South Kildare Train Commuters Need Fairer Fares – HEYDON

Minister Martin Heydon has called on Minister for Transport Eamonn Ryan to intervene to ensure that all commuters using Irish Rail services in South Kildare are treated and priced as commuters similar to those in North Kildare. He was speaking as the difference between train fares in stations inside and outside of the commuter short hop zone, continues to cause difficulties.

“Huge differentials currently exist in fares between areas in the Short Hop Zone such as Sallins/Naas and Hazelhatch and those outside of it such as Newbridge, Kildare town, Monasterevin and Portarlington.  These differentials are so large as to drive commuters back into their cars which is not what we want.

“We have excellent train services and facilities in South Kildare and it is one of the attributes that has encouraged more people to live in our towns and surrounding areas, but we must ensure that it remains feasible for them to use these services to commute to the city for work.  Our local roads and motorways are already busy enough without frustrated commuters added to congestion.

“I recently brought my colleague Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton to Newbridge Train Station to see the facilities on offer and to explain to her the huge differences in fares from there to Dublin compared to those just up the road in Sallins.  She undertook to bring these concerns back to Minister Ryan and I have also followed up with him directly.  I am aware that the NTA are responsible for setting train fares, and I am also speaking to them, but we need a direction from the top that this area is a concern and needs to be reviewed immediately and I am continuing to push for that change”, concluded Minister Heydon.