DUNDALK COMMUTERS HIT OUT AT STATION PARKING CHARGES
IARNROD EIREANN DEFENDS MOVE AFTER CHARGES CAUSE ANGER AMONG RAIL USERS IN THE TOWN July 2008
DUNDALK commuters hit out at Íarnród Éireann over a move to introduce car-parking charges at Clarke Station.
Dundalk Commuters Action Group, formed a number of years ago to campaign for greater frequency of services, say they are ‘disappointed but not surprised’ by the development.
‘ To be honest, we suspected that this was going to happen when work was being done on the car-park about 18 months ago,’ says Mickey Rafferty, Mount Avenue, who travels daily to his job at the Revenue Commissioners in Dublin.
‘ This is just a horrendous charge, really, and could end up adding around €500 to an annual ticket, which is already costing commuters just shy of €2,300.’
Although the charge is described by Íarnród Éireann as nominal at €2 perday or €8 per-week,’ Mr Rafferty points out, ‘I think this is just the thin end of the wedge. Once this is introduced it is likely to increase.’
He adds the station does not just serve Dundalk but is also the base for passengers from north Louth, mid Louth and South Armagh.
‘People travelling these distances have no option but to take their car. This is a heavy penalty for them and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people just decide to drive (to work).’
Meanwhile, Jimmy McEneaney, Doylesfort Grove, points out that capacity at the car-park is already overstretched, with spaces limited after the first three early morning trains.
‘ This is an outrageous charge. Íarnród Éireann say they will be using the funds generated from these charges to provide more services and car-parks but commuters will still have to pay in new car-parks.’
He believes the charge could lead to motorists opting to park on roads close to the station and in nearby residential areas such as Carrick Road, Railway Terrace and Árd Easmuinn.
Íarnród Éireann confirm that ‘pay and display’ charges will be introduced from the beginning of September on the 220 car-parking spaces currently available at Clarke Station.
The contract is awarded to Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems (NCPS) to operate and maintain the system.
Barry Kenny of Íarnród Éireann defends ‘nominal charges which will be invested in improving services.’
‘We have evidence from other stations that more spaces become available when charges are introduced.’
He claims that many rail-users are taking their cars to the station even though they live ten minutes or less away. Mr Kenny says it is not feasible to operate feeder bus services to the station from various parts of Dundalk.
‘ There is not a great up-take on feeder bus services in other towns where they have been introduced.
‘ The system can be difficult to operate as there are so many different estates to be covered which can be time-consuming.’
Mr Kenny says concerns about people parking in residential areas to avoid the charges would have to be addressed by the local authority. Members of the Cobra Kan Kickboxing club who were successful in the recent IAKSA kickbox World Cup held in Austria. Included are (L-R) Aileen Crilly, 2nd -55Kilo, Kim McQuillan, 3rd +55Kilo, Shane Hutchinson, 2nd -54Kilo and Shane Buckley, 3rd -45Kilo.