ADAM DOWDALL,
A chara, - As a fairly frequent user of the Dublin-Cork railway I was shocked to discover the recent fare increases. Only a couple of years ago it cost £27 (€34) for a return ticket; today it costs €49. That is a 44 per cent increase.
It is hard to see the justification for such increases. The number of trains to Cork has reduced on busy Friday evenings. The carriages are in a diabolical condition; they have been servicing the route for close to 20 years now and are extremely grubby. God help any passenger who needs to use the toilet.
The service continues to operate with scant regard to the schedule. On my most recent journey, the outward journey was delayed 25 minutes and the return journey was delayed an hour-and-a-half. This is not a public transport system, this is a joke.
It is now a lot cheaper to drive to Cork and back, even if one is travelling alone. It is comfortable, the service is better and a lot more flexible. From now on I am sorry to say I shall be adding to the traffic that leaves Dublin on a Friday evening simply because I feel I have no choice. - Yours, etc.,
ADAM DOWDALL,
t Johns Road,
Dublin 4.