Limerick train users get fecked over in new timetable
 

I've posted something in the members section of this board explaining how you can find out what services will be in the new timetable. So if you're not a member, join up and get the scoop on what the timetable will look like next year.

But anyway that's an aside. This is a whinge about Limerick train services, which can be best describe by the following:

Old timetable:
Services a day: 10
Average journey time: 2 hours 20 minutes

New timetable
Services a day: 7*
Average journey time: 2 hours 24 minutes

*I've deliberately left out any journey taking more than three hours, as that's just an insane amount of time to spend in Limerick Junction

It's complete and utter ****e. No train that will get you in for a meeting in Limerick before noon. No decent service that will get you home after 6:00 in the evening from Heuston.

Cork may be getting their hourly service, and this is to be welcomed, but a new Limerick service with an average of SIX stops and no option of changing at the junction off a fast Cork train means that Limerick passengers are getting completely shagged over with the new timetable.

Until you see the IE timetable printed what is online currently is not reliable, its not on the IE site for a start

For instance there is no 7 or 8 am to Cork online currently but they exist, no trains to Maynooth beyond 19:05 etc, the 7:25 to Limerick is missing, the connections are not to be relied on the 8:46 Limerick Junc to Limerick is a connection off the 7am ex Dublin so you can make Limerick by 9:15am in 2:15 but you won't find that online

Dublin Limerick
Direct 2006 : 4 time approx 2:35 except the 17:05 fast
Direct 2007 : 6 (possibly also 7:25am) time 2:23-2:30

And its Mk3 coaches with decent heating, more seats and first on all services from 2007 which is a considerable improvement. Its give and take and given the slow down generally Limerick is one of the few routes to show reductions in journey times on direct services

As you say it's maybe pointless making predictions until the new timetables come out.

But I still think six stops is excessive, and it's a route that badly needs to compete properly with the car.

Especially when Limerick-Nenagh will be motorway in about 18 months and Nenagh-Portlaoise will be done in about 30 months.

Most of the direct trains have 5 or 6 stops in the 2006 timetable, in the 2007 one the journey times on those have reduced by at least 5 minutes, where on most other routes journey times increased by 5 minutes

We will have to wait and see

Sooner than that, a lot of work is being done on it and the signs for the new additon to the Nenagh bypass went up yesterday.