MARKETING DRIVE:THE FREE RAIL scheme launched this week for older visitors to the Republic has had an "extremely favourable" reaction overseas, according to Tourism Ireland, the marketing body.
The Golden Trekker pass provides free travel on main-line, Dart and commuter trains to all visitors to the Republic aged 66 or over.
It was developed by Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, following a government commitment in last December’s budget.
Tourism Ireland’s chief executive, Niall Gibbons, says the agency is working hard to promote the pass and has posted information on its suite of 41 websites.
It also distributed more than 100,000 flyers to commuters at railway stations in London, Birmingham, Manchester and elsewhere in Britain in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day.
Word of the scheme has spread quickly, with references to it on the websites of the New York Times, Dallas Morning Newsand Los Angeles Times.Even before it was officially launched, details of the scheme were picked up by the Times of India. TripAdvisor has also included details of the scheme on its website.
Alan Sonner from Virginia is one US traveller interested in becoming a Golden Trekker. He has visited five times and says he loves all things Irish because of his late Irish wife. “My kids were singing Wild Colonial Boy before they learned any nursery rhymes.” His daughter studied at Trinity College Dublin and is now in Belfast.
“Driving in Ireland is hazardous and scary: big cars and buses and, for the most part, narrow highways and roads,” he says. “So train travel is quite attractive.”
The scheme does not extend into Northern Ireland, so tourists such as Sonner, who want to take in Belfast during their visit, will have to pay for the portion of the rail journey between Dundalk and the North.
Tourists will be asked for details such as their date of birth and passport or national-identity-card number. Their Golden Trekker reservation can then be used to book their free tickets when they arrive.
