The original post was about both Rosslare and Sligo lines and both suffer from the same issue. The comfort and noise levels on 29ks is simple not suitable for a 3 hour run.
I would have to stop using the train at this point if I was to go back to spending 14 hours per week on 29Ks. On journeys any further out than Mullingar on the Sligo line, the 29K is simply unacceptable - they are nosier and less comfortable than the bus and the tables are too small to work on anyway which is my main reason for taking the train.
The problem on both the Sligo and Rosslare lines is that they have commuter services doing double-duty as intercity trains. On the Sligo line, they should work on separating the Longford services so that they only have limited stops beyond Maynooth - ideally Clonsilla and Drumcondra. This would knock about 15 minutes off the running time and allow them to run the services using shorter 22k trains.
I know - there is no money for this sort of thing but this is where a bit of innovative thinking needs to be applied. The inefficiency in the use of resources on the Longford line is terrible. A lot of trains are run at extremely low occupancy beyond Mullingar or even Maynooth in some cases.
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