Free Parking For Christmas & New Year At Midleton & Carrigtwohill Stations

[finnyus]

Just got this general email from Andrew Roche, Kent Station Cork:

Iarnrod eireann press release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kent Station

Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, Ireland.

“Thank You for Your Support in 2009”.

Free Parking For Christmas & New Year

At Midleton & Carrigtwohill Stations.

For Immediate Release

Iarnród Éireann would like to thank East Cork customers for their support since the rail line between Midleton and Carrigtwohill to Cork was opened in July 2009 and wishes everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year.


Iarnród Éireann, through its sister company C.I.E. Group Property, is offering East Cork residence “Free Parking” at Midleton and Carrigtwohill Station for Christmas and New Year (from now until Sunday, 3rd January 2010).


Killian O’Sullivan, President of Midleton Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the gesture and said the short walk from Midleton Station to Main Street, Midleton would help people “park and shop” in Midleton for Christmas and the New Year period. He also said it would allow people see first hand the excellent rail facilities and infrastructure that Midleton now has, for commuting to and from Midleton and Cork City.


Ray Foley, Station Manager, Cork – who is responsible for Midleton and Carrigtwohill Stations – said that Iarnród Éireann is delighted to be able to offer “Free Parking” to East Cork residence. Midleton is only 23 minutes by rail from Cork and we are looking forward to seeing more East Cork customers on-board our commuter rail services in 2010.

For Train information log onto irishrail.ie or phone 1-850-TRAINS (1-850-872467)

[finnyus]

Some notice, like a month before December would have been very handy! There are no notices at Midleton (up to last Sunday at least) that parking is free. All machines are turned on.

[Colm Moore]

That is is in quotes - “Free Parking” - is interesting.

Of course, free parking is a double edged sword. Potentially it means people drive from the city to Midleton and park in the train station, thereby preventing train passengers from parking. Alternatively, those that do use the train to Midleton won't need to park in Midleton.

East Cork residents then find the car parks full and drive to the city or alternatively if there is space, they stay in Midleton and don't use the train.

All this really does is cost IÉ/CIÉ money and encourage people to drive instead of using the train.

[finnyus]

Midleton is a bit different though, in that the car park is a bit of a walk from the town center. Midleton has a big free multi-story car park off the main street, and then Market Green is a big free car park as well, again just off the main street. I could not imagine the station car park full, except if there was a GAA match on in Midleton (GAA grounds are just across the road from the station) or if the car park was actually free and it would appeal to more people to take the train to Cork.

It makes NO sense to email this around today, 2 days before Xmas eve. Could they not have advertised this earlier! I suppose when they cannot get the basic information right (like the latest timetable) at stations, we have no hope for anything else!

On a lighter note, the crowds taking the trains from Midleton at the moment is great to see! I hope the "Revenue Protection Unit" are out in force, so that everyone buys a ticket - we don't want anyone to start mentioning that the Midleton line is making a loss, when there clearly is a lot of people using the line !

[Colm Moore]

Now, I've no problem with Andrew Roche, he once helped me recover a lost wallet, but its this kind of thing that makes one think that there is one rule for those in the know and another for everyone else.

[Mark Gleeson]

Management in Cork seem to act as if it truly is a republic. Mr Roche is well known for doing it his own way.