[Inniskeen]

It is clear that that IR/NTA are committed to the ten minute DART project irrespective of the consequences for other services and customers.

It looks like it will take the inevitable embarrassing mess that will occur on implementation for IR/NTA or NTA/IR to see sense and back off

It really couldn't be simpler, this timetable is not practical on a shared simple twin track infrastructure. Dublin/Drogheda/Dundalk passengers will get a preview from tomorrow of the type of messing required to support ten-minute DART frequency.

The only good thing to come out of this shambolic exercise is that additional capacity (in terms of increased set sizes) will be inserted into the DART operation from tomorrow. This and some other minor changes is all that ever needed to be done ! The current fifteen minute off-peak service is more than adequate for demand and arguably should be extended to Saturdays and Sundays when off-peak demand is usually higher anyway.

I don't take joy in being negative, a ten minute frequency DART (or better) on a four track infrastructure with airport expresses, hourly (or half hourly) Belfast services and a fast longer distance commuter service would be fantastic in making/restoring railway relevance. The current proposals do the opposite and will drive away as much business as they attract.

It is not just frequency that makes LUAS such a success, it is accessibility and station/train ambience. DART does not score as well as it should on either. It beats LUAS on the ability to move very large numbers in single trains and in the ability (and efficiency) of varying train size to meet demand.