Sir, - It is somewhat disingenuous of CIE to suggest that there have been no fare increases since 1991 (The Irish Times, July 23rd). It may be the case that the standard (i.e. full-price) fares have not been increased, but other fares certainly have. To give one example from my own personal experience, in 1992 a student return by train from Killarney to Dublin cost £15 and in 1998 the same journey cost £21.50. This represents an increase of 43 per cent in six years, which is far in excess of the rate of inflation and, indeed, of the increases currently being proposed. It should be noted that the this applies equally in respect of bus fares.
If CIE was to be consistent in the application of any fare increases that might be approved in the near future, student, Faircard and other similar fares would actually have to be reduced to 7-10 per cent above 1991 levels, but something tells me that this is about as likely as our trains beginning to run on time.Are you right there, Michael? - Yours, etc. James C. O'Shea,
Beaufort,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.