They rejected calls for a commuter morning service into Sligo in early 2018 from Longford (arriving 8/8.30). Yet fast forward 9 months and there is suddenly demand. Its simply not the case.

Again that would depend on staff availablilty. A Longford starter into Sligo would require basing more drivers there.

Presumably this service uses existing driver resources at Connolly where flexibility is greater.

Frankly, you are presenting a very simplistic view on this.

Im aware of the operational aspect but the point was more about demand thus showing this restoration for what it is a complete waste of time and money. It fits in with IR strategy of running a railway for themselves and not the customers.

Running the current 06.55 at 06.00 would provide customers towards Sligo end a good and more useful service with an 09.00 arrival. They are not even capable of doing that. Equally the 16.55 return service another waste of time. 17.30 departure again would be better for customers and even deliver a shorter journey time than the 3h35m today.

Can't even get an 0600 toward Cork/Limerick. Running one to Sligo seems a bit much!

If you are moving the set anyway, you may as well let passengers use the service.

It's probably over a decade ago now, but there was a time that a set repositioned from Tralee to Cork on a Sunday evening, with no passengers accommodated as it didn't connect to a Cork-Dublin Service. This was then changed to allow passengers. I used it about 4 months ago and it was 40% full leaving Killarney and closer to 70% full leaving Mallow.

I don't like the phrase 'Build it and they will come'. but sometimes the provision of a public transport service can influence how people organise their lives.