Commuters can only stand and stare as trains head further down the line

IARNRÓD Éireann’s corporate communications manager Barry Kenny, in his lambasting of economist Dr Seán Barrett (Irish Examiner letters, January 1), writes that “this country still suffers from an infrastructural deficit”, and by this he meant rail and bus infrastructure. I agree.

However, all the brouhaha about Transport 21 is little consolation to those who live near Leixlip (two stations), Clonsilla, Coolmine, Castleknock, Ashtown, Broombridge and Drumcondra up to 10 miles west of Dublin.

They watch 80 commuter trains a week pass without stopping so that those who live in Maynooth (16 miles west), and sometimes beyond, can save a total journey time of eight minutes.

No capital spending is required to provide a one-minute halt at each of these stations. Instead, Irish Rail provides a preferential services to Maynooth and beyond. What is the sense in giving priority to commuters from afar over those nearer the city?

A 40-minute wait between consecutive trains as a result of this policy, when the maximum journey time from any of these deprived stations is half an hour at most, is just not good enough.

The Sunday service is a joke for Intel’s staff of more than 5,000 on seven-day, 12-hour shifts in Leixlip.

How are they served by a last train to the city departing at 7.37pm? Is it any wonder that only around 2% of Intel’s entire staff travel by public transport?

For those resident west of the capital who are not fatigued by daily car commuting, and who might venture into the city on a weeknight, the last train home departs at 10.30pm — too early to return from a show.

Irish Rail, please try to justify these anachronisms. For those adversely affected, Transport 21 is like a red rag to a bull.

John Colgan

The Toll House

Leixlip

Co Kildare