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Unread 18-04-2010, 19:59   #14
dowlingm
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Just sent to Trib Editor:
Quote:
Madam,

The letter from Barry Kenny of Iarnród Éireann typifies his pugnatious approach to the slightest criticism of his employer, both in print and in particular when he participates in interviews. It is fortunate for those who paid the taxes the government handed IÉ to the tune of two hundred million euro in 2008 to observe his company's performance in the face of the disruption of air traffic.

Yesterday, the service from Rosslare to Dublin was deferred by one hour to 1335. The only way you would know is to examine the timetable, as Mr. Kenny's staff failed to communicate this on "Travel Alerts" on their home page, cluttered as it is with Google advertising. They did announce the deferral of today's service to 1845 to meet the incoming ferry, but that only highlights the fact that they don't bother to do that normally. There will be no service from the ferry to Waterford and Limerick today - but that's the same as any other Sunday on the South Wexford Line.

The biggest irony of all is that Iarnród Éireann own Rosslare Europort, which you would think would lead them to aggressively chase the passenger market, but they are apparently not selling Rail and Sail tickets this weekend, referring travellers to the ferry companies. No doubt some blame attaches to the latter but the reality is that Iarnród Éireann rarely misses a chance to miss an opportunity. Travellers are more likely to get correct information from Rail Users Ireland, a voluntary body, than Mr. Kenny, his department's website and its Twitter.

As for scrapping 25 year old trains, those who have travelled by rail in North America know that by frequent interior refitting railways like Amtrak maintain comfort in trains of 30 and 40 years service. VIA Rail Canada just issued a contract to a Canadian company to gut and refurbish their LRC 100mph carriages of a similar vintage to the Mark IIIs, creating tax revenue to offset the company's subvention requirement. Needless to say the expertise in Inchicore to do such work has been long since "downsized".

Finally, Madam, I wonder how many people could name the head of PR for Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus, much larger in terms of vehicles, routes and passenger counts. Mr. Kenny is notorious to readers and listeners because his organisation fails far too frequently and publicly.

Yours faithfully,
Mark Dowling
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