28-09-2007 18:00 Dublin-Cork
 

This was like a return to the bad old days of the Dublin-Cork rail service with extra swaying and bumps thrown in for good measure.

The problems:

• The PIS didn't seem to operate after the train left Heuston. There were some scarcely comprehensible manual announcements, but that was it.
• Passengers were forced to stand the whole way from Heuston to Mallow
• Unexplained delays boarding at Heuston (the train was on the platform from when I arrived there at 17:30). Boarding started at 17:54 on my watch and the train left 10 minutes late as a result.
• No sign of a train manager throughout the entire journey
• The ticket checker was back in the uniform of a jumper that hasn't been washed in 3 years (Probably a minor complaint, but it gives the wrong image).
• No trolley service
• No announcement that the dining car was open or whether it was just serving snacks. There was an announcement when it was closing. It closed before the train reached Kilmallock.

I know it's probably not possible to add extra services to Cork, but what's the practicality of either adding extra carriages to peak hour MK4s or putting on a 17:45 to Limerick?

Information has reached us to indicate that there will be continuing delays to the departure of selected Dublin Cork services for the coming weeks. The 18:00 is one of those services. (18:00,19:00,20:00 and 21:00 are included)

Its a combination of staff shift and minimum break times issues combined with the excessive pre service tests required by the Mk4

Curious as the longest break time anyone is entitled to (according to the Organization of Working Time Act 1997) is 30 minutes, and the trains arrive in at xx:35 into Cork and xx:10 into Heuston (most of the time), so there should be enough time for them to take their break and get the train boarded and away on time...

Well train arrives at xx:15 or xx:20, add two minutes to get stuff and leave, the tests require at least 15 minutes, so if the train is even a minute late incoming there is a problem

Let us be clear here the drivers are entitled to a 30 minute break, thats a safety requirement

Sad fact is the older Mk3 train can be turned around faster than the new Mk4