Derailed by experience on ‘Calcutta Express’

On Friday last I had an experience which is worth forgetting as soon as possible. It was delivered by the monopoly rail provider that is 100% funded and supported by you and I, the taxpayer.

Irish Rail is a brand that ought to be valued and respected by those who are given stewardship of it. The name Irish carries with it a responsibility to present the positive attributes of our nation — friendliness, respect, ambition. The Rail term should offer reliable, safe and reasonably priced travel on a handful of tracks over which Irish Rail has been granted a monopoly. None of this was evident on my trip last Friday.

It started with a business meeting organised at short notice in Cork. Getting there by 5pm was best served by catching the 2pm from Heuston Station. I arrived at 1.30pm, parted ways with the princely sum of €82 for a return ticket and passed the turnstiles.