European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ireland life on the by Dirk Beveridge the associated pres t the rolling Western Countryside is anything but a blur from aboard tar Rod Eireann the National Railroad that epitomizes Ireland s Laid Back Way of life. As the train ambles along the scenery passes by slowly ancient Gray Stone fences Green Fields and countless sheep Spray painted Blue and red by owners who Don t want to mix them up. It is a noisy bumpy ride a train Buff s Delight. But Lar Rod Eireann pronounced in Rehn Road he Rehn is a headache to business commuters and executives who say Ireland needs a viable transport system. The Railroad plans to replace its turn of the Century technology that on some lines permits trains to pass one another Only in the stations. But the improvements Are still a few years off with $600 million expected to come from the european Community As it invests in improving the infrastructure of fringe members Ireland Spain Portugal and Greece. Lar Rod. Eireann runs on some of the oldest track in Europe largely because Ireland was Neutral during world War ii. Neighbouring National railroads suffered heavy bombing and had to be rebuilt. We re fortunate in a Way that the stuff is so old and overdue for replacement that the Money will be Well spent Lar Rod Eireann spokesman Cyril Ferris said. It s not like we re chucking out stuff that s Only 25 years  moving along an old single set of tracks from Westport on Clew Bay to the capital of Dublin on the Irish sea Lar Rod Eireann s faded cars rattle with a steady clicking rhythm. They groan and squeak throughout a journey that takes almost four hours even during the occasional smooth stretches of track. The distance is 160 Miles meaning Lar Rod Eireann is doing about 43 Mph this is no Bullet train. Britons who complain that their train service ranks among the worst in Europe can cover a similar distance in 2vi hours or less. But then British rail probably has fewer concerns about colliding with cattle. One of Lar Rod Eireann s More memorable derailments came in 1987, when a train struck and killed 24 cows Between Dublin and Waterford. A couple of sheep gaze out from the quiet and Tranquility of Ireland s Connemara Region. Sas Fil. Some of the carcasses were knocked aside but the rest rolled up into a big Ball of ground meat underneath the train. The hamburger As Ferris Calls it pushed four cars off the tracks. No people were Hurt. Despite its shortcomings Lar Rod Eireann is keen on self promotion. The bar car has napkins that encourage riders to think train and people waiting for a Coffee or a Stout often have ample time for reflection. Stations along the intercity line feature signs with the Lar Rod Eireann slogan we go further to get you  often this is True. The town of Calway for example is about 40 Miles South of Westport. But Lar Rod Eireann takes passengers 65 Miles East to Athlone before they have to wait for another train to go 58 Miles West to Calway. Lar Rod Eireann encourages people to take the much faster bus. The Irish rail system also has a Way to go As far As service goes. On one recent trip out of Westport a worker with a rolling snack cart came through stopping to serve Coffee to a Gray haired woman passenger. Unfortunately Lar Rod Eireann hit one of its Many bumps and steaming Coffee sloshed the passenger s table. The snack cart Man mopped the mess with paper napkins which he left in a soggy Brown Heap right in. Front of the woman before moving on to sell More food and drinks. Many Miles later the snack cart Man returned looked Down at the napkins and apologized for forgetting them. Instead of cleaning things up he merely added More napkins to the pile which sat there All the Way to Dublin. New York design presents its Winter collection of exclusive evening Wear and designer Day Wear featured at the Ramstein Exchange Furth Exchange Wurzburg Exchange Mannheim Exchange Frankfurt Exchange Heidelberg  Exchange Rehin main Exchange Vilseck Exchange Ramstein Exchange chevres Exchange from november 11 to november 23 from november 12 to november 24 from november 19 to december 3 from november 23 to december 8 from november 23 to december 7 from november 24 to december 6 from november 24 to december 6 from november 30 u december 15 from december 1 to december 14 from december 2 to december 13 from december 8 to december 20 the new York design collection will also be featured in the Brindisi Aviano Uvo Rno and Vincenza exchanges in Italy starting november 20, the hottest trends in fashion an cafes concessionaire november 18, 1993 stripes Magazine