Sir, – On Saturday, February 2nd, I went to Connolly Station to take the 10.35 Drogheda train to Malahide. The large display in the station indicated Platform 7. I got to the platform at 10.25am, only to discover that the next train due was in 17 minutes, destination Maynooth and the subsequent train was in 33 minutes, destination Dundalk.
I retraced my steps to check the monitor at the entrance to Platforms 5, 6, and 7 and it read Drogheda, Platform 7. So back I went and a few moments later there was an announcement indicating that the Drogheda train was leaving Platform 4 at 10.35am. It was now 10.32am. I dashed to Platform 4, The electronic signs on the outside of the carriage read Binn Éadair. Despite this, I got on the train. A passenger said, “I think this is the train for Drogheda”, even though the electronic signs in the carriage indicated other exotic destinations such as Dalkey and Sallins. The doors closed.
I got to Malahide at the appointed time. However, a young student who thought she was on the train to Sligo, since it was supposed to depart from Platform 4, worryingly wondered where she was. I took her to the ticket office at Malahide station only to discover yet another passenger who had fallen foul of Irish Rail’s fictional schedule displays. I hope the the two passengers bound for Sligo eventually reached their destinations. But what a shame they had to go on the mystery tour to Malahide beforehand, thus costing them valuable weekend time. – Yours, etc,