Clamping rules at train stations should be amended, says cllr

Rules surrounding clamping charges at train stations should be amended in order to protect commuters, says a Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillor.

Labour councillor for Glencullen and Sandyford, Lettie McCarthy was speaking following the publication of the total revenue received by Irish Rail due to clamping fees.

Figures released by Irish Rail show that €23,000 was paid in fees at Heuston Station while €7,680 was paid at Connolly Station last year.

This year, over €17,000 has been paid across the country in clamping charges.

McCarthy said that in addition to the high cost to remove the clamp, how long it takes to get the clamp removed should also be addressed.

“As well as the cost of removing the clamp, the safety of commuters waiting at night for the removal of the clamp must be taken into consideration,” she said.

“While it is absolutely accepted that people must pay the parking charges, the reality is sometimes the machine doesn’t work, the app won’t reload or people just simply forget.

“Commuters are left stranded when they get back to their cars in the evening and release they’ve been clamped.

“On cold, dark nights, people are left waiting at the train station for the clampers to come back and remove the clap.

“It’s time to have a look at this.

“I am calling on Irish Rail to change the rules around clamping so that people do not have to pay on the spot to get it taken off.

“It would be preferable to see a removal of the clamping process given the need for payment, which is heightened in a cost of living crisis, compounded by the public safety issue where an individual arrives back at their car late at night and it’s clamped.

“Clamping should not be seen as a purely revenue raising exercise. I would urge Irish Rail to consider the Labour Party’s call and make it safer for all commuters.”

Irish Rail says that the revenue generated from removing clamped vehicles “goes towards the upkeep of our existing car parks and investment into expansion of our car parking network.”

Smaller stations around Dublin such as Balbriggan, Booterstown, Clontarf Road, Coolmine, Dalkey, Donabate, Killester, Malahide, Portmarnock, Rush, Skerries, and Sutton generated €31,800 in clamping fees for Irish Rail last year.