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Unread 18-02-2012, 17:24   #12
Traincustomer
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ar an traein
Posts: 600
Default Late-evening solution to/from Waterford:

An option suggested to IÉ in late-2010 was for the last Limerick Junction to Waterford train to extend to Carlow Mondays to Fridays inclusive. At Carlow it would offer a connection into the present-day 21.35 Carlow to Heuston and take a connection from the 20.10 Heuston-Carlow.

No existing journey opportunities would be lost and a new late-evening connection in both directions Waterford-Dublin would be created.

Minor retimings of a few minutes may be necessary to either or both trains.

The new Waterford-Carlow service could omit certain intermediate station stops or serve all three of Thomastown, Kilkenny and Muine Bheag. Ditto for the return Carlow to Waterford journey.

The finer detail of this would mean this new train crossing the 18.35 ex Heuston at Ballyhale loop (is there a rule of whether it's the down train or up train that must occupy the loop? In my experience it always seems to be the down train that occupies the loop with the up train having a "clear run").

There would appear to be no other conflicts/crossings and, of course, Carlow can accommodate both trains simultaneously. A slight downside though is the need for passengers to cross the footbridge at Carlow station.

The reply from IÉ at the time cited that market conditions at present wouldn't justify such a service but that the issue would be reviewed in the future.

If it ever happened at a future date that an ICR took over Limerick Jct. - Waterford then the evening Limerick Jct. - Waterford could run through to Heuston and the 20.10 Heuston-Carlow through to Waterford.

Having used the 20.10 Heuston-Carlow on a few occasions this year it is quite well used - all three coaches substantially filled ex Heuston with numbers well in the tens going past Kildare (to both Athy and Carlow) but I doubt a 6-car ICR could be justified.

Last edited by Traincustomer : 18-02-2012 at 17:38. Reason: typo & additional text
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