Intercity journey experiences

Mark Gleeson · 08-01-2007, 11:49

Appearently there isn't meant to be a notice above the seats with your name on it

We have complained about it and a before unseen notice with no name but clearly stating the seat had been reserved appeared in the last 2 weeks

I really really want to let loose and cause a scene but so far I haven't had the chance but god help the staff member the day it happens. I've been lucky recently but then again every time I board a train in Heuston in the last month or so the head of intercity business development has been standing on the platform

davidth88 · 09-01-2007, 15:13

Travelled from Killarney to Dublin on the 7th Jan , I was on the 12:30 Cork-Dublin which was one of the new trains.

Nice enough trip , however the seat reservations LED displays were not working , I have never ever seen these working , is the software working/available I wonder ?

Mr T. · 11-01-2007, 17:12

On 10 Jan 2007 the 17:30 from Heuston to Limerick was delayed due to some failure of a train ahead of it. I was sitting in the "dining" carriage but did not hear any announcements. Apparently there were announcements made (to the tune of "we'll be moving shortly") but these announcements were only audible in some carriages.

This is a common situation on this train (not the delay but the inability to hear announcements).

Colm Moore · 13-01-2007, 04:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

I've been lucky recently but then again every time I board a train in Heuston in the last month or so the head of intercity business development has been standing on the platform

Are you a marked man on the booking system? He gets a memo anytime you reserve a ticket?

James Shields · 18-01-2007, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

I really really want to let loose and cause a scene but so far I haven't had the chance but god help the staff member the day it happens. I've been lucky recently but then again every time I board a train in Heuston in the last month or so the head of intercity business development has been standing on the platform

You must be too well known, Mark. Time to break out the false moustache and go incognito!

Mr T. · 18-01-2007, 21:50

Friday 12 Jan 2007: 18:00 from Heuston

At 18:05 (we still hadn't pulled out of Heuston) all passengers were informed to disembark from the train due to the need to test the doors. We all got off.
We stood out in the cold wind while the doors closed and opened a couple of times.
We all got back on.
The train pulled out (late).

My question is why the heck we had to get off the train so that they could test the doors? (Mark Gleeson is going to have an answer for this one, I can feel it in my bones as I type) I reckon myself it's because there was a risk that when they closed the doors we would all be trapped in an unthinkable form of hell....

Also, why did they wait until 5 minutes AFTER the train was due to depart before testing the doors? We were on the train 20 minutes at that stage.

Mark Gleeson · 18-01-2007, 22:16

You don't need to be a engineering guru to work it out

Door tests are different since guess what they have to open the doors on both sides now clearly that not good with passengers on board.

In an emergency every door has a release, its the red handle over the door, brake glass pull down then give the door a shove outwards

Of course the test should be done before the train hits the platform, time is allocated to do this

Mr T. · 19-01-2007, 13:05

Apologies for my ignorance. I wasn't aware that they were testing the doors on both sides of the train - in fact when they tested the doors only the doors on the platform side opened and closed. I don't have the insider information that others appear to have...

Thanks for your explanation. And the safety demonstration. I didn't realise there were emergency door releases. Is this a new thing? Those guys come up with some really cool inventions.

I must renew my guru card and sit the test again.

Garrett · 19-01-2007, 21:33

Flew in from Paris today. 747 to city centre. Met a friend. Got the Luas (jammed) to Hewston. Got the 17:50 Galway train to Portarlinton. Train left on time, good train journey overall. Was in a good mood until we got (or half got) to Portarlington:

Train crawls into the station. Myself and two other passengers were at the door waiting for the platform to appear. We were at then back of the 3rd last carraige. No platform appeared.

Looked out a half open window and noticed that we were at the station but the platform was too short, then noticed people at the front end of the carriage disembarking. No announcements had been made.

Quickly hauled my luggage to the front and got off the train. The inspector was at the door so I asked him was it normal. He said that there appears to have been a signalling problem and that the train had pulled into platform 1 (eastbound) instead of the usual platform 2. I didn't mention anything about the lack of announcements.

As I was walking to the exit it occured to me that there may have been people in the last two carriages unaware that we were at the station. I tried pointing this out to a Portarlington station staff member on the platform. This is our conversation:
Me: "Maybe someone should make an announcement because there might be people at the back who might't know we're at the station."
IE guy: (Shruggs shoulders) "Nothing got to do with me."
Me: (Looking at the Iarnrod Eireann logo on his jumper) "It does say Iarnrod Eireann on your jumper, doesn't it?" (I was a bit pissed off, hence the smart ass comment)
IE guy: (getting visibly angry) "Listen! I'm not a train crew member, so it's got nothing to do with me!"
My parents arrived at that moment, so I let it go. The train started pulling off.

Mark Gleeson · 19-01-2007, 21:56

There is nothing wrong with the 17:50 to Galway using the Dublin platform, it ensures the 18:00 ex Dublin gets a clear run.

There should be a PA to indicate the platform is short. It is a safety critical requirement

The platform staff can control the situation by requesting the train to pull forward so the rear coaches line up.

For a train to leave it goes platform staff give go -> guard acknowledges -> guard gives go to driver. So it is the platform staff problem and failure to act on safety situation is unacceptable

11-01-2007, 17:12	#3
Mr T. New to the board Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kildare Town Posts: 14	On 10 Jan 2007 the 17:30 from Heuston to Limerick was delayed due to some failure of a train ahead of it. I was sitting in the "dining" carriage but did not hear any announcements. Apparently there were announcements made (to the tune of "we'll be moving shortly") but these announcements were only audible in some carriages. This is a common situation on this train (not the delay but the inability to hear announcements). __________________ I feel the need...the need for speed...

18-01-2007, 21:50	#6
Mr T. New to the board Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kildare Town Posts: 14	Friday 12 Jan 2007: 18:00 from Heuston At 18:05 (we still hadn't pulled out of Heuston) all passengers were informed to disembark from the train due to the need to test the doors. We all got off. We stood out in the cold wind while the doors closed and opened a couple of times. We all got back on. The train pulled out (late). My question is why the heck we had to get off the train so that they could test the doors? (Mark Gleeson is going to have an answer for this one, I can feel it in my bones as I type) I reckon myself it's because there was a risk that when they closed the doors we would all be trapped in an unthinkable form of hell.... Also, why did they wait until 5 minutes AFTER the train was due to depart before testing the doors? We were on the train 20 minutes at that stage. __________________ I feel the need...the need for speed...

19-01-2007, 13:05	#8
Mr T. New to the board Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kildare Town Posts: 14	Apologies for my ignorance. I wasn't aware that they were testing the doors on both sides of the train - in fact when they tested the doors only the doors on the platform side opened and closed. I don't have the insider information that others appear to have... Thanks for your explanation. And the safety demonstration. I didn't realise there were emergency door releases. Is this a new thing? Those guys come up with some really cool inventions. I must renew my guru card and sit the test again. __________________ I feel the need...the need for speed... Last edited by Mr T. : 19-01-2007 at 13:16.

19-01-2007, 21:33	#9
Garrett Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Paris Posts: 78	Bad experience at Portarlington today (Jan 19th) Flew in from Paris today. 747 to city centre. Met a friend. Got the Luas (jammed) to Hewston. Got the 17:50 Galway train to Portarlinton. Train left on time, good train journey overall. Was in a good mood until we got (or half got) to Portarlington: Train crawls into the station. Myself and two other passengers were at the door waiting for the platform to appear. We were at then back of the 3rd last carraige. No platform appeared. Looked out a half open window and noticed that we were at the station but the platform was too short, then noticed people at the front end of the carriage disembarking. No announcements had been made. Quickly hauled my luggage to the front and got off the train. The inspector was at the door so I asked him was it normal. He said that there appears to have been a signalling problem and that the train had pulled into platform 1 (eastbound) instead of the usual platform 2. I didn't mention anything about the lack of announcements. As I was walking to the exit it occured to me that there may have been people in the last two carriages unaware that we were at the station. I tried pointing this out to a Portarlington station staff member on the platform. This is our conversation: Me: "Maybe someone should make an announcement because there might be people at the back who might't know we're at the station." IE guy: (Shruggs shoulders) "Nothing got to do with me." Me: (Looking at the Iarnrod Eireann logo on his jumper) "It does say Iarnrod Eireann on your jumper, doesn't it?" (I was a bit pissed off, hence the smart ass comment) IE guy: (getting visibly angry) "Listen! I'm not a train crew member, so it's got nothing to do with me!" My parents arrived at that moment, so I let it go. The train started pulling off.

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08-01-2007, 11:49	#1
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Appearently there isn't meant to be a notice above the seats with your name on it We have complained about it and a before unseen notice with no name but clearly stating the seat had been reserved appeared in the last 2 weeks I really really want to let loose and cause a scene but so far I haven't had the chance but god help the staff member the day it happens. I've been lucky recently but then again every time I board a train in Heuston in the last month or so the head of intercity business development has been standing on the platform

09-01-2007, 15:13	#2
davidth88 New to the board Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 19	Travelled from Killarney to Dublin on the 7th Jan , I was on the 12:30 Cork-Dublin which was one of the new trains. Nice enough trip , however the seat reservations LED displays were not working , I have never ever seen these working , is the software working/available I wonder ?

18-01-2007, 22:16	#7
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	You don't need to be a engineering guru to work it out Door tests are different since guess what they have to open the doors on both sides now clearly that not good with passengers on board. In an emergency every door has a release, its the red handle over the door, brake glass pull down then give the door a shove outwards Of course the test should be done before the train hits the platform, time is allocated to do this

19-01-2007, 21:56	#10
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	There is nothing wrong with the 17:50 to Galway using the Dublin platform, it ensures the 18:00 ex Dublin gets a clear run. There should be a PA to indicate the platform is short. It is a safety critical requirement The platform staff can control the situation by requesting the train to pull forward so the rear coaches line up. For a train to leave it goes platform staff give go -> guard acknowledges -> guard gives go to driver. So it is the platform staff problem and failure to act on safety situation is unacceptable