Tipperary rail passengers question fare hikes as calls for better services continue

Proposed increases to rail fares on the Nenagh line have prompted renewed calls for better services, with local passengers and the North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership questioning the value of higher fares when long-standing timetable issues remain.

Under the proposed changes, the current €3 single fare on the Ballybrophy line is set to rise to €10.85, while the €6 day return fare will increase to €15.60.

The changes have been criticised by Tipperary TD Alan Kelly, who has called on the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann to reconsider the decision.

In a written response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Kelly, dated October 29, Iarnród Éireann said the promotional fares were being removed as part of the NTA’s strategy to introduce more consistent distance-based fares across public transport.

The response stated: “The promotional fares on the Nenagh branch are one of a number that will be removed as part of the promotional fares review, moving onto the Economy 2 fare structure.”

It added that Iarnród Éireann would still have scope to incentivise online booking, with discount options, while the walk-up fare would be the Economy 2 fare.

The company also pointed to Taxsaver season tickets for daily commuters, which allow passengers to benefit from tax relief. Giving the example of an annual ticket to Limerick costing €1,690, it said the net cost after tax relief could be as little as €908, representing a daily return cost of €3.63 for a commuter, allowing for typical annual leave.

For one woman who regularly uses the train to commute to Dublin, the issue is not simply the prospect of paying more, but whether passengers will see improvements in return.

Speaking to Tipperary Live this week at Nenagh train station, she said her day return ticket to Dublin costs just under €30, with the Nenagh to Ballybrophy section accounting for €3 each way.

“I personally don't have an issue with the fare increase if there was something in return,” she said.

“There is no revision to the timetable for the Limerick-Ballybrophy service,” she said.

“There appears to be no investment in this service, which is a real shame. Nenagh is a really growing, vibrant town. It needs a proper public transport service, both to Dublin and to Limerick too.”

She said there were “a great number of people living in Nenagh working in Limerick” and that rail options for those travelling to the city, including students, remained limited.

The situation has led some people to drive from Nenagh to other stations to catch their train.

“We have a situation now where a lot of people living in Nenagh are driving to Ballybrophy or Thurles to pick up the service,” she said.

The commuter said better connections were particularly important for people who wanted to live outside Dublin while travelling there for work.

“I wanted to move back. I wanted to live closer to my own family and to my husband's family, and to raise our kids near an area where I grew up myself,” she said.

“A lot of other people want to do the same and I don't think it's a big ask to have a few additional train services departing from Nenagh to Dublin and a few additional services going to Limerick as well, to and from.”

She said improved services could also help bring visitors into the town.

“It would also bring people into Nenagh. We're trying to promote Nenagh in general as a destination and people might want to come down for a day.”

Virginia O'Dowd of the North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership said the group had been involved with the line for more than two decades and highlighted both the progress it had made and the improvements it continues to seek.

“I've been involved with the rail partnership for 23, 24 years at this stage,” she said.

“The reason we got involved at that time was there was a threat to the line being closed and luckily that was reversed.”

She said the partnership had continued to work to improve services and connectivity, and acknowledged the work that had been achieved in cooperation with Irish Rail.

Ms O'Dowd later added: “We always work in partnership with Irish Rail. We got the early morning commuter train to Limerick, which is a huge success. We got improved signage at all the stations along the line and we will continue to work in partnership with them.”

She also pointed to the installation of continuous welded rail, which has improved speeds on the line, potentially reducing journey times by up to 15 minutes.

However, she said more services were needed, particularly an earlier train to Dublin and a midday service.

“It's of no use for anybody working in Dublin,” she said of the current timetable. “It's okay for people going for appointments or a social day out.”

She said the timetable could leave passengers spending much of the day in the capital.

“If you take our line, you're stuck in Dublin from 10 o'clock in the morning until 6 in the evening and not everybody needs that and wants that.”

The partnership has also encountered Nenagh passengers at Ballybrophy who have driven there rather than use the local service.

“We meet Nenagh people in Ballybrophy, and they have driven there much faster than our line would take,” she said.

Ms O'Dowd said the partnership had met with Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to discuss the need for a midday service.

“They acknowledge the need for this, but the answer is always, 'Sorry, we can't do it at this time. We don't have the resources,'” she said.

She added that the partnership believed extra carriages at Limerick station could potentially be used to improve services on the line.

A long-term ambition would be to have a train running every two hours, but she said even a midday service would be welcome.

The fare changes have therefore brought the wider challenges facing the Nenagh line back into focus. While Iarnród Éireann has outlined its reasons for removing the promotional fares and pointed to discounts and Taxsaver options, passengers and campaigners continue to seek more frequent and useful services that would make rail a practical alternative to travelling by car.