View Single Post
Unread 08-01-2012, 09:59   #18
Destructix
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North Tipperary
Posts: 258
Default

It really has to be a voluntary effort now. Its not viable to spend the required €25million to upgrade the line between Nenagh and Ballybrophy when some days the trains are empty at Castleconnell, Birdhill and speeds will still fall behind that of other lines and bus routes. Virginia O'Dowd wants direct Dublin-Limerick services but the times would only spook people but then if the service is kept local it will get no passengers. Though from the response of Alan Kelly in the last few days here it sounds like he is going to try be a hero and waste more money on this line.

Quote:
The line runs through the constituency of the Labour Party Minister Alan Kelly who told The Guardian on Tuesday that he was hoping to sit down with the rail company to look at options of improving services on the line. He said the line needed substantial investment as well as better marketing of the service and higher train speeds. Nothing had been received by his department proposing closure. The minister said his own efforts to improve services on the line where signalled last year when he announced funding for improvements in four railway stations on the line in North Tipperary.
Iarnród Éireann has marketed the line enough even offering cheap as chips fares. It was down to local people to use the service. Even with massive investment how can a small train service compete with a motorway running beside it and Bus Éireann route 12. Look at the times

Nenagh-Dublin 2hrs 22mins avg,
versus
Nenagh-Busaras, 2 hrs 30mins but hourly service
Nenagh-Dublin by Car on M7 1hrs 34mins
Thurles-Heuston 1hr 25mins avg hourly service
Thurles-Busaras by bus via Horse and Jockey 2hrs 35 mins (includes the 20 min break at Urlingford, which the latest on is that its going to abolished reducing it to just under 2hrs 10 minutes)

As for direct Limerick services
Limerick-Heuston Via Ballybrophy 3hrs 10mins avg
Limerick-Heuston Via mainline including change at the junction 2hrs 28mins avg
Limerick-Busaras by bus 3hrs.
Limerick-Dublin by bus JJ Kavanagh 3hrs 5 minutes but hourly
Limerick-Dublin by car M7 2hrs

Even with the estimated €25 million upgrade needed on the line it will still have really poor times.
Destructix is offline   Reply With Quote