Ireland - Iarnrod Eirann

[John Ashworth]

We travelled on IE this morning from Boyle (Co Roscommon) to Dublin Connolly, and really there's very little to report - a good and uneventful trip.

We got the first train of the day from Sligo, picking it up in Boyle at 0730. Boyle is a lovely little stone-built station, typical of others on the line. Most of the way is single line with passing loops at stations. The train was bright and clean, with a similar to feel to many modern British DMUs such as Sprinters and Turbostars. At Longford it was starting to fill up, and by Mullingar it was standing room only. We arrived more or less on time in Dublin just after 1000.

Our very brief encounter with IE gave the impression of a well-run railway, but with massive unused potential. I understand IE is investing in new trains and infrastructure, so it will be interesting to revisit. There are new intercity trains, I understand, and from 22nd January 2008 there's an extra early morning train in each direction on the Sligo-Dublin line.

On the bus from the station to Dublin Airport we got a look at the Dublin trams - a very beautiful and modern system.

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Did you have your new trusty camera you purchased at duty free?

[John Ashworth]

Unfortunately we haven't purchased one yet. After finally managing to download the instruction manual for Jane's camera (she bought it in the duty free at Schipol some time ago and the manual was only in Dutch) we're still trying to get hers to work before we buy a new one. But a new camera is on the list of "things to do soon" - I need a small discreet camera for my work in Sudan.

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Try a small Canon, one of the A series - I have a little one that is really good. Do not go too high on the megapixels - that way you can a mass on one or two cards.