Iarnród Éireann to drop parking charges at four commuter stations

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed it will be dropping controversial parking charges at four railway stations on the Cork-Midleton line for the next three months.

The company said it took the decision to axe the charges to encourage more drivers to switch to the train and said the €2 per day charges would be suspended from today until the end of August.

However, a Fine Gael TD who has campaigned to get the charges abolished has urged Iarnród Éireann to axe them completely at the end of August.

David Stanton said he welcomed the cessation of the charges for the summer season but believed they should never have been introduced at the stations in Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Glounthaune, and Little Island.

The company spent tens of thousands of euro upgrading car parks on the line when it opened the Cork-Midleton service in July 2009.

However, very few of the 500 spaces available at the four stations are ever used.

Motorists are simply parking outside the stations to save themselves €10 for a five-day per week commute.

Mr Stanton said that it simply did not make sense to charge commuters for parking when it was obvious that they could park free nearby and walk into the stations.

“Since the opening of the Cork to Midleton train service a few years ago, I have been in regular contact with Iarnród Éireann regarding the car parking charges at stations in East Cork. I would hope that if this move is successful in increasing customer numbers that Iarnród Éireann would consider extending free parking on a full-time basis.”

Andrew Roche, business development manager for Iarnród Éireann in Cork, said major savings could be had by adults and students by buying weekly or monthly unlimited rail travel commuter tickets.

“For even better value, Iarnród Eireann’s tax saver scheme offers savings of up to 52% for commuters when a monthly or annual rail ticket is purchased through their employer,” said Mr Roche.