Parking charges for rail users

RAIL commuters across the country face charges for parking at train stations as Irish Rail rolls out a major car park expansion programme.

Dozens of commuter towns are to get new, or enlarged, car parks over the next few years but, in a move criticised by Labour, rail passengers will have to pay to use them.

The party’s spokesman on commuter issues Senator Dominic Hannigan said the charging policy was counter-productive for a public transport company. “We are meant to be trying to encourage people onto public transport and reducing our carbon footprint and this is flying in the face of these efforts,” he said.

Irish Rail defended the move, however, pointing out that at €2 a day, or €5 for a weekly ticket, the charge was nominal. “It’s only intended to help cover maintenance costs and we don’t intend those costs to go up so we don’t expect to have to increase charges either. In all instances they are less than on street parking,” said spokesman Barry Kenny.

The new policy came into effect at Gormanston Station in Meath yesterday where a 250-space car park opened in place of the old 40-space facility. Similar paid-for facilities have also opened in Mallow, Leixlip and Ennis, while Tullamore, Newbridge and Arklow will be the next in what is planned as a countrywide improvement scheme.

Mr Hannigan called on Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Irish Rail to reconsider charging at Gormanston. “It’s an additional charge on commuters who have no choice but to use their cars to get to the railway station because there are no feeder buses. It’s a stealth tax really.”

Mr Kenny defended the decision to apply the policy at Gormanston, insisting the move would actually attract more commuters to the rail service.

“There are 150 people using Gormanston each day but that will grow because there are now parking facilities,” he said.

The Department of Transport would not comment, saying it was a matter for Irish Rail, but Green Party transport spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said while nobody liked to be charged for parking, there was a need to fund the provision and management of car parks.

“Those who have to drive may consider joining forces with someone making the same journey and using one car.”