2009 Timetables??

[cullenswood]

Are there any rumours/news on any changes to the Longford rail timetable? Any later trains travelling to Enfield from Connolly, or more of the trains actually stopping in Enfield?

Would it not make sense to open the platform on the far side of the Enfield station and allow trains to stop there while waiting for a train on the opposite direction to pass. This would allow more trains to pick up passengers in Enfield without altering timetables.

[Mark Gleeson]

Far as we understand no extra trains, high risk of less trains at off peak times.

They might move to eliminate some of the empty trains, which would result in a extra Longford Dublin morning service, basically running in place of the Enfield train. While logical, better for the public and cheaper, this is Irish Rail so they probably won't do it

Lots of talk of something radical within Dublin, but no consultation

[cullenswood]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Lots of talk of something radical within Dublin, but no consultation

Thanks Mark

Something radical within Dublin, does this mean Enfield getting left behind. Surely they should notice that large numbers using the Enfield train as a commuter service?

[Mark Gleeson]

At 27 miles out Enfield is not considered a commuter station. You will never have a train every 10 minutes as you get when you are within 15 miles of the city. You will be lucky to get a service every 30 minutes and thats the limit and that depends on both the second platform and double track out to Mullingar to happen.

The name of game is to carry the most number of people, further out you go it costs more to provide the service and it provides less and less benefits. In comparison, Wicklow is the same distance, out has 4 times the population and only 2 morning services (vs 3) and 3 in the evening 3 vs 4 so Enfield is doing very well

The DTO is currently trying to figure out how to make the city work and long distance commuting is a big problem since its really hard to address with public transport

Anything radical will effect DART and Maynooth line only, in reality its nothing special just providing a consistent service level and clockface timetables, really restoring the service to what it always should have been in the first place.

[Mark Hennessy]

At 27 miles out Enfield is not considered a commuter station. You will never have a train every 10 minutes as you get when you are within 15 miles of the city. You will be lucky to get a service every 30 minutes and thats the limit and that depends on both the second platform and double track out to Mullingar to happen.

Do Irish Rail really consider 27 miles to be Inter-City?

Its crazy that current services to places like that could be cut considering how a lot of people were forced to move away from the city by insanely high house prices.

[Mark Gleeson]

Cuts more likely between Maynooth and Dublin, than further afield. Anything beyond Maynooth is considered intercity

Just to get a second platform in Enfield could cost 4 million since it must then get an accessible footbridge and other trimmings.

Enfield will only ever get a basic service, that said a basic service means a train after 9pm which few if any routes enjoy

The professional planning view is such long distance commuting is unsustainable. Everyone is entitled to a basic service, 3 trains in before 9am tends to satisfy that requirement. But the super high density train every 7.5 minutes is reserved for serious demand locations

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by Mark Hennessy

Do Irish Rail really consider 27 miles to be Inter-City?

Anything operating outside of the short hop zone and Cork-Cobh is intercity, really.