Rail Users Ireland Forum - View Single Post - Proposals for extra train services in North Tipperary...

Inniskeen · 16-02-2012, 18:06

Bit confused by your question. Are you talking about the morning service from the Limerick direction (there is a second train at 0625) or the evening service from Dublin (there is a second train at 1800).

As regards the additional stop on the 1800 to Cork, I would have thought the 1700 to Cork was the busier service and I have never really had difficulty getting a seat on that or indeed the 1705 to Tralee which normally has at least 100 spare seats available.

Yes numerous studies have been done - the figure I have often heard quoted is that a 1% reduction in journey time equates to a 1% increase in patronage.

The timetable quoted seems to be fairly cleverly thought out. The use of non-stop services from Heuston to Ballybrophy will compensate to some degree for the very slow running between Ballybrophy and Nenagh. There also appears to be a ten minute acceleration between Limerick and Nenagh in both directions which aids scheduling.

Restoration of the general 70mph (currently 50 mph) speed limit between Killonan and Nenagh should be possible given that the line has been comprehensively renewed, although this doesn't seem to be on the agenda at present. Probably, of more signifigance and relatively easily achievable would be an increase from 30 mph to 40 mph between Ballybrophy and Nenagh, a move which would save 15 minutes to Nenagh.

In fact it is interesting that adding together the journey time from Dublin to depart Ballybrophy (achievable in 60 minutes), Ballybrophy to Nenagh (approx 45 minutes at 40 mph) and Nenagh to Limerick (potentially 45 minutes at current speed limits) yields a journry time of 2hours-30 minutes, slower than via the Junction, but in many instances by no more than 5 - 10 minutes !

Moving into the realms of the possible rather than the probable, assuming a Nenagh-Ballybrophy line upgrade and a direct curve at Ballybrophy, it would be possible to take advantage of the shorter mileage anf deliver direct Limerick to Dublin services via Nenagh in about 1hour 50 minutes. If this experiment is successful, such an outcome might just be achievable in the longer term.

Maybe Ballybrophy to Limerick isn't doomer after all. Time will tell.

16-02-2012, 18:06	#47
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	Bit confused by your question. Are you talking about the morning service from the Limerick direction (there is a second train at 0625) or the evening service from Dublin (there is a second train at 1800). As regards the additional stop on the 1800 to Cork, I would have thought the 1700 to Cork was the busier service and I have never really had difficulty getting a seat on that or indeed the 1705 to Tralee which normally has at least 100 spare seats available. Yes numerous studies have been done - the figure I have often heard quoted is that a 1% reduction in journey time equates to a 1% increase in patronage. The timetable quoted seems to be fairly cleverly thought out. The use of non-stop services from Heuston to Ballybrophy will compensate to some degree for the very slow running between Ballybrophy and Nenagh. There also appears to be a ten minute acceleration between Limerick and Nenagh in both directions which aids scheduling. Restoration of the general 70mph (currently 50 mph) speed limit between Killonan and Nenagh should be possible given that the line has been comprehensively renewed, although this doesn't seem to be on the agenda at present. Probably, of more signifigance and relatively easily achievable would be an increase from 30 mph to 40 mph between Ballybrophy and Nenagh, a move which would save 15 minutes to Nenagh. In fact it is interesting that adding together the journey time from Dublin to depart Ballybrophy (achievable in 60 minutes), Ballybrophy to Nenagh (approx 45 minutes at 40 mph) and Nenagh to Limerick (potentially 45 minutes at current speed limits) yields a journry time of 2hours-30 minutes, slower than via the Junction, but in many instances by no more than 5 - 10 minutes ! Moving into the realms of the possible rather than the probable, assuming a Nenagh-Ballybrophy line upgrade and a direct curve at Ballybrophy, it would be possible to take advantage of the shorter mileage anf deliver direct Limerick to Dublin services via Nenagh in about 1hour 50 minutes. If this experiment is successful, such an outcome might just be achievable in the longer term. Maybe Ballybrophy to Limerick isn't doomer after all. Time will tell. Last edited by Inniskeen : 16-02-2012 at 18:10.