Sunday, 21 February 1999

CIE DINOSAUR SHOULD ENTER THE 21st CENTURY
OR BECOME EXTINCT, SAYS HOTEL PRESIDENT

The situation where the national public transport system is unreliable, unresponsive to market needs and providing a poor quality service is a major negative eating into the success of Ireland's economy and thriving tourism industry, the President of the Irish Hotels Federation said today (Sunday 21st February 1999). Speaking on the eve of the Irish Hotels Federation's 61st Annual Conference in Bundoran, Bill Power, called on the Government to allow competition into the market, so that Ireland can attempt to raise its standards of transport provision to that of other European countries.

The IHF has maintained that our national public transport system - both rail and road is a continual annoyance to tourists visiting the country. Besides being unreliable and not running to proper schedules, the level of quality and comfort provided is way below other countries standards.

"It is simply ludicrous that trains and buses do not depart or arrive at the times stated in the timetables. We have a situation where over five million people visited our country last year, and they are shocked at the quality of our transport service. Following the initial disbelief that trains just don't arrive when they are supposed to, visitors are then subjected to having to rush to get a seat and then put up with poor standards of hospitality and cleanliness," says Mr Power.

Deregulation with competition entering the market similar to other industries like air transport (RyanAir) and telecommunications (Esat Telecom) would benefit consumers. Competition in other areas has shown immediate impacts with standards and efficiencies being raised and is the only way forward for our national transport network, Mr Power maintains. "The noticeably higher standards of quality in every respect, of the Belfast to Dublin train service, is a small example of how an excellent level of service can be supplied when interests outside CIE are involved."

He cited an example related by tourists: The airport bus says 'linking Dublin Airport with rail and bus stations' on the side of its vehicle. However, Bus Aras is not linked to Connolly Station. The bus drops people off 600 metres from the DART station. This results in people having to carry and drag heavy luggage the distance, handle the many steps at Connolly Station, and cross a major road (Amiens Street) to get to the station.

It is deemed an obstacle course and difficult to work out where you are going, as there is no signpost informing how to get to the Airport bus from Connolly or Bus Aras or vice versa.

"If you look at the standards of quality provided by both our rail and bus network, it amazes me that tourists don't complain more. But then that is difficult, there is a case where a tourist attempted to complain, but could not get through to the complaints office of CIE after several attempts. It's no surprise, as CIE still doesn't have a customer charter, in spite of the fact that CIE Group signed up to an agreed code of practice on Customer Service in 1997," Mr Power says.

"The so called 'celtic tiger' is not making any difference to quality of transport being provided. If the Government is not going to permit competition into the transport market, then they should disband CIE, invest in roads and allow private enterprise to run our transport systems."

"CIE is an appalling, negative enterprise that sucks in money, politicians and time. It gives nothing back in terms of service, cleanliness or timeliness. It's a dinosaur of the dark ages and should become extinct or get itself into a position where it is providing the level of service expected in the 21st Century," continues Mr Power.

This year's IHF AGM was sponsored by American Express.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Siobhan Molloy/Ciara Sweeney Tel: (086) 817 50 66 or (086) 8262280.