The Dublin-Waterford Train and people who think they have a right to a seat because they paid for it
Posted by Maman Poulet on 31 Oct 2007 at 11:31 am | Tagged as: Consumer blogging, Disability, Equality, Irish Rail, Uncategorized, eejit..
I get more than a few visits to the blog – Google is kind to me – lots of google searches for Steve Staunton, Niall McElwee, more recently People in Need land here. This morning a commuter from yesterdays Dublin-Waterford 4.25pm train searched visited and went to the post on signage for people with disabilities on trains. I felt her comment deserves a post of its own to remind us of some of the issues (and absolute wankers) facing those who need a seat on a train.
Thanks for visiting Fionnuala, and thanks for doing what you did on the train yesterday – pity you had to!
I have witnessed something obscenely rude and ignorant on the train yesterday evening.
The 4.25pm train from Dublin to Waterford.
It was very busy (as usual) and there were many people standing, beside me were a very elderly couple, the gentleman had a walking stick and the lady with him was quite frail looking (I later found out that they were both in their nineties!!!) and they were standing while young people all around them could see them and were sitting in seats.I felt very strongly about this (I had no seat either but I am only 27 years of age and able-bodied so I was well able to stand – not very comfortable but it wasnt going to be a problem for me)
I went to the top of the carriage and in a polite manner asked if there was anyone who was willing to give their seats to this needy couple.I was met with silence – until a young man said that he would put his seven year old son on his lap and give his son’s seat willingly, I thanked him for this and the elderly gentleman was told by his wife to take the seat (as he had a walking stick)
The train continued on and the elderly lady was still standing, eventually a person was getting off the train and a seat became vacant, I brought the old lady down to the seat and she was delighted as she said that she had been feeling rather unwell and faint due to the long time she had spent standing.
I asked a gentleman in the seat next to it if he could move into the vacant window seat as I didnt think that the elderly lady was going to be able to manouvere herself in past him.I was met with a glare and then a torrent of the following:
“I have paid for this seat (not reserved)and I think that you have victimised the people in this carriage”
I said to the man (in his thirties and able-bodied) that I thought he was a disgrace, he could see how frail and ill the lady was and he should be ashamed of himself!
He did not agree however and continued to argue his point that I should have done nothing and left it as it was!!!!To be honest I felt like giving him an absolute torrent of abuse but I held my tongue as the lady was going to get what she needed albeit grudgingly.
The man got off at the next stop and while passing me by (I am still standing at this stage and called me a dogooder!)
I mean for god’s sake this couples need was obvious, glaringly obvious!
What is wrong with people? This couple could easily have been his parents or grandparents!!!Seriously disheartened by this.
Fionnuala.
Firstly, that bloke who complained needs a good shoeing.
Secondly, I just think it’s unbelievable that they sell more tickets than they have seats. Imagine if airlines did it. Journey times are comparable (leaving long haul aside) but the fuss there’d be if people paid for a ticket and then had to stand all the way from Dublin to Rome or wherever.
If there are 300 seats on a train then there should only ever be 300 passengers. Simple and it would stop crap like that happening.
That is just awful, but I’m even more saddened to say I’m not surprised. I know it’s not the same as being disabled or elderly, but being a mam with a buggy and trying to get the buggy and a toddler, yourself and whatever else you might be carrying into the double closed door shops or up steps can be a nightmare. No one ever offers to help lift up the buggy or hold the door. In fact they tend to just watch you struggle instead. Disgraceful. I often wonder how people in chairs do get around it. I even gave out to Bank of Ireland in Ballina. They built a wheelchair ramp, but put no button for the door at the top, which was a pull door. Great engineering there. They said they would log my complaint. That was two years ago. Nothing has changed.
She should have simply rang the Gards from the train and described what the cunt said and have him booked. Period.
There’s too much of this entitlement shite in this country, from people who push in front of you in M&S (because what you’re looking at on the shelf is sooooo interesting) or push past you (I now block their way as I’m refusing to be invisible also shrinking to 5′4″ now!), or failing to give up seats, be polite when driving, etc. But the State is not any better: look at the crap those four people have had to put up with on the TV the other night… withdrawal of taxis for the disabled. Mary Harney is a monster.
Am absolutely gob-smacked reading this. How about withdrawal of Ministers salaries, perks and fat pensions until they get off their collective ar**s and do something for their Employers, the people of Ireland, old and young.
And there was I looking forward to my next trip to Dublin. Perhaps I’d be better off going to France, rude they can be, but they don’t overcharge visitors.
Buying a ticket at the station does not guarantee you a seat on the train.
It is better to buy your ticket online for three reasons:
(1) Tickets purchased online are normally cheaper than buying tickets at the station.
(2) Tickets purchased online are posted to you so no queueing at ticket office, just walk straight to the train when you arrive at the station.
(3) When you purchase your ticket online you’ll have a seat reserved on the train for you. You even get to choose which carriage and which seat you’d like to sit in on the website when buying your ticket.
I’m travelling from Waterford to Dublin at 1:15 on 13th October, and travelling from Dublin to Waterford at 6:25 on 19th October. I bought an online ticket.
I paid €20 for my ticket but would’ve paid €34.50 at the station.
My ticket was posted to me so I’ll walk straight to the train when I arrive at the station, so no need for me queue at the ticket office or use the ticket vending machine.
I have a seat reserved on both trains for me. I chose seat 13 in carriage A for my outward journey, and seat 13 in carriage B for my return journey. My name will be on an electronic display above the window where my seat is reserved.