Rumours of Waterford station downgrade

[Traincustomer]

A brief point with reference to the longer term issue about the station as a whole mentioned in the IÉ quotation:

Any ultimate relocation of Waterford Plunkett station, would need to be mitigated by at least one appropriate measure to compensate for the increased physical distance between the station and city/central business district.

For instance,

Locating it at Sallypark would necessitate a dedicated bus link between the station and city.

Locating it east of the existing station would perhaps lend to the possibility of a pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the river.

There is the ultimate possibility of razing the entire current station and running the track to Belview and Rosslare through the site furthest away from the Mount Misery rockface. Hopefully such a draconian measure would not be needed. As an aside the red-brick eastern part of the station is possibly a protected structure.

[Jamie2k9]

Seems to be some movement on the rock fall in the last little while. Not sure what they are doing but they appear to possibly be building some form of defense along the rock face.

[Jamie2k9]

Extended platform due to open soon, almost complete. They are also back to using both signal cabins, something I didn't expect to happen. If it's save for staff to use that then can they really justify not re opening the main platform.

Interesting to see what impact the extended platform may have on future flooding as it extends just past the bridge and may change the flow of water, may benefit the main platform.

The accident report didn't really state much about issues with the rock and didn't say IE couldn't use it! In fact it was in good condition generally. IE being vague on whats happening, as many in the station believed it would re open but a few months on and they started to extend the bay.

Do we have any definite answers from IE?

[Inniskeen]

When you say using both signal cabins what do you mean ?

[Jamie2k9]

When you say using both signal cabins what do you mean ?

After the rockfall it was completely manual for some months. Central Cabin at the platforms was completely closed off and IE then began works to transfer all station workings to Waterford West. They renewed all track/signals between Belview and Sallypack (Dublin side) including main platform and also renewed the bay platform. Work on extending the platform began some months ago. (longest work in history) but recently the Central Cabin access cordon was removed and they are using it for some form of operation as lights are on and have saw staff going up. Can't really tell what they might be controlling as all those "not irreversible" works under taken in the above post by BK don't appear to me to be reversible any longer.

Both platforms have their own lines once you arrive at West cabin, you are no longer able to cross a train between Central and West if any severe delays happened which they have previously done. They had the second running line and crossover (buffer blocked, crossover) but all were lifted in recent months.

[Inniskeen]

Jamie is it not the case that you still have to go through the goods yard to reach the main platform at Waterford ? The main platform will not be brought back into use until points are provided to allow trains approach as at present via the passenger running line and then divert to main platform close to the station.

Waterford Central is not currently being used for signalling purposes and it is extremely unlikely that there will be two operational signal boxes in the future. Given the very simple layout it is likely that the entire operation in Waterford will be transferred to CTC in a few years with an emergency control facility somewhere in the station, perhaps in Waterford West.

[Jamie2k9]

Jamie is it not the case that you still have to go through the goods yard to reach the main platform at Waterford ? The main platform will not be brought back into use until points are provided to allow trains approach as at present via the passenger running line and then divert to main platform close to the station.

Waterford West is not currently being used for signalling purposes and it is extremely unlikely that there will be two operational signal boxes in the future. Given the very simple layout planned for the future, it is likely that the entire operation in Waterford will be transferred to CTC in a few years with an emergency control facility somewhere in the station, perhaps in Waterford West.

Correct about access but if it was a case of waiting for a set of points to re connect the main platform then why spend money on extending a platform which is taking months if they expect to reopen the main platform. Something doesn't quiet add up. A set of points cant be more expensive than extending a platform? We have spent 15 months waiting a few more wouldn't made much difference!

Not saying the extended platform wont be useful if the main re opens for operations to.

Didn't notice West was no longer in use guess that explains Central re opening. I agree about CTC transfer however that wont be until Limerick J is closed or upgraded as thats locally controlled between Waterford/Carrick I believe.