Intercity journey experiences
What should be a stress free experience intercity train travel is far from enjoyable in Ireland. The absolute basics are rarely handled correctly
So if you are on a intercity service,
Post it here, we need the date, time and the service operated, one of the coach numbers would be handy (but is not essential) as then we could prove that its not just one specifc train but a fleet wide problem. |
Friday 6-1-2005
15:00 Dublin Cork No pa made before departure, pa inaudible when annocuments made, no reference to catering which didn't reach the 2nd last coach till Thurles and the train was quiet by standards Significant number of intercarriage doors where left open |
this is a fantastic idea - i know there is a thread for suburban already but having a specific one for intercity is great as each have a specific set of issues
i might suggest that this thread form the basis of a leaflet campaign outside heuston and connolly "Had a bad train journey? IE not listening to you? Tell us!" - with instructions on how to get to the site and give details (basically the first post on this thread) irish people are increasingly learning to complain and IE give no satisfaction it should be easy to get them to tell their stories here - might generate alot of traffic as well because it offers a specific reason to come to the site rather than a generic "come and visit us" i know the committee has plenty of scheme's and plans - just thought i'd add this to the list |
This is going to be a fairly busy thread ! Im going to print Marks original post and keep it as a check list for my next Sligo-Dublin journey on the 2900s. Im sure i'll get them on some cock-up !
What about the leaflets don mentioned Mark ? Is it a runner ? Shame IE into doing something.... |
9:00pm Dublin - Cork - Friday 13th.
1) Announcement before train departed completely ridiculous. "Passengers who are not travelling please leave the train immediately as doors are about to close - doors are now closing please stand clear of the doors" (didn't really give much chance if you weren't travelling and did actually have to get off!) 2) Large section of missing seats in one MK3 coach (just after the dining car) 3) Several seats in our coach had badly damaged arm rests. It looked like the front of the arm rest assembly had been knocked right off. 4) While the internal doors were checked by a guy in an IE uniform. One at the end of our coach (standard class 2 away from dining car) didn't work and remained open. There were 2 problems, both of which I thought were handled very well however: 1) The train borded slightly late due. While the platform announcements didn't explain why, they did keep explaining that bording was slightly delayed and apologised. The ticket checker speeded things along by pre-checking all of the tickets in the queue. When the train did pull up, he simply opened the barriers and people rapidly boarded without any delay. 2) The dining car had a "technical problem with the boiler" ... however, the dining car person came on the intercom and she announced that she would be unable to serve tea/coffe/hot drinks due to a fault with the water boiler. I thought that this was quite reasonable as it saved people who wanted tea/coffee a long trip up the train. |
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You got away lightly MrX, seeing that it was Friday the 13th :)
Still good to see the right annoucements being made. |
Friday 20/1/06
6.55 train from Templemore (the Cork 5.30 now Mark 3 not 2d anymore...) a/c working VERY well in my carraige. Heating wasnt. Frozen. Thought it was the entire train till the ticketman said it was only our carraige and it was faulty. |
BREL's Air conditioning's never been the best, even on the MK3s.
Seems to have 2 settings "sweat" or "freeze" |
The 18:21 ex-Killarney to Heuston yesterday (29/01/06) was late arriving into Killarney by approximately twenty mins and didnt leave til 18:40. No announcement/reason or even apology for the delay was made at any point on the train or the station.
Secondly more than half the rear carriage of the train was reserved for a group leaving killarney who seemed not to show up. After some time a passenger enquired if they could sit in the reserved seats, only to find out that these seats were reserved for a previous train (15:45 again ex Killarney??) and the guard hadn't bothered to take down the reserved signs? Finally to add to matters the train was freezing most people were wearing their coats hats and gloves for the three and a half hour trip, while one lucky lady resorted to taking a sleepig bag from her bag and getting into it. Typical IE an excellent service and all for only Euro60!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: |
Typical
Your story sounds all too familair Colm. The bit about the reserved seats is ridiculous. Id write to the line manager if i were you. This "service" is not acceptable in 2006 !
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I could post something similar to this every weekend I go home to kerry over the past six years.
It makes sitting in traffic on the N7 seem like heaven. at least your on your own time, you are guarenteed food, warmth, some degree of comfort, and I get to my own front door As with most other customers on intercity I aspire to have my own car soon. I just figured I do 7360 miles a year minimum with intercity IE If that was Aerlingus or BA I would at least get the air miles and the odd free flight or first class seat. End of Rant......................:D |
Dublin - Sligo: fun and games today
Connolly-Sligo 29K :mad: Friday, Feb. 3rd 2006.
19:00 service - no announcements AT ALL except 2 "this train is for Sligo" before departure. P.I.S. was dead as a doornail too. |
But wait, there's more!
The train started and stopped an likely went really slow from Connolly to Mullingar, because we got into Mullingar the best part of 10 minutes late. S'posed to get there at 8:05 PM got there it was more like quarter-past. Now this is where it gets interesting. The driver must have put boot down, becuase we got to Edgeworthstown only 5 min behind schedule, and by Longford, where I disembarked, the train was back on time. Now let's stop and think about this for a second - the everyday timetable seems to be padded by the best part of 10 min and this is just the stretch from Mullingar to Longford! Methinks its time to pitch the ridiculous "Customer Charter" as it seems to be doing more harm than good. And there seems to be a lot of unexplained stopping-and-starting of trains since the new timetable :( Can't believe i ***ing paid €30 for that "service" What the hell is going there anyway. |
Unprofessionalism taken to new extremes.
I was on the 9:00pm service Dublin-Cork on Friday (03/02/2006). The train, a mark 3, boarded and departed approximately 10 mins late for no apparent reason. However, Heuston staff did make an announcment appologising for the delayed boarding etc.
The "fun" started after boarding. A completely unintelligable announcement in a very strong cork accent came over the intercom mumbling something about Kent station. This was followed by giggling. There was no doors closing announcement. The doors simply shut. The first stop, Kildare was announced after the train stopped and the doors were opened. The doors had closed before the announcement was made warning that they were about to close. Now for the really fun bit. The speakers went live and we heard "Watch yer wan, she'll steal the sugar and the milk.." followed by giggling / horse play. then "Gerry's here.. .Gerry's here... Gerry's here!" (or something along those lines). They then left the microphone on for about 45 mins !! The rest of the announcements for the entire journey were completely farsical. They were deafeningly loud, the mic was never switched off at the end of them and they were completely unintelligable. I cannot understand how any company that claims to uphold standards could stand over this kind of utter nonsense. I would even go as far as to suspect that the crew making these announcements were possibly tipsy / drunk. If this happened on an airline the crew would be summarily dismissed without any explanation. You'd simply have to pack your things and find a new job, in a different industry. I am just amazed that this kind of nonsense can go on. The faster they come up with an intercity PIS and automatic announcement system the better. IE staff clearly can't be let loose with a microphone!:eek: |
Our man Derek reports a MK3 coach dumped in sidings in Kildare this morning it would have been some hassle to remove and would have seriously delayed services. Also the turnback in Newbridge is out of use forcing Newbridge terminating trains to run to Kildare out of service
Sounds like the PA in the dining car was left on. I saw my first fully powered up CDE set on Thursday and everything was working let just hope the software works |
"Our man Derek" had more on his plate today than a dumped MK3 coach in Kildare.
Arrived for the 09.28 service to Cork from Kildare. At 9.25 an announcement is made that the next train on Platform 1 is to Cork. Passengers for Limerick, change at the junction, Passengers for Killarney and Tralee change at Mallow. No mention of passengers for Roscrea and Nenagh, changing at Ballybrophy. Obviously, this particular service doesn't enter the mindset this close to Heuston!:confused: Also announced was the fact that the train was running 10 mins late. The 10 mins late bit was announced 3 times, but alas, no apology at any point. Train arrives and departs 8 mins late. "Stand clear of all doors" announcement is made along with arrival at station announcements. (also included was the little "bing bong" bit. nice touch, but spoilt by background noise as usual. Who said they could'nt wait for automated announcements on the new CDE sets?) Ticket checker was shabby on this service and catering guy(no uniform) insisted on calling me "mate". Arrive at Limerick Junction still 8 mins late. Fair enough. No apology.(obviously in betweeny stops don't matter) Its only 8 mins, but so what, say sorry anyway. It makes you feel better. Return journey was 17.30 ex Limerick, direct. Listed as having trolley service. As usual, no trolley service or even any sign of a trolley or staff. But hey,this happens all the time and people don't even bother complaining. I didn't miss it myself, but if its meant to have one then it should as somebody (5 in my carraige) obviously cared as they asked about it. Anyway, no door announcements. 9 minute delay at Ballybrophy. No reason. Connection was on time. Fast stop and depart at Portlaoise and arrival at Kildare still 9 - 10 mins down. Pretty uneventful I know, but one positive..... the ticket checker was a non-national (is that PC?) He was turned out in impeccable fashion, smiled, was friendly and a credit to IE. Ive taken this service before and its always empty. Its preceeded by a 17.10 connection to the junction, but onward stops are different. Seems like a bit of a stock movement feature. Any thoughts on that? |
I would also have to complement the non-irish staff on IE in recent months. I have had fantastically helpful service from several ticket checkers, catering staff etc all of whom have been non irish nationals.
It's clear that there's "don't care" culture within IE's older staff. There are some Irish staff on board who are quite helpful and nice too though. It's just a minority of them that give the rest of them a very bad name. There are several catering staff who look like they've never heard of a comb, a shower and have zero ability to tuck their shirt into their pants. Calling customers "mate" etc.. just sounds crumby. I'm not suggesting that they call you "sir" or anything. But you'd sort of expect the same level of customer care as you get in your average O'Brien's sandwich bar or whatever. I get the feeling sometimes that the train's being run by 1970s school kids who simply failed to grow up. Also, I think IE should look at a uniform change. The current outfit has a bit of a "school uniform" from the local CBS look about it. Something a bit smarter and more modern might help improve morale. Also, perhaps something a bit more practical for those crew members who are clearly incapable of tucking in shirts, tieing ties etc etc. IE should look at issuing scripts for PA Announcements too. These adhoc announcements arn't really acceptable. Particularly those relating to safety issues e.g. the doors. I would suggest that they even could install a simple announcement device that would only play "DOORS ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE, PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF DOORS... DOORS ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE ... STAND CLEAR! and perhaps play a Luas style tone. This could be triggered automatically by the door system. Surely something like that could be implemented very cheaply and would keep safety up. All you'd need is a single message PA announcement system tied into the PA. It could be operated either automatically or by pushing an extra button when you are about to close the doors. |
I'm told there is a new uniform coming
The catering is to be contracted out (thank god) There will be no need for the doors closing PA on the new trains as they have the warning buzzer |
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Give them a clear line, and they can really fly. |
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Actually this last time the ride wasn't that awfully bad, not as bad as it usually is. But one thing I didn't like was that on the 4 coach train there were people standing and sitting on bags in the "general carriage area" a.k.a. "the floor" :mad: Hadn't seen that in years. But I had taken Mk2ds up that day, and they too were in very fine form. A total joy to use as ever. Hard to believe these are possibly only days away from being pulled from mainline service. I just have to stop taking the Sligo train becuase every time I do, I just end up getting more confused each time :confused: |
This fella had a bad experience
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http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=13638 Oh yeah you only need 1 door on each side |
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Curtains
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Was sitting near the front of the train, just behind the 1st class (non-citygold section) It was the same 9am service, but on Tuesday (7/2/06) Train left 10 mins late, but the best bit was a guy arrived on at 5 past 9 with a supermac's bag full of fried goodies. *and* he had an IE uniform on. He went up to talk to his fellow jobsworths, and the muppets had left the mike on again, because we could all hear the slagging that he was getting over some IE staff night out. Presumably as the IE guy arrived late he knew that it wasn't going to depart on time (unless the train was waiting for him?). I do try my best to relax when on an intercity run but I have to admit this is hindered by the thought that IE have put more padding in their timetable than a wonderbra just so some of their more juvenile staff can feck around and take the piss. My mood was mollified somewhat by the charming non-Irish trolley lady (I agree completely with the comments that the non-Irish IE staff are way more professional than their Irish equivalents btw) -- there was a guy in front of me who decided to sit in standard class, primarily because he could get a seat of 4 to himself. But he had a first class ticket, and perhaps because he hadn't travelled 1st class before, he innocently enquired of the trolley lady were there any benefits to actually travelling 1st class. There being no in-seat catering that day (surprise!), she thought for a second before replying: "Curtains". Class... |
Unbelievable !!!!
Yer man with the Supermacs bag, probably with the shirt hanging out of his arse. That kinda of crap drives me mad. It shows that
A. IE dont give a crap B. No-one seems to be in charge C. Customer service is non existent in this organisation. D. Professionalism doesnt exist in this organisation. Think about it. If that was you or me, coming into my office, late for work, munching Supermac food in front of my customers and loud mouthing over an intercom for all to her about "da grea nigh las nigh". I wouldn't be long in my job or at least have gotton a yellow card ! Yer man Fearn has his head in the sand when it comes to customer service and basic professionalism. Giving IE 100 Billion Euro wont change this type of carry-on im afraid, especially when the boss man is not seen to be the boss and has no respect from his own employees. This is what really seperates us from the rest of Europe not the lack of money. Yes Bring in the foreign nationals - the sooner the better. Maybe one day they will give Fearns job to one of them. Maybe then IE might start to deliver a SERVICE and not just run trains ! :mad: |
More fun and games on Sligo yestarday.
Got the 8:50 AM ex-Sligo train at Edgeworthstown. Don't remember if it was an 8 coach or 4, but there were standees in all cars >_< fortunately I found a seat that everyone else either overlooked or didn't bother with ...
Then the toilets (sorry toilet) was on the blink. Dunno what happened, door malfunctioned or whatever. Seems to be commplace ... I guess that's what happens when you stuff a 6 coach trainload of people into a 4-piece rolling trashcan. The ultimate kick in the nuts came at Connolly station where our Mk2ds were lying idle in Platform 4 - and when I came back at 1:20 PM (for other reasons) and saw said set leaving for Belfast :mad: "Life expired" my rear end. Give us back our half-decent trains you idiotic, pathetic, inept, moronic CIE/IE tossers. Signed; Irish Rail's #1 fan - right behind TSheridan and Metrobest. |
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You would have gotten Mk3s if some Sligo polly'ticken hadn't shouted his mouth off about "second hand trains". |
Yep the Mk2s are gone for good off regular Sligo services as of today... except for the Friday & Sunday relief trains.
The last down service was last night's 17.00 ex Connolly which I was lucky enough to be on.... sitting across from two people lying back in their seats and discussing how the new trains are "so cramped" and how the old ones are "so much more comfortable". Little did they know that was their last opportunity to travel to Sligo in some degree of comfort for at least two years. That's after hundreds of millions of euro of OUR money have been pumped into the sham that is the Sligo line Let's hope Mitsui get their act together, the regional DMUs arrive well ahead of schedule, and Fearn, in a moment of uncharacteristic insight, allocates them to where they're most badly needed As for the Mk2s being life expired - I still refuse to accept that they couldn't have bridged the gap until the Mitsuis arrive. Just like the early bird being cancelled "because no-one used it" even though everyone from Mullingar onwards had to stand each and every week. This suits IE and that's all that matters. Besides what state will the 29ks be in come 2008, after two years of racing up and down to Sligo. They're already cropping up numerous failures, broken toilets, faulty doors etc are everyday occurrences. |
We tried but as usual IE wouldn't play along
http://www.platform11.org/campaigns/sligo/ Quote:
The MK2d coaches are past it several coaches have already ben added to the scrap line. IE don't give a damn about Sligo (or Rosslare) and the Mitsui railcars are courtesy of the NRA being under budget last year not some long term plan from IE, the 36 new 29000 unis are also courtesy of the NRA. That said I expect to see them on Dublin Belfast first This is not a closed issue just one where there wasn't enough bad feelings on the ground to cause a fuss that changes this week |
Don't forget the trains are all new as pointed out in the 29Ks round 2 thread, so the real problems with crap ride quality are just going to appear gradually.
I for one would advise all Sligo line passengers to get the bus from now on BTW, having just seen our Mk2d trains going to Belfast the other day, I'm starting to think Mark might be right about the IC DMUs going to Belfast rather than Sligo and Rosslare. The question is, how do we deal with the circumstance where that happens? I could have sworn that the 29Ks had been doctored just enough to make them barely acceptable for long-term IC duty. |
I don't buy the idea of the IC DMUs going to Belfast rather than Sligo. The extra 30 units ordered are (as far as I am aware) 3-car units and would not have the catering or the Premium/First Class accommodation necessary for Belfast services. Also would there be corridor connections between two 3-car units?
Having said that, nothing can be ruled out: I could be mistaken in taking a rational view of things. |
I don't think the IC DMUs can go to Belfast, except maybe for relief services when the regular enterprise breaks down. The Enterprise is a 50/50 venture, so IE are not going to put new stock on and give NIR a free ride.
I've heard talk of some Mk3s being put on the route to increase frequency. How would that work? Would IE be providing the coaches and locomotives and still giving NIR hald the revenue? |
15/2/06 1730 Heuston Limerick
No announcement on board as to what train it was till we were past Park West or an announcement that we were pulling off soon. No pa until portlaoise and then in our carriage it was a whisper. Between Ballybrophy and Templemore the guard came in and asked if we heard the pa. We told him it was very quiet. He said that was funny as people in the other carriages were giving out because it was so loud. He went off to try and fix it and but it was still on whisper coming into Templemore. OT but half the train got off in Ballybrophy (remember the Nenagh Limerick Thread). Same apparently for the 1830 to Thurles. Now of only there was a railcar waiting for BOTH trains............... |
I'm sure IE and NIR could hammer out some kinda deal to get the MK3s onto the route if they need them.
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The reason you get off the 18:35 to Thurles at Ballybrophy is because the 19:00 to Cork calls at Ballybrophy Monday to Thursday and Saturday, its quicker to change as the 18:35 is held in the loop platform to allow the 19:00 overtake, I'm serious its a very strange setup There is no notice in the timetable telling you to change, nor does the departure board in Heuston tell you to change, that said The train in platform 4 is the 18:35 to Thurles, passengers for Thurles and Templemore should change at Ballybrophy :D |
I ment the 1835........ in the station in templemore they've a handy timetable which does say you've to change at Ballybrophy on that Thurles train. I've never had to take it myself but it does seem a bit strainge. Maybe when the next timetable comes out it'll make more sense.
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Strange experience on the 18:00 Connolly-Longford yesterday evening when the driver appeared to reboot the train before departure (all engines and lights off). Displays and announcements worked a treat though.
Also, still seem to be 2 Mk2's on Connolly-Sligo at the moment. |
I've seen something like that happen on 2900s occasionally. I've experienced the train stopping in the middle of nowhere, wait for a minute or two, all engines go quiet and lights go off. Passengers look around thinking "uh-oh this doesn't look good." After about two seconds the engines start up again and the lights come back on, and a few seconds later the train moves off again.
Very strange when it happens, but it doesn't happen very often and when it does they don't seem to waste any time about it. Despite the misgivings some people have about them, the 2900s seem rock solid, and I've only once been delayed by a mechanical problem with one of them - and even then, most of the delay was caused by people bailing out on to the tracks when they were perfectly safe in the train. |
The DMU's are a travesty. They're good for runs like Celbridge or even Dundalk. But compared to the Mk3's they lose. They are loud (since they're a bus diesel engine and an automatic transmission) and uncomfortable. The internal styling seems to go for big curves and it looks to be honest like a public toilet on wheels.
I don't buy the scripted announcements thing (or even the automatic ones). The real human-being ones do add a personal touch. Let's keep them! |
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