EILEEN FITZGERALD,
Madam, - Last Friday night I went to Heuston station to collect a passenger on a train from Cork which was scheduled to arrive at 10.20 p.m. I arrived at 10.30 p.m. to find the station almost deserted and could find no trace of my passenger.
I assumed the train was late - a fairly regular occurrence. I checked the arrivals noticeboard, which had information on only two further arrivals scheduled for that night - one from Sallins and one from Westport, if memory serves me correctly. I therefore assumed that the train from Cork had in fact arrived on time and I set about trying to find my passenger both inside and outside the station.
At 10.45 I accidentally came upon the Information Office, which is very carefully concealed in a corner of the station, and enquired about the train from Cork. I was informed it would arrive shortly. When I asked why there was no mention of this on the noticeboard, I was told: "When trains go over their time we take them off the board." If there is logic in that approach to customer information, I'm afraid it escapes me.
Iarnród Éireann's current slogan says: "We're not there yet, but we're getting there." I'm glad they accept what the rest of us have known for years - that they are not "there" yet. Whether they will ever get there is highly doubtful.- Yours, etc.,
EILEEN FITZGERALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.