The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
New customer service plans for rail passengers
RAIL passengers are to have the benefit of on-board and platform staff as part of Iarnród Eireann’s new ‘reorganisation’ plans to improve customer service. The announcement was made at Monday’s meeting of Kerry County Council in which company representatives made a presentation to councillors.
Iarnród Eireann is currently working on implementing the new measures with local rail stations with a view to creating a mix of ‘manned and self-service stations’ in the future.
82 percent of Iarnród Eireann bookings are made online, but a commitment to ensuring the remainder of passengers - who do not have recourse to online booking services - would still be given priority.
“It is better to have people out of ticket offices and on the platforms helping people, while having someone on board would also help with issues like prebooked seats,” said Jane Cregan of Iarnród Eireann.
Councillors broadly welcomed the reorganisation plans but used the opportunity to outline their concerns over Iarnród Eireann’s current Kerry service.
Cllr Norma Foley welcomed the new customer service measures but also raised concerns over rumours that Tralee might lose its direct rail route with Dublin. “Tralee is the capital town and it would be a very poor reflection on our status as a capital if this service were removed. This station is hugely important to Kerry,” Cllr Foley said.
Cllr Michael Gleeson asked for a pedestrian bridge between Killarney bus and rail stations as it was creating hardship and frustration for passengers, while he said ‘an empty ticket office’ was not a good image for tourists visiting Killarney.
Cllr Pa Daly asked Iarnród Eireann personnel to make more of an effort to inform people of how savings can be made when purchasing family tickets. Cllr Niall Kelleher asked that more carriages be made available for passengers leaving Killarney on Sunday mornings, while also stressing his long-term concern for smaller rail stations like Rathmore.