I would welcome any comments re what I regard as a horrific experience that I encountered this morning on the Dart. I went to the Bayside Dart station to get a dart to Dunlaoighre to go to a friends funeral. When I went to get my ticket there was no one in the ticket office. I proceeded to the machines and tried unsuccessfully with the assistance of two others to get a ticket to no avail. I got on the Dart and very soon I was approached by a ticket inspector, I explained to him why I had no ticket and offered to pay for one but he refused and told me that there was a fine of 50 euro. He demanded my name and ID which I refused ( although was tempted to give a false one!) Hew was now joined by two other burly officials who proceeded to inform me that the ticket office was manned and therefore I was lying. Another woman in the same carriage overheard our conversation and said that there was no man in the ticket office. One of these burly guys told her to mind her own business and stop shouting, (she was not shouting) In the meantime we had arrived at Clontarf Road station, my friend got on (he too was going to the funeral). He saw what was happening and made a comment ‘this is like the Gestapo, I know this woman she doesn’t tell lies’ He was immediately told to stay out of this or get out. I was told that the gardai would be called at Pearse Station and the Dart service would be held up until I cooperated. I got off in Connolly, I dident see them anymore. I found all of this very embarrassing and highhanded, I have never travelled without a ticket before and I really thought that it would be a matter of explaining to them and they would understand. I certainly did not think that I would have to pay 50 euro for their inadequacies and be treated as a common criminal in the midst of a carriage full of commuters. Obviously I did not get to my friends funeral which was unfortunate and I guess it will be sometime before I travel by dart again. I would like to complain to Irish Rail but then they would have my name and address and I would still have to pay the 50 euro fine. Sorry this is so longwinded but I am still traumatised.
Altercation with Dart officials
- Thread starter Brighid
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Thanks sidzer, Yeh, would do that but they would then have my name and address and probably sue me for 50 euro.
Tinker Bell
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By what you say, I doubt that they would chase you. Make sure you've got the times/places right and take a photo copy of the complaint. Just to rub it in, send it by registered post - so if it gets "lost" it is in their watch. You need to go through with this for your own wellbeing. Good luck.
The rule is if you don't have a ticket, you're not entitled to travel. It's as simple as that no matter what. It doesn't matter if you're going to a funeral or a wedding or just fancy a view of the bay from under your hoodie while sipping a can of cider. If you don't like this rule don't use the DART.
What about Broombridge?
I've gotten trains there, ok it's not the DART but you can just pay at your destination no problem
You were obviously one of the guys I encountered yesterday and yes u have missed the point!
starlite68
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someone with your attitude would rise through the ranks fast in nazi germany!
We Irish are great at complaining both about rules not being enforced in general and also complaining when they are applied to us individually. The Irish Rail rules and by-laws are pretty clear and the fact that in the past they turned a blind eye or were lenient is no reason to feel entitled to such leniency.
Try making excuses with ticket inspectors on any of the public transport systems in continental European countries. It does not work and if you don't pay the on-the-spot fine you will get arrested by police. In some countries you are taken off the train/tram/metro just to pay the fine.
Yep the machines are difficult to operate and sometimes unreliable and it's fair to complain about that. Traveling without a ticket when the rules are very clear and then refusing to pay the fine is not reasonable.
And yes I know Boombridge is an exception.
This may be harsh but it's the only way to be fair. Otherwise you end up in the situation where respectable "middle-class looking" middle-aged people have their excuses accepted but groups of poorer looking kids don't. And without fairness, rules have no legitimacy. The fact that you were going to a funeral, have always paid in the past, etc. has no relevance to this situation.
Try making excuses with ticket inspectors on any of the public transport systems in continental European countries. It does not work and if you don't pay the on-the-spot fine you will get arrested by police. In some countries you are taken off the train/tram/metro just to pay the fine.
Yep the machines are difficult to operate and sometimes unreliable and it's fair to complain about that. Traveling without a ticket when the rules are very clear and then refusing to pay the fine is not reasonable.
And yes I know Boombridge is an exception.
This may be harsh but it's the only way to be fair. Otherwise you end up in the situation where respectable "middle-class looking" middle-aged people have their excuses accepted but groups of poorer looking kids don't. And without fairness, rules have no legitimacy. The fact that you were going to a funeral, have always paid in the past, etc. has no relevance to this situation.
Y
Yorrick
Guest
You attempted to purchase a ticket at the commencement of your journey. The machine was broken and there was no one in the ticket office. The first opportunity you got to purchase a ticket was when you were approached on the train by the Ticket Inspector. You explained the scenario to him and offered to pay the ticket. ( I am presuming of course that you had every intention to pay for your ticket when you ad the opportunity perhaps when alighting from the Dart).
Under the Bye Law the Ticket Inspector is entitled to ask for your name and address and unfortunately you refused to give it. This is an offence.
However considering the entire manner in which you were dealt with by the Ticket Inspector your refusal was reasonable.
You could make a complaint which may get an apology or alternatively just put it down to experience. The Dart officials could very easily start a prosecution which will end up wasting a lot of your time whether you are found guilty or no. and
Under the Bye Law the Ticket Inspector is entitled to ask for your name and address and unfortunately you refused to give it. This is an offence.
However considering the entire manner in which you were dealt with by the Ticket Inspector your refusal was reasonable.
You could make a complaint which may get an apology or alternatively just put it down to experience. The Dart officials could very easily start a prosecution which will end up wasting a lot of your time whether you are found guilty or no. and
starlite68
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for what its worth i think you should make a complaint...you done everything you could to buy a ticket and then were treated shamefully by the inspectors,the very least you should get is a letter of apology.
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z107
Guest
A few months ago, we didn't have a ticket for the last in a series of German trains. We were worried the train would leave without us, so we just got on. Ticket purchasing facilities were in full working order at the station.
The ticket inspector came on, looked at our other tickets, and allowed us to purchase tickets from him. No police were involved. He did ask why we didn't have valid tickets, but must have used his common sense, and saw that we'd had been compliant in purchasing all the other tickets, and were not out to rip them off.
I always thought it was common enough practise to buy tickets on the train. I've frequently done this in the UK.
I would be with Yorrick on this one. However, I would make a complaint. You did everything in your power to buy a ticket and could not. What did he expect you to do. Especially as another passenger had verified the story. I sometimes think these jobsworths know who they are picking on. If it was a drugged up Junkie (like I used to see on the Luas) they would not have approached him.
I was travelling from Varenna in Italy to Bergamo recently. The small train station was closed because it was a Sunday, the ticket machine was broken. When we got on the train the inspector and his colleague approached us and showed us a book. Do you speak English he said. I thought to myself that I was being shown a book of rules about train travel in Italy. Much to my surprise it was a book called Inglourious Basterds and he simply wanted to know what the word "Hillybilly" meant. We were never asked for a ticket and he even went out of his way to show us where to change trains in Lecco for our onward journey to Bergamo.
I agree. The job of the inspector is to enforce the rules. He may have been rude, but that's another matter.
If making a formal complaint will make you feel better, do it. It will be your word against theirs, which will probably make you even more frustrated. Witnesses? i doubt if they will want to get involved.
starlite68
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its not about making yourself feel better..if a complaint is not made these inspectors go on thinking they can speak to the public in what tone and manner they like. most companies will take a complaint of this nature very seriously and have it investigated,its in there own intrest to do so.
Perhaps Irish Rail should have a contact number clearly displayed in the station when all machines are out of order and the desk is unmanned. Considering the distance between stations it is ridiculous to expect someone to forego travelling simply because there is no option to purchase a ticket.
I would send in a letter of complaint, if these issues are not highlighted then nothing will be done about it.
I would send in a letter of complaint, if these issues are not highlighted then nothing will be done about it.
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