Iarnród Éireann said today it is planning to impose car parking charges at three stations along Dublin's DART and commuter networks.
The charges at Booterstown, Clontarf Road and Malahide stations are expected to be introduced later this year.
The company said it was forced into the decision because local authorities in these areas have introduced car park charges on-street in areas adjacent its stations.
Dismissing media reports that the introduction of charges at the stations was part of a 'pilot scheme' for wider charging at DART and commuter stations, an Iarnrod Eireann spokesman said the company had examined the option of charging at stations across the board last year, but decided against proceeding with the proposal.
But in the case of the three stations Iarnrod Eireann decided to press ahead with the charges due to the high levels of non-commuters using the stations' car parks.
The spokesman added that rail commuters will have heavily discounted nominal charges for parking, with much higher rates applying for non-commuters.