Rail passengers taking the Enterprise from Belfast to Dublin are paying 20% more than if they travelled on the same train in the opposite direction.
The Irish government has discounted public transport fares by 20%, which includes Enterprise tickets for journeys originating in the Republic.
It has led to calls for ‘fare parity’ with a one way ticket for an adult passenger from Belfast to Dublin costing up to £33.
The operator of the national railway network of Ireland, Iarnród Eireann, advertises tickets from Dublin to Belfast at €30.40.
For students, a single ticket through the Irish rail website can cost around €8 from Dublin to Belfast. However, the return journey costs more than double at £16.50.
Aoife Bennet, who is a student at Trinity College Dublin, said: “I study in Dublin but I live in Belfast and to go home it’s €8 but to get back down to Dublin it’s £16.50. It’s just a bit ridiculous that the exact same service is over double the price if you’re booking your ticket in Belfast.”
Translink has announced an increase its average rail fares by 10% in a blow to public transport users. However, Enterprise and cross border bus fares remain unchanged.
A Translink spokesperson said: “Enterprise is operated as a joint venture by Irish Rail and Translink. Each company has its own ticketing/IT systems, fare structures and special offers and operate in different jurisdictions with different government policies.
“The RoI government has discounted public transport fares by 20% across the board, which includes Enterprise tickets for journeys originating south of the border”.
