“This is ridiculous.”

Passengers on Iarnród Éireann’s 12.25pm service between Cork and Heuston didn’t arrive in Dublin until just before 8pm, due to “technical issues at Portlaoise.”

The delay also had severe knock-on effects for other trains from Cork, with the 2.25pm being delayed by almost three hours, and the 3.25 delayed by over an hour. The disaster also resulted in the 6pm and 7pm trains being combined and leaving at 7pm.

Beyond the actual delay itself, Iarnród Éireann were blasted on social media for poor communication with passengers, as well as over-crowding, a failure to provide water and toilets being locked.

This is getting downright disrespectful. Several hours and no updates. When can we expect to reach our destination and given that the train is over 3 hours late, when are we to receive confirmation of a refund?

— Darragh Haugh BL (@BlHaugh) December 28, 2021

One passenger tweeted: “There are no updates. No advise. No communication. An overcrowded train. A two and a hails hour delay for us here. No water for people either. And all during a raging omicron pandemic. Thanks.”

Another posted: “We have been stuck on this train for almost 3 hours now with no communication. We deserve more than a copy and paste response. This is ridiculous, so much for customer support.”

A third wrote: “This is getting downright disrespectful. Several hours and no updates. When can we expect to reach our destination and given that the train is over 3 hours late, when are we to receive confirmation of a refund?”

Iarnród Éireann staff met affected passengers at Heuston Station, and passengers confirmed that they were told they would be eligible for a refund.

Header image via Facebook/Iarnród Éireann