Midleton station - departure times

[Emertoff]

Just a comment really, as a regular user of either the 6:45 or 7:45 train to Cork, the journey time is supposed to be 23 minutes. The average journey time seems to have crept up by 3-4 minutes almost without anyone noticing, over the last few months.
Maybe, as is the case with the Irish public transport system in general, a few minutes here and there is seen as no big deal, but it's really annoying for anyone has has to get the connecting bus to Cork Airport for work.
There is a big issue with people queueing to get tickets and the trains being held until everyone has one, despite the fact that notices were put up on the platform a few weeks ago saying they were not going to hold trains for people buying tickets. On one occasion recently, the train did leave Midleton until 7:51, which in my view is really not good enough,particularly when there are ticket inspectors on board who could facilitate selling tickets.
Even without this issue, there seems to be a general lag in journey times. This morning November 11, the 6:45 am service arrived at 6:43, left at 6:47 holding for another passenger, and arrived at 7:13, 5 minutes later than scheduled. I am going to take this up with them as it is simply not good enough and would not be tolerated anywhere in continental Europe.