Commuters living in Drogheda and working in Dublin have for many years been paying way more for tickets than commuters living a similar distance south of the capital in towns such as Bray or Greystones.
This inequity comes about because neither Drogheda nor Laytown are included in the so-called short-hop zone as managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Local rail commuters are likely to see some reduction in their fares later this year but there is still no commitment to including Drogheda and Laytown in the “short-hop zone”.
Commenting, Labour Deputy Ged Nash said that once again, Drogheda and Laytown rail commuters are being given short shrift on their desire to be allowed avail of lower “short-hop zone” rail fares.
In his latest correspondence with the NTA, Nash was told that a review of rail fares which is likely to see fares cut somewhat for local commuters, should begin implementation in the third quarter of this year.
But there was no change of mind indicated by the NTA’s on including Drogheda and Laytown rail stations in the “short-hop zone”.
“For too long rail commuters and those buying daily tickets in Drogheda and East Meath have been treated unfairly from a price point of view” the Labour TD said, describing the latest response from the NTA as “deeply disappointing.”
“… While the NTA’s commitment to examine the issue and make fares more equitable is to be welcome, this simply does not go far enough nor will it be fast enough for hard-pressed commuters in Louth and East Meath” he said.
“Fare prices for local residents are nearly double or triple that of other train stations that border the capital. For example, stations like Greystones in Co Wicklow – that are a similar distances from Dublin – are included within the short-hop zone.
“So the case for Drogheda and Laytown to be included in the ‘short-hop’ commuter zone with ticket prices more in line with the rates charged for travel from Greystones into Dublin is an open and shut one.
However, the political will to do this does not exist, he said. “Our area is again the poor relation when it comes to Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party.”
“This is simply not right. Louth and East Meath residents should no longer be the poor relation when it comes to affordable public transport.”
Bettystown based Fine Gael Councillor Sharon Tolan said that following her recent “Fairer Fares” campaign, the NTA undertook a bus and rail fares review in the latter part of 2022 with a fares review report to be published shortly.
“My Fine Gael colleagues in government and I have worked hard to keep this issue to the fore of our Party Policy, keeping it on the agenda in the Dail, Seanad and in Council Chambers around the country” Councillor Tolan said.
She went on to claim that “Minister Eamon Ryan has now committed to addressing the huge fare disparity outside the Short Hop Zone during this process. I am very hopeful that we will see Fairer Fares introduced soon!”
“I received such amazing support from the public throughout this campaign, and I want to thank all of those who engaged with me, sent emails, made submissions and highlighted the issue on social media. I will, of course, be keeping the pressure on in every way possible until we see fair fares actually delivered.”
