It's time for Ireland to use some of its billions of multinational tax revenues. They should secure some of the land along the old closed routes, and at least indicate that no new planning permission will be granted. Then some upgrades to lines, speed them up, improve parking and transport to stations. Lastly some new rolling stock. Plan some new lines, from Rosslare along the south coast to Cork and out towards Bantry, between other towns across the country.

There's a long standing loophole for first class fares on this route where if you purchase a second class fare and upgrade it to first class afterwards, it is cheaper than buying the first class up front.

I must admit your voice is a perfect antidote to insommnia

I agree with you, as a regular user of the Dublin to Cork service, the first class is definitely not up to standard. Irish Rail have recently introduced a quiet coach which I have used and found it very comfortable and enjoyable trip even though it is standard class. Your videos are great and your knowledge is brilliant.

Some Dublin-Cork services are on 22000-class sets, which are newer, but I still much prefer the older loco-hauled CAF Mark-4 trains for several reasons. 1) Mark 4 coaches don't have the diesel-hydraulic motive power underneath every coach, which is really loud on 22000 coaches when starting from a stop, 2) the Mark 4s don't have the annoying resonant vibrations you sometimes get at lower revs on the 22000 coaches, 3) when you reserve a seat on a Mk 4 you always know whether you face forwards or backwards, unlike on 22000s, 4) the Mk 4 trains offer one "quieter coach". The Mk 4 blue tint doesn't bother me. Also, a food and beverage trolley service has been offered on the Dublin-Cork service for a while now.

As a train lover Ireland is really not the best place for it, I'm always so envious of train networks when I'm abroad, very interesting to get a outside perspective. Will definitely be looking at your other Irish videos. I've gotten the train between Cork and Dublin a few times but I have to say I much prefer my regular journey which is Cork to Tralee. The countryside between Mallow and Tralee is much more interesting to look at and the Mallow-Tralee trains are quite comfy - though they offer no first class, something I've never bothered with. I do have to get the Dublin train as far as Mallow, which is fine - much preferred to the two times I've hopped on one of the commuter trains between Cork and Mallow.

Pleasant video and music. I've taken the Dublin-Cork route many times. Will be taking another First-Class ride in September. Cheers!

Excellent Journey and Review you Filmed Johnny!😃.

My late father used to be one of the drivers on the Cork - Dublin run back in the 1970's. It was a 3 hour run back then. No second driver on the footplate. He used to load up in one of the pubs across the road before hopping over to board the already parked train. Being a first class driver as he said, someone else done the shunting/parking. I think he would have failed a breath test if they existed then but he always arrived in Dublin bang on time at midday.

Blue journey 😁 Thank you very much for this video! 🤗

Interesting journey, thanks for sharing!

Great train ride, excellent video! Thumbs Up All the best from Dublin Andrew

A very honest review. When I travelled this route I too thought the 1st class accommodation was a little tired but I thought the seat was comfy enough.

Good video enjoyed this

Very informative

Dublin is very nice. I definitely would like to go to the Republic of Ireland one day.

I travelled 1st Class on that route recently and was pleased to see that the catering has been reinstated to the extent that the carriage attendant moved up and back along the carriage with an airline style catering trolley providing teas and coffee with an added facility to purchase some soft drinks & water and some quite nice prepacked snacks (sandwiches, cakes, buiscuits, chocolate bars, crisps etc).

They just introduced etickets to Irish Rail recently, so you don’t have to print it out anymore - you get a qr code on your phone. About time I say. I commute every day on the train (Galway line) and there’s major issues around there not being enough capacity on the trains. The main station in Galway (Ceannt), while looking nice on the outside, leaves a lot to be desired; they don’t even have styles (just someone who opens and closes a gate). Ceannt station is undergoing renovations, however, so it should improve in the next couple of years…

The new small building that is just on arrival to Mallow at roughly 09:15 in the video is actually a training centre for drivers. Has an ICR2200 and Loco Simulators.

6:49 Athlone is my hometown, I was born In Galway but I have lived in Athlone for basically my whole life.

Nice vid. Thanks for sharing. Since you're British, I think it would only be fair to give a like for like comparison with a similar UK rail journey. For example, Paddington to Cardiff. The saver single is around the same price as you paid for your first class ticket. I know from experience that in standard class you are regularly standing until at least Reading. The price of the cheapest first class advanced ticket is nearly 90 quid! Overall, I think Iarnród Éireann provide a much better experience, with much more value for money than you get on any UK operator. Also, a tip just in case you or any of your viewers are making this journey in the future, in either direction. If you book online and choose Galway - Cork, or vice versa, you can get a single for under 15 euro! It's an anomaly that I've exploited many times. Although, make sure the ticket is via Dublin, not Limerick. Happy travels 👋

This train looks a bit jaded. The premium for first class is worthwhile because second class is usually full.

My girlfriend just did the trip earlier today in the opposite direction, Cork to Dublin. She considered buying the first class ticket, but after watching you I told her that she didn't miss much! 🤣👍

Last time I've done that journey was pre Covid and had a full dining car service on certain services plus a buffet, the food was excellent not too expensive. If not travelling in first then the quiet carriage is less crowded but use of devices is restricted to switching any sound off including any beeps and no talking on phones. Seat reservation was mandatory for that carriage then as peak time services were busy. Advisable for all services anyway in standard.

That blue was a bit bonkers, wasn`t it, made for a rather cold and unwelcoming atmosphere I thought, much nicer after you fixed it. Can you do other magical tweaks - like changing rain to sunshine perhaps! Hope you got some medicinal beer for your sore back :D

I highly recommend checking out the Derry/Londonderry Mainline In Northern Ireland, running from Derry Waterside to Belfast GVS, probably the most scenic in Ireland!

I took the 1st class last night from Cork to Dublin, as it was a small price difference & I wanted a quiet trip after a long day. I would agree with you that it isn’t worthy of being called 1st class service. The one good thing was that I pretty much had the carriage to myself:). But the bathroom in 1st stank badly and it wasn’t even cleaned before the journey. The bins weren’t emptied either, so I had to stuff my items in the vestibule bin, which was also fairly full. I noticed several seats were frayed and my table light didn’t work. I found my seat surprisingly hard & uncomfortable and I ended up moving somewhere else. I will go with a standard quiet carriage the next time. Irish Rail need to pull their socks up.

Well; you’re not going to get any freebies from Irish Rail, but I like your editorial independence. At least on vlogger I view is a mite too ingratiating for my taste. I spent a long time looking for the “Lewis ” tram! And now at last I know how to say Thurles.

Think the City Gold premium coach should include a free drink and snack

For information only: Irish Railway stations were renamed c1966 after leaders on the 1916 Uprising,

I love Jonay hover s videos ❤❤❤❤❤

Great journey, with some stunning scenery

The sometimes light up the front facade of Heuston station during the dark winter evenings with the Irish flag. The tricolour looks very well on the building.

Very accurate review of what is a very poor first class service. At least you had the silver lining of arriving in Cork.

hmm interesting trip!

This gives me an idea, living in Manchester, I could join a cruise ship at Liverpool, go as far as Cobh, get a train into Cork Kent Station and then get the train into Dublin - another route is Manchester to Cardiff, Pembroke or Fishguard to Rosslare and train to Dublin

Indeed the train was great back in the day when it took a day to drive from Cork to Dublin but now it only takes 2 and a half hours 'roundabout to roundabout' on the Motorway

I`ve always been fascinated by GAA Grounds and their capacities , Semple Stadium 46,000 capacity , in a town Thurles , with a population less than 10,000

When I travel I wear yellow tinted glasses to get rid of the headache inducing fluorescent blue

Great viewing, Johnny .Pity that first class wasn't as glorious as expected . I watched a video of another youtuber doing the same journey not that long ago BUT the fares quoted were substantially lower than what you were charged . Mega-inflation ? Hope you enjoyed a few pints of Murphy's and also Beamish . Good health !

Those trams in Dublin look like the C2 class in Melbourne

I see the Mark 4s haven't changed since I was on them last. They were a disappointment from the start, the ride quality was (and possibly still is) inferior to the BREL Mark 3s that they replaced.

Bit of useless information, cork train station was used in the 1978 movie The First Great Train Robbery with Sean connery and Donald sutherland.

bit of a whinger, eh? Thanks for the travel vlog.

The mk4 stock hasent aged well the seats are very uncomfortable in comparison to the enterprise stock, which is much more comfortable and premier

Im from Donegal and I’ve never used a train in Ireland my whole life

Seemingly you didn't get what you paid a lot for....76NZ$ is rather...pricey.... for almost exactly 4 years ,,2017--2020 the 100km line I tried to use weekly runs refurbished exBR Mk 2 ,late model carriages,, excellent lighting,, tables!!.. power points for every passenger,,but no coffee machines.. they ride very comfortably...max I ever measured, briefly, was 92km/hr :-)

Sligo rail is good Now need to open up rail to curry charlestown knock And onwards to co mayo then Galway its not impossible Was once there before Focus on the benefit of rail services

I never have to pay a penny on that train😂

So there no electric trains in ireland?

I travel this route regularly. The only thing wrong is your camera. The blue tinge is nothing like that. There's another example of a keyboard warrior. Also the upholstery is now upgraded and qr tickets are available.

I love british humour, a bit acidic but very funny.

Always good news if ireland aims to work on the train service We need to look at Europe fantisic service and also support Into the West Donegal derry rail to dublin It will help on all levels Workers living outside of Dublin Transport of goods and materials Off the road Keep ireland rail service on the Priorty list of investments Sligo letterkenny derry Omagh to dublin Tell me if I'm on the right path

The blue tinted windows, the crumbs on the seat, the rather boring countryside, the whole tired look of the train and no catering ("We''ve not put it back since Covid") - don't appeal. The train ride to Galway or Sligo is far more interesting, and from my experience, the train was far better. Thumbs definitely down for this trip!

Irish trains runs with diesel then eu ask you to go electric.

2023, and it still hasn`t dawned on Irish rail, that many visitors to Ireland from multiple foreign countries, do not speak the English language, or have a rudimentary understanding of it, and some of them actually travel on their trains .... all their pre-recorded on-board announcements are either in English or the Irish language, take it or leave it !!! Did anyone ever `` think`` to add pre-recorded announcements in Spanish ?? [ a very widely-spoken World language ] Mediocre customer -care, as per usual......