Iarnród Éireann has defended the introduction from today of pay parking at Gormanston station in Co Meath on a commuter line into Connolly Station in Dublin.
The company also confirmed that pay parking would be introduced at other stations on the northern commuter line, including Drogheda, as it has invested in improved car parks.
The introduction of the fee - €2 a day or €5 for a weekly ticket - has been criticised by Labour's Senator Dominic Hannigan, who said "it flies in the face of a whole raft of policies designed to encourage people to use public transport". "At a time when we are encouraging people to reduce their carbon footprint it is ridiculous to be increasing the cost of commuting by train," he added
Iarnród Éireann said parking spaces at Gormanston had been increased from 40 to 250. Capacity on the line from Dundalk is expected to reach 13,380 a day by 2009, a 140 per cent jump on the 2003 figure. Mr Hannigan said commuters had no alternative way of getting to the station as there was no connecting bus.