Commuters could face fare hikes of as much as €5.20 on rail tickets and 32 cent on local buses from January, if the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen, approves new increases sought by CIÉ. Olivia Kelly reports.
The company has applied to the Minister for an 8 per cent increase in fares across its three divisions, Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann from January 5th, to combat rising fuel, insurance and labour costs.
A spokesman for the Minister said he had only recently received the request and it was still under consideration. He could not say whether Mr Cullen would be open to such a large increase in fares, but the Department would give the company a definite response before Christmas.
If Mr Cullen did accept an 8 per cent price hike, the fare increase would be more than double that of last year when a 3.2 per cent increase was granted.
Higher fares were needed on DART, Intercity and suburban trains, a spokesman said, because of the spiralling running costs this year. "In a number of areas there have been significant cost increases. Fuel has gone up by 30 per cent, insurance by 50 per cent and we are bound by the last national wage agreement which means there are increases in staff costs to contend with."
The amount being sought had not yet been determined, he said. However, if an 8 per cent rise was granted, the price of a five-day return from Dublin to Cork would rise from €54.80 to €59 and a single outer suburban fare on Dublin Bus, would go from €4.05 to almost €4.40.