Off the rails: Anger as Irish Rail’s extra service by-passes Kilkenny’s stations

Irish Rail has snubbed local commuters by adding an extra Sunday Dublin to Waterford service – but it completely by-passes Kilkenny.

This week Irish Rail announced an extra service on Sunday from Waterford to Dublin at 5.45pm, but its only stops are in counties Carlow and Kildare. The train will not stop at either Thomastown or Kilkenny’s MacDonagh Station.

Commuters reacted with delight online to Irish Rail’s announcement of the extra Sunday service, as it seemed Irish Rail finally bowed to pressure and gave Kilkenny rail users what they want.

Passengers have been highlighting for a long time, the overcrowding on Irish Rail services to and from Kilkenny at peak times and over the weekends.

This delight turned to dismay however, when rail users went to book online. It was then they realised there is no stop at Kilkenny or Thomastown as part of the extra service. The extra Sunday train is only stopping in Kildare, Athy, Carlow and Bagenalstown. Neither extra train will stop in Kilkenny.

In the announcement on Twitter Irish Rail said: “Due to high demand on Waterford services on Sunday, November 10, the following extra services will also operate on this date: 17.30 Waterford to Heuston and 19.45 Heuston to Waterford.

“Pre-booking online is advised to ensure travel.”

Nowhere in this announcement did it say that Kilkenny will not be serviced.

KilkennyNow.ie  contacted Irish Rail, and asked why Kilkenny had been excluded from this extra service.

A spokesperson for Irish Rail said: “This is an extra service to relieve pressure on demand on the 18.05 Waterford to Heuston train, which is seeing very heavy demand.