Why no trains after 7?

[Derek Wheeler]

As much as we all appreciate Marks great knowledge of railway matters, Im afraid I cannot agree with him on this issue.

1. Long distance commuting is a fact of life.
2. Later trains are not just for the benefit of commuters. They should be for the benefit of a society that is open longer hours.
3. IEs timetable is victorian and based on a working system that was devised eons ago and has no place in 21st century society.
4. If all goes according to plan in 2015, you can get off a Mick O'Leary transatlantic flight in Dublin airport at 7pm. Take a Metro to Stephens Green and then a DART to Heuston, only to discover that the last train to Waterford is long gone.

However Mark is correct about the reasons. But then this just goes to demonstrate how backward and unambitious IE are. DB lead the change with nitelink and now BE have joined the club with Niterider. Luas has also got in on the action. I spent many years running for the last DART before the pubs shut. The last time was 17 years ago. It would be the same today if I had to do it. I travelled to Galway on a friday quite a bit. Last train used to be 18.45. Today its 19.05. Not much of a difference.

Commuter services need late night at weekends. Intercity services on most routes need to have the last service between 8 - 10. They have enough trains to do it, if asset wsweating is applied. They just don't want the hassle, because remember this and don't let anyone tell you any different, IE management run our railway for their own benefit and not ours.

You can tell its run by men. They cant multitask. Time to send in the women.