Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > Irish Rail Customer Service Issues > General Irish Rail Discussion
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 04-07-2007, 08:36   #1
2Funki4Wheelz
Member
 
2Funki4Wheelz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portarlington
Posts: 397
Default Dogs on Trains

I've heard all sorts on this, and another facet added this morning as I talked to a fellow commuter in Port this morning.

Are dogs allowed on trains, and if so, in what capacity?

Iarnrod Eireann website (not the irishrail one, it re-directs you) simply says:
Quote:
Q. Can pets travel on the train?
A. Pets (with the exception of Guide dogs) are not allowed onto the DART or Suburban rail trains. They are allowed on Intercity trains.
http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/home/faq.asp?faq_id=38#38

The girl I spoke to this morning was told by one the station staff - really only small dogs are allowed be on the train, that can sit on your lap. Or you can put them in the guard's carriage (How kind). Nothing about intercity or otherwise.

I overheard a guy on the Luas with a black lab that he goes up and down to Cork with regularly and he has to buy a ticket for the dog. (something like the bike ticket? harsh, if true)

And from personal experience, most people think they're not allowed full stop.
I had all 3 of mine on the train in March and no one said a thing to us. They were better behaved than most people's children and took up less space than most holidaying ladies' 2 giant pink floral suitcases that are usually left on seats/in the aisle/in front of the doors. [/mini-rant]

With the Bakers Dog's Day out on this weekend I thought it would be handy to know the actual answer (IE could've run a doggy special )
__________________
Customer Service costs nothing...
2Funki4Wheelz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 10:36   #2
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

Well, the answer is in your post. Pets are allowed on intercity trains. You use common sense and a pet is a small domestic animal (Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Llama's) but not Horses, Giraffe's Lions, Whales and Sharks.

Ones that behave (like Dogs) go with you some in a cage with you (like a Guide Cat or Rabbit) ones that don't (like a Zombie or a Werewolf) are more suited to the Guards Van.
__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 10:38   #3
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

It is of course, perverse, but on a strict interpertation of those rules you can bring any animal which is NOT a pet on the DART.

Cattle would make a nice ironic gesture.
__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 10:47   #4
2Funki4Wheelz
Member
 
2Funki4Wheelz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portarlington
Posts: 397
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp View Post
It is of course, perverse, but on a strict interpertation of those rules you can bring any animal which is NOT a pet on the DART.

Cattle would make a nice ironic gesture.
Which is why the website could do with being a bit more specific, since the staff don't really seem to know, and it's open to all sorts of interpretation.

I'd class a horse as a pet if a llama is one. And no cages please!
__________________
Customer Service costs nothing...
2Funki4Wheelz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 11:20   #5
ACustomer
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 767
Default

Reminds me of the Commitments and the scene where the guy is putting is horse into the lift in Ballymun flats. Imagine attempting to put your horse onto a Dart at Kilbarrack ("Show me where is sez i can't bring the horse").
ACustomer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 12:47   #6
ooleary
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kildare
Posts: 34
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Funki4Wheelz View Post
I overheard a guy on the Luas with a black lab that he goes up and down to Cork with regularly and he has to buy a ticket for the dog. (something like the bike ticket? harsh, if true)
The last time I took my proper bike on the train the ticket had "BIKES/DOGS RETURN" printed on it. Fiver return from Kildare to Dublin; 15 return from Galway to Dublin.
ooleary is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 13:13   #7
2Funki4Wheelz
Member
 
2Funki4Wheelz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portarlington
Posts: 397
Default

Which means the website is totally inconsistent because...

The FAQ clearly states the need for a ticket for (unfolded) bikes:
Quote:
Q. Can I bring my bicycle onto the train?
A.
Bicycles can not be conveyed on DART or Commuter trains unless folded and suitably covered. On Intercity trains bicycles not folded and covered can be conveyed in the guards compartment or the special cycle racks where provided. A valid ticket for the bicycle must be obtained before travelling.

Please check at your local station before travelling.
So it's reasonable from the above that a dog should only require a ticket if travelling in the guard's compartment.
__________________
Customer Service costs nothing...
2Funki4Wheelz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 13:25   #8
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

No. Its reasonable to have the Dog folded and suitably covered if you're bringing him/her on the DART. On intercity trains you can place him/her on the special rack provided.
__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 13:27   #9
2Funki4Wheelz
Member
 
2Funki4Wheelz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portarlington
Posts: 397
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp View Post
No. Its reasonable to have the Dog folded and suitably covered if you're bringing him/her on the DART. On intercity trains you can place him/her on the special rack provided.
I think it'd be easier to dress them up as toddlers and make sure they get on for free.
__________________
Customer Service costs nothing...
2Funki4Wheelz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 14:42   #10
packetswitch
Member
 
packetswitch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 216
Default

If cats can get buses, can they get trains?

packetswitch is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 15:00   #11
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default Timely Return on Monorail Cat

__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 15:01   #12
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 15:17   #13
2Funki4Wheelz
Member
 
2Funki4Wheelz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portarlington
Posts: 397
Default

*sigh* Cats always get preferential treatment
__________________
Customer Service costs nothing...
2Funki4Wheelz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 16:30   #14
dermo88
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 136
Default

Thomas, Where did you get that pic of the 'white elephant' at Putrajaya?
dermo88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 16:34   #15
Prof_Vanderjuice
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 94
Default

I remember that when I lived on campus at TCD the conditions of occupancy forbade pets or other livestock in rooms...

The cat on the bus, incidentally, reminded me of this (from the somewhat notorious British government petitions website):
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Micetravelfree/
I'm sure it would liven up his journey.
Prof_Vanderjuice is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-07-2007, 20:44   #16
Colm Donoghue
Really Regular Poster
 
Colm Donoghue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 873
Default

So what's the largest animal that can travel by train for free?
I saw a warble one morning. scary baxturd. 2" from front to the tip of his sting.

I've seen smaller mammals.

This lack of consistancy goes to the heart of the terrible customer service from IE. Like Derek has posted and the girl who was abused for having the cheek to try buy a ticket duruing the posted office hours, others getting pulled up for no tickets when tickets could be bought at the destination previously, are all symptoms of the same malaise.
I posted before that compared to Dublin Bus, the attitude of IE staff is poor. I've never seen any IE frontline staff pointing out rreasons why IE is crap or what reasons outside their control cause a crap service.

Several DB staff on boards.ie, letters to newspapers, calls to Joe etc. show that at the minimum customer service is given lip service there.

anyhoo back on topic.
Livestock- are horses livestock or bloodstock?
Thomas, I dunno where you've been, llamas are not small. you may have mistaken it for a vicunya or a guanaco?
And wouldn't werewolves be fine if it was
a) daytime, or
b) no full moon out?
Colm Donoghue is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05-07-2007, 00:01   #17
sean
Member
 
sean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Dublin
Posts: 707
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp View Post
Awww ... so cute
sean is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05-07-2007, 07:00   #18
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prof_Vanderjuice View Post
I remember that when I lived on campus at TCD the conditions of occupancy forbade pets or other livestock in rooms...
But you have the right to graze sheep if a scholar or fellow.........

I will have to double check but only guide dogs are allowed, lap dogs were certainly allowed in the past and just about anything can go in the luggage van
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05-07-2007, 08:21   #19
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
just about anything can go in the luggage van


I'm taking Charles to Dublin on the Train so.
__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05-07-2007, 12:18   #20
dermo88
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 136
Default

Now thats an idea......you could save Hammond Lane a lot of trouble putting Jabba the Hut on board a set of Cravens and Mark 2's instead.
dermo88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:49.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.