[article] Proposal to bring train journey times between cities below two hours

[dowlingm]

Destructix - Limerick shuttle with only one pushpull DVT still notionally available (6101 I think)? Not happening, and neither is a shuttle scenario where you need an EGV and a loco running around. If they wouldn't return some PP Mark 3s to service when the six car 22Ks derailed and the two three cars were scrapped with a resulting shortfall in available stock, they aren't going to now.

As for reducing train journey times (i.e. the topic) is there any likelihood of Ennis-Limerick times being made more competitive within even a thin funding envelope?

[neoncircles]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Destructix - Limerick shuttle with only one pushpull DVT still notionally available (6101 I think)? Not happening, and neither is a shuttle scenario where you need an EGV and a loco running around. If they wouldn't return some PP Mark 3s to service when the six car 22Ks derailed and the two three cars were scrapped with a resulting shortfall in available stock, they aren't going to now.

As for reducing train journey times (i.e. the topic) is there any likelihood of Ennis-Limerick times being made more competitive within even a thin funding envelope?

Limerick-Ennis is already fairly competitive. Journey time is 40 minutes while the bus takes at least an hour (Because it goes into the airport and Clarecastle etc). Fares are about the same too. It's quiet enough mid-day but morning and evening commuter timed trains are generally full in my experience.

[Mark Gleeson]

There is a recurring issue of heavy speed restrictions approaching terminuses.

Limerick, Cork and Waterford are very slow on approach due to life expired signaling and track

[Destructix]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Destructix - If they wouldn't return some PP Mark 3s to service when the six car 22Ks derailed and the two three cars were scrapped with a resulting shortfall in available stock, they aren't going to now

Wasn't that derailment due to sunlight shining on the signals or something? I read in the Independent its was going to cost €350,000 to repair it. Also does anybody know the exact number of mk3's that are left even? There was about 14 in Waterford last July, they had generator vans so im guessing they have the push and pulls ones stored somewhere in Dublin and will probably never be used again. It makes no sense having modern enough stock of carriages (they still use similar and older carriages in England just the doors are handle opened) not being used. even the non push/pull carriages could have a use on some lines. Sure the 2700-29000 DMU's are more economical to run but are dangerously overcrowded on some routes at times and three/four weeks ago in Colbert one came in from Limerick Junction smoke coming out from the front, due to serve us at 6:00 back to the junction, they had to get another set and they didnt open the door until 6:10 delaying the Dublin/Cork trains. It makes you wonder are they more concerned with the costs and budget than providing a better and safer comfortable reliable journey.

[Mark Gleeson]

The Mk3 option was great until Irish Rail managed to get its hands on 51 new Intercity Railcars after providing a financial case which showed over 15 years the ICR option was cheaper than retaining some Mk3 coaches. The problem was the gap between the Mk3's being withdrawn and the extra coaches arriving.

A fully refurbished Mk3 coach would cost 250-300k but only have 10-15 years life. The push pull control cars cannot be upgraded to 100mph without massive expense

In a Dublin Limerick stop start race the ICR wins on both fuel and time. In a non stop dash there is little between them, ICR slightly faster but Mk3/201 cheaper on diesel.

Irish Rail's fleet reliability stacks up well in comparison to elsewhere, its certainly well ahead of comparable UK trains of a similar age and up 4 times better than Belfast for equipment from the same factory. Its far from the weakest link, the ICR fleet even in its very early days was ahead of the Mk3/201 fleet combination.

This brings us to the great conundrum of Irish Rail, if the trains are up to 4 times more reliable than elsewhere why is the service still crap?