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Bookmark, Email, Print or ShareClamping at Waterford Train Station
Dear Sir,
On 11th August last I was a foot passenger on the morning service from Plunkett Station Waterford to Heuston and parked my car in the east car park.
It was my understanding that parking at this location was free for rail customers, as it had been on my last visit to Waterford some time ago. So, I was very annoyed when, on my return, the vehicle had been clamped.
This action caused me an untold level of inconvenience and expense and seemed to me to be a very inappropriate and heavy-handed way of dealing with people like myself who are Iarnród Éireann customers.
Imagine my dismay when some weeks later I read an article in The Munster Express stating that “Irish Rail has shown no interest in working to resolve the matter”.
In my opinion, this shows a clear neglect of ‘duty of care’ to its customers and an attitude that is worrying in the light of the public perception of the company profile.
In addition to the imposition of the initial release fee of €120, I now find that, as part of the process of having to appeal this unjust fine, I will have to pay a further €20 for the Independent Appeals Services to go through the documentation again. Should I omit to send them anything that they deem they need, it will be a further €20 again! So my decision to travel by Iarnród Éireann has so far cost me €28 (Rail Fare) + €120 (Release Fee) + €20 (IPAS). Is it any wonder that people are not availing of rail travel?
I am a college student and cannot afford the cost and uncertainty of having my car clamped at railway stations and as such will not be using the rail facilities again. It will certainly not encourage me to visit Waterford again anytime soon because it is the first point of contact for rail travellers. It is wrong that such negative and punitive measures are in place.
Plunkett Station is, at best, a cold and cheerless place with no facilities to speak of. If an old or vulnerable person arrived at an unsocial hour to find their car clamped, they would be left in a position of serious personal risk not to mention having to have access to a phone/credit card and then wait, possibly alone, in the car park for the operative to be called to release the car.
Would it not be applicable to issue a parking voucher with a valid rail purchase? Or have NCPS operatives in the car park during peak times selling them to people on production of rail tickets? There must be an easier way.
Yours sincerely,
Name and address with Editor
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March 28th, 2011 at 11:23 am
Dear Sir,
I completely understand this persons frustration. I was after bringing my children, 9, 2 & 1 to Dublin Zoo for the day. I was running behind trying to get the 7.30 train on time while hauling the buggy, baggage, bottles, lunches toys etc. out of the car that would be required for 3 kids on an outing. DID NOT see any signs for pay and display. had a long but fun day at Dublin zoo only to find on my return at aprox 6.30 that my car was clamped. I couldn’t believe it. I had been told it was a free car park so was completely horrified. I had no money left when i returned never mind 120 euro that it costs to get the clamp released and Im not the owner of a credit card, so like this person, the amount of untold inconvenience was unbearable. It took nearly and hour to sort out the 120 euro and then another 3/4 of an hour with 3 kids waiting in the cold car park for someone to release the clamp. There was no facilities in the station to get even a cup of tea or something for the kids to eat. I can’t explain how upset this made me on the day. There was about 10 other cars on that same day that were clamped so I cant comprehend how many people they upset on that day & to what extent. I agree with this person, there has to be a better way.
sincerely,