Finally, a fare deal for commuters.
Labour’s Senator Mark Wall in Kildare South and Deputy Ged Nash in Louth have today welcomed the NTA announcement that Newbridge, Sallins, Drogheda, and Laytown have been included in the new lower-price Dublin Commuter Zone.
Senator Wall said:
“Following a campaign over the last 6 years we are delighted to see the NTA publish the new Dublin Commuter Zone pricing structure today. The new structure will mean cheaper rail fares for hard pressed commuters using Newbridge and Kildare rail stations.
“I raised this in the Seanad with Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan last February and I am delighted that he has heeded our call. The campaign run by the Kildare South Labour Party, which accumulated with almost 8,000 signatures calling for a fair deal for rail commuters, has included numerous meetings with the NTA, and highlighted the inequality of fares between Newbridge and Sallins rail stations in particular.
“It is very important that I acknowledge the campaign of Newbridge Community Development and in particular its lead Jennifer Caffrey, whose “extend the short hop zone” campaign placed the need of commuters and the inequality of fares at the very heart of this debate. It was great to work with her on keeping this important item at the top of the agenda.
“This is an important step forward for rail commuters in Kildare South but the campaign will not rest until the two other stations in Kildare South, Monasterevin and Athy see an equal reduction in fares as well as seeing an increase in carriages and infrastructure . We’re calling on Government and the NTA to review the further towns which could benefit from the short hop zone ticket pricing structure.”
Deputy Nash said:
“It’s about time fairer fares were introduced for rail commuters.
“Drogheda, South Louth and East Meath-based train users were for too long cash-cows paying unjustifiably high adult daily, monthly and annual rates to use trains on the busiest line in the country.
“I have campaigned for fairer and more transparent fare structures for many years and I am pleased that we now have real and tangible progress that will see commuters availing of fairer fares from Drogheda and Laytown into Dublin.
“The next thing the authorities need to do is to recognise the battle that it is to commute from Dundalk to Dublin by train.
“This daily reality must mean more trains, better frequency and at sensible times when commuters from North Louth need them most.”