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Unread 22-01-2008, 10:33   #13
ThomasJ
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Clonsilla
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I have to say Mark that I have fallen in love with the station from the prespective of a passenger and only a passenger. it is very well laid out.

Because of my work location I get a 39A (sort of express bus, escapes Blanchardst'n village and s.c) and traffic was a nightmare 40 minutes to get to the Dual Carrigeway on the Navan Road. Considering the Cabra Road has been hell for the last couple of weeks, I decided to hope off the Bus and head down to get the train. There is a shop part of the petrol station beside it. How many stations outside of the DART network are within touching distance of that facility? Large carpark and free carpark? (i think) Again considering IE's plans is that not a huge benefit?

So I walked into the station, first thing I saw was ticket machines, the way it should be no excuse for not having a ticket. The station is well laid out, spacious, plenty of ticket turnstiles and good signage to point you where to go, and lifts! not many stations on the Maynooth line have this!

Get down to the platform and the information screens on the platforms are actually working! Again outside of Drumcondra where would you see this? There is timetables on each platform and plenty of shelter! what is needed when torrential rain falls.

In all honesty, you could compare the new station to Leixlip Louisa Bridge but the lack of information on the platforms is what makes Phoenix Park stand out over any other station on the Maynooth line (other than Drumcondra and the city centre stations).

What may be this stations downfall is the location. It may have a large carpark but if you are driving from the west you could be in traffic for 40 minutes to get to it. Also the lack of capacity on the trains doesn't help things! I got the 7:44 Phoenix Park Connolly yesterday (one of the services expected to be increased) and it was one of the most uncomfortable journeys (seriously).

But in all honesty I do think the station was designed with the passenger in mind. I like it and I think it could work as a station!

[a question for Navan Junction, should navan bus eireann buses stop at the station? would it benefit passengers?]

Last edited by ThomasJ : 22-01-2008 at 13:54.
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