Sir, - Were a Brussels-appointed (instead of Irish Government-appointed) appointed committee of "three wise men" set up to investigate the quality of Irish rail services, it is certain that its findings would warrant a damning report.
Unlike rail users in most other EU member states, secondclass ticket-holders in Ireland (i.e. most passengers) cannot make the following assumptions:
1. That one will find a seat.
2. That refreshment will be available.
3. That the train will leave on time.
4. That railway personnel will be around to enforce non-smoking areas and maintain orderly behaviour.
5. That the carriage will be clean.
Had one travelled 50 or, I suspect, 100 years ago, virtually all of the above assumptions could have been made when purchasing a second-class ticket.
To put it bluntly, therefore, the present state of Irish railways is an insult to any modern European of the 21st century. - Yours, etc.,
Drostan Grant, Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.