again at a reasonable time.

As for your comments on UK levels of parking charges, you are correct about this (my brother-in-law pays £30 per week in Milton Keynes) but of what relevance is it here? Our trains do not copy the UK in terms of speed and service levels so why would they copy the car parking charges?

[Laois Commuter]

Originally Posted by chipper

I live near Slane, approximately 11 miles from Drogheda train station. I do so because of family, my wife's job and my children's school. I am not going to move house and force my children onto a school bus.

Slane is slap-bang on the N2 and just 30 miles from O'Connell Street but public transport is simply not provided. Check it out. If you can find a way for me to get to Dublin before 9am without having to drive to either Drogheda train or bus stations or Navan for the bus then let me know. I have tried them all, including the private bus service that runs right through Slane, but only the train can get me to work on time and home again at a reasonable time.

As for your comments on UK levels of parking charges, you are correct about this (my brother-in-law pays £30 per week in Milton Keynes) but of what relevance is it here? Our trains do not copy the UK in terms of speed and service levels so why would they copy the car parking charges?

Obviously I do not know your work times, but this link http://www.collinscoaches.ie/timetable.html appears to offer connections covering most commutes. They appear to arrive on time - I have seen them in Dublin. Took me 5 minutes to find.

LC

LC

[chipper]

Originally Posted by Laois Commuter

Obviously I do not know your work times, but this link http://www.collinscoaches.ie/timetable.html appears to offer connections covering most commutes. They appear to arrive on time - I have seen them in Dublin. Took me 5 minutes to find.

LC

LC

I have tried them. Unfortunately their first evening arrival in Slane is 18:30 which is a bit too late. My current commute sees me get off the train in Drogheda at 17:20 and arrive in Slane at about 17:50.