After my Christmas trip to Limerick, on the 28th of December I bid farewell to my family to catch my train back to Dublin. As is quite common this was not a direct train. I took the 15.55 from Limerick Colbert Station to Limerick Junction, from where at about 16.30 I would board my connection – the 15.25 from Cork’s Kent Station. Then onwards to Dublin Heuston. Upon arrival at the Junction (which I may have previously referred to as the groin of Ireland thanks to its singular lack of loveliness, and unending air of bleakness and despair – not forgetting the eternal rain of course) I saw the Cork train sitting at Platform 2. In just over ninety minutes I believed I would be back in the Big Smoke.
I boarded the Cork train in carriage E. Thankfully it didn’t seem too crowded. I had my book in my stylish manbag (‘The corrections’ by Jonathan Franzen). This trip would be brief, I thought to myself.
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midnightmurphy 
I wouldn’t remotely fault the train leaving Cork as I imagine Irish Rail anticipated the line would be clear by the time you approached the Portlaoise area. What you could legitimately criticise is a failure (assuming that was case) to inform passengers of a potential delay ahead. This at least would give people a choice of making alternative arrangements.
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The 12.25 would have been stalled at Port Laoise for 90 minutes by the time the 15.25 even left Cork. The failure of Irish Rail to have a plan B inn case of such situation is its responsibility. It is unrealistic I think to ask passengers to make alternative arrangements at 15.20 as they arrive in Kent Station (or Colbert Station) for a trip to Dublin.
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