Iarnrod Eireann, the Irish national rail company, has announced new fares from December 1, 2012.
The National Transport Authority has announced an increase in single and return fares, complimenting the earlier increase in monthly and annual season ticket fares. Iarnrod Eireann is implementing its fare increases from December 1, 2012, with the monthly season ticket fare increases to be implemented from January 1, 2013.
The single, return and season tickets for adults, children and students will rise by an average of 3 percent for intercity and long-distance journeys of 41km and more, and by 10 percent for Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and short-distance journeys.
A report published by the National Transport Authority, said, ‘Public transport fare increases have been deemed to be necessary in recent years as the operators have sought to compensate for reduced PSO payments, declining numbers of passengers due to the economic situation and reduced ancillary revenues.
Cost reduction programmes have been put in place by the operators, but these take time to design and implement, and costs have not fallen to the same extent as the revenue base. Cost reduction has also been hindered by the significant increase in fuel costs, which are largely outside the operators’ control. The result has been that increases in fares have been counter to, or in excess of, inflation and economic growth.’
Iarnrod Eireann, said in a statement, ‘Iarnrod Eireann will continue to provide a range of heavily discounted online fares through www.irishrail.ie significantly below these regulated fares, as well as student, family fare and other promotions throughout the year. Furthermore, commuters who purchase monthly or annual season tickets through their employer via the Taxsaver scheme receive tax relief of up to 52 percent on the cost of their season tickets.’
