Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IRISH COMMUTERS GOING back to work today will be paying more than three times more for their travel than workers making a similar journey in Spain.
The UK-based Action For Rail group has been campaigning for cheaper rail fares in the UK and has compared train fares across Europe.
They found that, for journeys of about 30 miles, there is a vast difference in the price of monthly rail tickets for commuters in different countries.
TheJournal.ie used the same methodology to calculate a comparative journey in Ireland.
UK
The 29 mile journey between Chelmsford to London: €485.
Germany
The 31 mile journey between Eberswald and Berlin: €128.
France
The 29 mile journey between Etampes and Paris: €317.
Italy
The 29 mile journey between Cerveteri Ladispoli and Rome: €50.
Spain
The 27 mile journey between Arenys de Mar and Barcelona: €76.
Ireland
The 30 mile journey between Dublin and Drogheda: €244.
The research by Action for Rail also sought to put the train fares in the context of the average annual wage of workers in each country.
The annual wages were taken from research by the OECD which calculated wages based on full-time workers and part-time workers at their full-time equivalent.
The research then put the price of the monthly ticket for commuters as a percentage of the average monthly income of the workers.
UK: 13%
Germany: 4%
France: 10%
Italy: 2%
Spain: 3%
Ireland: 6%
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Had not realised they had not yet provided a replacement mobility allowance for those who require it. Typical government not important as there are no votes in it…..
When it comes to the golden circle the wheels of government can spin very fast…when its the most vulnerable they barely turn at all.
Wonder will they change when they get a spanking on may 23..
Yet Water tax legislation sailed through in record time………………makes you wonder about priorities doesnt it?
It is a pity they would not cut their own mobility allowance as in travel claims just to attend the Dail, their place of work!
Government policy. The weak, the needy and feeble are shoved aside, and put at the back of the Q. Don’t forget the feeble minded weaklings who pretend to govern us subscribe to the Darwinian ethic of, ‘Only the strong survive’. In their world that means only the greedy and their corrupt underlings survive. We can be strong in ways that they will never know about. God Bless you all. Get up now and walk the walk and talk the talk.
Govts do not do planning or forward thinking. That would entail utilising brain cells. Totally alien concept to the powers that be!!!
Disgraceful Gov. has not catered for people with disabilities. Should it really matter if a person was diagnosed with a disability in the last few months as opposited to 13 months ago.
Gov Policy = Ageism and discrimination at its best.
unless they get told by the mafia bosses in brussels or the troika/IMF or the banks these lot in power couldn’t run a decent piss up on st paddys day
have your say