Cork, boy

[TomB]

Was down in Cork this weekend and thought I'd post some impressions:

• Took my little nephew to Cobh and back on the train, I have to say I was very impressed by the frequency (every 30 mins), and the train had a lot of passengers. A great service.
  
• I think Cork people are getting ripped off a bit on fares -- I paid €5.10 for a day return to Cobh (journey time 25 mins), whereas you'd pay €3.50 for a day return from city centre to Lexlip Confey, about the same journey time
  
• Not rail-related, but it brought home to me what others have been saying about crap Cork buses when I passed three bus stops on the Glanmire Road, and none of them had timetables, route information, or anything at all apart from the Bus Eireann sign! The same was true for the stops on the other side of the road too
  
• Another bus gripe -- we were travelling back from the in-laws in Macroom today, and the bus times were completely out of sync with the trains -- we could either arrive at the bus station 1h30 before our train left (which we did) or 10 mins beforehand, which was a bit too close for comfort. A shame there's no integration there.
  
• They've taken down the platform departures board in Kent station as they're doing some work, and replaced it with...nothing. So you're supposed to guess I suppose where and when your train is leaving
  
• For people who are fortunate enough to be from a country without such a dysfunctional public transport system, you'd think it'd be a good idea to have signposts directing people from the bus station to the train station, and vice versa.
  
• Top tip -- if you're waiting for a train and fighting a bit of a hangover, there's a great old-style place called the Up Town Grill on MacCurtain St. which do a lovely fry + orange juice + toast + coffee for €6.50

[MrX]

Glad you saw the busses first hand!

Btw, in a typical "we don't give a damn about Cork" type move by Bus Eireann there is a 96-D single decker bus in Dublin Bus colours spewing heavy smoke and operating on cork city routes.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by MrX

Glad you saw the busses first hand!

Btw, in a typical "we don't give a damn about Cork" type move by Bus Eireann there is a 96-D single decker bus in Dublin Bus colours spewing heavy smoke and operating on cork city routes.

UP DE DUBS!!!!

[Derek Wheeler]

On the run to Cobh and back, did you notice a serious height difference between train and platform at intermediate stops? Apparently its a problem.

[comcor]

Originally Posted by Derek Wheeler

On the run to Cobh and back, did you notice a serious height difference between train and platform at intermediate stops? Apparently its a problem.

It's been a while since I've been beyond Fota on this line, but from memory, the problem is at Rushbrooke and Carrigaloe stations. In fact, they also appear to be in a relatively poor structural condition too.

Now, if Irish Rail had sense, they would replace them at the same time as the line gets closed for the relaying of Cobh Junction when the Midleton spur is reinstated.

[dowlingm]

Originally Posted by comcor

Now, if Irish Rail had sense, they would replace them at the same time as the line gets closed for the relaying of Cobh Junction when the Midleton spur is reinstated.

Except the Cobh line has been closed several times in the last few years and they didn't do it then either. Sounds like someone's going to have to complain to the equality authority before IE get off their behinds.

[TomB]

Originally Posted by Derek Wheeler

On the run to Cobh and back, did you notice a serious height difference between train and platform at intermediate stops? Apparently its a problem.

Sorry, didn't notice, will check next time. But the step up in Kent station is serious enough -- being the fit young lad I am, I had no problems, but I had to lift my 6-year-old nephew up and for anyone even slightly impaired mobility-wise it would be very difficult simply to board the train.

[lff12]

Originally Posted by Thomas Bibby

Was down in Cork this weekend and thought I'd post some impressions:

• I think Cork people are getting ripped off a bit on fares -- I paid €5.10 for a day return to Cobh (journey time 25 mins), whereas you'd pay €3.50 for a day return from city centre to Lexlip Confey, about the same journey time
  

Its no consolation, but in fact the train fares are almost HALF of the equivalent rail fares.
From 2002-2004 I was entirely dependent on the Cobh service, and as I remember a ticket from the city to Little island was 2.50 return, whereas a bus on the same route cost 4.50.
By 2004 I was coming the opposite direction, the fare was around 3 euros, but the same bus was about 5-6 euros return. The train was, and still is, considerably cheaper on the Cobh route than the buses, though the bus is more reliable.