The 21:00 Heuston to Cork on Friday 2nd Nov was fully boarded and ready to depart when they announced "There is a serious malfunction with this train. All passangers are asked to get their gear (sic) and get off the train". We were then told to wait on platform 6 for the incoming Cork train which would take us instead.
It arrived in, everyone got off and naturally mingling with the full load from our train created havoc and over-crowding on the platform. We attemped to board, and some were seated and with luggage stowed, when we were told we had to get off again so they could clean it. Few of us stayed put and the cleaners had to work around us. I appreciate them wanting us to have a clean train though. I'm not sure what happened with regards the reserved seating arrangements as it seemed a free for all when we boarded this second train.
We then had an announcement that the bar would be serving free tea, coffee and wine!! Cue the stampede to the dining car! A second announcement told us that only tea and coffee would be free.
I was only travelling to Portlaoise but I wouldn't have fancied a trip to Cork with a free bar all the way - I'm sure the noise levels would have been quite something by the end.
The train eventually pulled out almost an hour late.
The thing that struck me is that an hour delay (both ways) is quite the normal on my daily commute, and I've never been offered a freebie
