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Unread 16-04-2014, 21:12   #7
Inniskeen
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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It might be hard to make a business case for stringing overhead wires between Clonsilla and M3 Parkway. On the other hand the busier section of the Maynooth line is from Clonsilla inwards and consequently additional capacity will be required on that section of line, a function that would be fulfilled by services to/from M3 Parkway. The other alternative would be a frequent diesel shuttle on the branch with or without a few through trains morning and evening.

While an electric suburban service should easily out-perform a diesel based service, the performance of the existing DART service suggests that this can not be taken for granted. Performance is particularly dependent on the quality, design and suitability of the control and protection systems. Other factors include station dwell times, door opening and closing cycle times, acceleration, braking, maximum speed and inter-station distance.

Given station spacing north of Malahide it is likely that the current DART fleet would struggle to match the performance of the existing diesel service due to lower maximum speed and door open/close cycle times. Would new more suitable DART rolling stock be acquired for a Balbriggan service. What would a turnback facily look like, hopefully something better than the notoriously inadequate layout at Malahide. Would there be additional running lines to avoid further journey time increases on Enterprise and longer distance commuter services resulting from DART induced congestion ?

Incidentally DART journey time from Bray to Connolly has increased from 36 minutes in 1984 to 44 minutes currently.

Last edited by Inniskeen : 16-04-2014 at 21:16.
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