I was in Drogheda for the 8:20 Enterprise this morning. At about 8:25 was running late and that the commuter train would be leaving ahead and arriving first in Dublin. Station staff then walked up and down the platform telling everyone that the commuter train would be the first one to Dublin. They seemed very keen to clear the platform, and seemed to be going to greater lengths than usual to convince people to cross over.
So we all piled into the commuter. Next thing some people notice that it's past 8:32 and the train hasn't left yet. They deduce that means that it's being held because the Enterprise is about to arrive and leg it back over. Then the C3K shows up so I head back over. A member of the station staff tells me that it's full, but the front coach wasn't that full. I ended up standing, but there were less people standing than on a typical 2900.
I don't like accusing anyone of telling fibs, but it seems suspicious that the staff were so keen to get everyone off the platform. If they knew what was happening, then I don't think it was right to be dishonest. If they announce that the train has reduced capacity and is extremely full, and that people are advised to take the commuter train, then people can make their own decision. It would be no worse than lots of people who are forced to cram into packed commuters every day. If my employer asked me to tell outright lies to customers, I would not be at all happy.
Of course, I can't rule out the possibility that the staff didn't know the train was about to arrive, but it doesn't seem very likely.
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