[Article] Waterford-Carlow-Dublin morning services

[Kilkea]

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/tab...d-train-s.aspx

Anger as new train service is just the old train split in two
Last Updated 02 Dec 2009
By Mairead Wilmot
THERE appears to be a sting in the tail of the much heralded 8.06am express service from Carlow to Dublin. The recently-introduced train was widely welcomed by commuters in the county - but a shortage of carriages has meant that people getting on in Carlow have had to stand for the whole journey.

Rather than provide a full six carriages, which was the case with the original 8.55am train, Iarnród Éireann has opted to divide the number of carriages between the two services. There are now just three carriages on the early morning service between Waterford and Dublin, which reaches Carlow at

8.06am and is express to Dublin, and just three carriage for the later service from Waterford, which reaches Carlow at 8.55am.

“People are very angry,” said one commuter. “What Irish Rail has done is divide the 8.55am service with the new

8.06am service. They took three carriages from the old service and used them for the new service. Both of the trains are packed by the time they reach Carlow! It doesn’t make any sense. I don’t know what fast-one they think they are trying to pull.”

The situation worsened yesterday morning, Tuesday, when a large school trip was pre-booked onto the train.

“The train was absolutely jammed - it was ridiculous,” fumed the frustrated commuter.

Speaking about the situation, local councillor Walter Lacey called on Iarnród Éireann to restore a full and proper service to Carlow. “An irate commuter rang me from the train yesterday and explained that there was a very angry group of travellers having to stand for their journey,” explained cllr Lacey. “The same commuter contacted Irish Rail, only to be told that dividing the carriages wasn’t an error but was Irish Rail policy.”

Cllr Lacey said he also contacted Iarnród Éireann, which confirmed that it had divided the carriages between the two morning services. “A spokesperson said that Irish Rail would monitor the situation and, if demand continued over a period of time, they would review this policy. Irish Rail should immediately restore the full six-carriage service to their Carlow commuters. Apart from the cost of their journey, people should certainly not be expected to have to stand for over an hour on the journey.”