[02-02-2007] 05:15 Cork Dublin
 

Train cancelled this morning as per the stationmaster in Portarlington.
We could have had a wait from 7.24 to 7.55 but an angry mob formed (well, an annoyed mob) and got them to stop the Portlaoise train that usually runs straight through Port.

No idea what happened the 5:15 but I got the 21.00 home last night from Heuston and we only boarded at 8.50 as IE staff hopped on and off and muttered into walkie talkies and girl went in and out with a laptop. So maybe the gremlins finally won.
And there was no catering service on the 21:00 'due to Staff shortages'. Maybe too much information there IE!

P.S. I sat in MarkG's seat :D

But did you check under the table?

I did, under the seat and wall down the side, I didn't see anything :( and my partner nearly disowned me for being a geek.

EDIT - although maybe not the underside of the table, if it's chewing gum I'll find you....

Girl with laptop was most likely to do with the seat reservations they need to download the list onto a flash card which goes into the control panel in the buffet coach

Some of us already know what's to be found, and it is not an entirely pleasant experience. There are, of course, more than one CDE train......

We may award you with a funny logo if you taste the MarkG experience. Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful.

What you are looking for is a piece of paper it has a date and a message, its A2 something. Its not set 4004

Little game here to prove the cleaners are not on the ball

I deserve the funny logo for getting the funny looks off Mr.2Funki4wheelz for ducking under the table.

You may both also have been getting funny looks from your fellatio passengers.........

Its very very easy find what you are looking for

Place your right hand on the table about 1.5 inches from the window such that your thumb is on the table your fingers are under the table, bingo should be easy find

We do it all the time when the messageboard freezes up.

I'm leaving messages tomorrow as well, and on Sunday and Monday.

You crazy kids...

Ah so that's what Mr.2Funki said 'while you're down there'...MarkG I promise to molest the table the next time I'm on a mk4.

Seriously, what happened the 5:15, anyone?

It takes time to get a message to the peoples republic, awaiting details

Spoil sport. You shouldn't have said this and we could have lived with the image of CIE / IE watcher types ripping the carriage apart looking for something* ... or not.


* "Maybe its this Dairy Milk wrapper with the doodles?"

Well as promised.

5:15 was failed owing to insufficient pressure in the brake system resulting in the parking brake coming on since the pressure was insufficient to hold the brake off

There has been talk that if left overnight a Mk4 leaks air from its reservoirs so badly that it can take a considerable time to recharge them, it can't move until the pressure reaches a safe level

Lovely, were people put on a bus to another service or did they just have to wait for the next one?

We believe the train got as far as Thurles. Furthermore the same train had the same problem reported by staff and each time it was signed back into service. On this particular day the problem finally exploded in Mallow. The rest Funki, is what you experienced.

In closing, Mr. Gleeson could you please credit the investigative work done by your colleagues to get this info. Thank you. Oh and thank you to the person that told me.:D

What I don't understand is why IE would need a revolt in Port for the Portlaoise train to make an exceptional stop to pick up the passengers.
To me it would make common sense.This may cause extra people to stand(and a 3-5 min delay) later on but at least it gives people the chance to get to where they need to go as quickly as possible.
IE should be reducing passengers inconvienence not adding to it.

I got the impression the idea actually didn't enter the guy's head. Which looks like there's no real contigency plans or rules in place when there's a breakdown (e.g. do an unscheduled stop so as not to allow a break in service of more than 30 mins etc)