Cancellation comes too late for many commuters

News of the cancellation of Friday's rail work stoppage came too late for many commuters and mainline travellers in Cork with Kent Station almost deserted as train services began this morning.

Only ten people turned up to catch the 7am mainline service to Dublin which normally would be full with a few hundred passengers catching the early service to make work appointments in the capital.

Those that did turn up for other services were a mixture of those who weren’t aware that a work stoppage had been planned or who had checked media at 6am to see if the trains were running.

One woman, Jessica who was waiting to catch a commuter service to Little island, revealed that she hadn’t realised that a work stoppage had been planned let alone cancelled in the early hours.

“I wasn’t aware that a stoppage had been planned so I was very relieved to come down here and discover the trains were running as it’s only my second day at work,” she told The Irish Times.

Another passenger, Tom who was travelling to Dublin, revealed he had checked news bulletins at 6am to discover the stoppage had been cancelled and he was similarly relieved that he could travel.

Ian Crehan hadn't been aware that a train stoppage had been planned but he was similarly relieved when he turned up at Kent Station to find that his commuter service to Cobh was running.

“I was away with work commitments two weeks ago so I wasn’t affected then either - I wasn’t aware of today’s planned stoppage and I just turned up so I’m just glad it’s operating as normal.”

One man who didn’t wish to be named who came into Cork on board a commuter service from Midleton was also glad but surprised to be able to get the commuter service to work.

“I ‘m shocked to be honest because normally when they say there’s going to be a stoppage, there is - it’s rare that you get a stoppage cancelled but whether this is the end of it now, I don’t know.”