First train will depart at 6.45am ... some day

THE first train leaving Cork for Midleton will depart from platform one at 6.45am – only trouble is nobody knows on what day that will be.

A press conference organised by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey descended into farce yesterday when he announced the timetable for the €75 million Cork-Midleton commuter rail service. He couldn’t say on what date the trains would roll.

Iarnród Éireann brought a special train down to Midleton station for the minister’s photoshoot.