Surprise extra train from Cork

[TomB]

Had booked on the 11:30 Cork-Heuston today.

Was about to start queuing for the train at 11:05 when asked idle IE employee on platform to confirm that it was the 11:30 Dublin train. He said yes it was but they were running an extra train at 11:15 from the opposite platform. It stopped at Mallow only and took a few minutes over 2:30, a lot better than the horrible 3h journey time of the 11:30.

Lucky me of course but it was only by chance I got on it -- there was nothing in the online journey planner when I booked on Thursday (and there still isn't), and there were no signs in either Heuston or Cork station. I would have been very very annoyed if I had missed the extra train just because IE don't have the presence of mind to tell their customers on one of the busiest days of the year that they're putting another train on.

Grr.