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Unread 08-06-2009, 15:49   #41
comcor
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I'd often thought that the early morning Dublin train should have started in Cobh, so Midleton would be an alternative on that.
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Unread 08-06-2009, 15:54   #42
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Neither Cobh nor Midleton have platforms sufficient in length to take a full length intercity service, Cobh you might be able get away with but Midleton is a non starter

Don't even start with the union issues it would cause

The Midleton timetable is well planned, departures on the xx:45 arrive Cork with a good 20 minutes or so to make the connection into the Dublin bound services at xx:30

If you are serious about getting to Dublin early you would be on the 5:05 or 6:30

Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 08-06-2009 at 16:09.
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Unread 08-06-2009, 17:01   #43
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Why dont they make the platforms long enough to handle any train type.

Sick of all this health & safety rubbish lately, shortening of platforms etc.

In theory any train type should be able to go anywhere and thats what it should be like in practice
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Unread 09-06-2009, 08:24   #44
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Is there any point really?

It makes the construction of stations more expensive and makes it more difficult to site them.

There are stations all over the network that will never need to take a CDE or Enterprise.

I'm a bit surprised that Cobh can't. It's a pretty substantial station dating back to the time when Cobh was the Dublin Airport of the 19th century (except of course that it had a railway station...).
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Unread 09-06-2009, 08:25   #45
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Usually for geographical reasons; there may not be enough room, or the curvature of the line may not be suited to a longer platform. I'm not sure there's much of a point in spending substantial amounts to equip a station to handle a size of train which it's never envisaged will reach it.

*puts away the crayon box*
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Unread 09-06-2009, 08:41   #46
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giving people the option to get on a train @ either 06:30 or 07:30 is quite realistic. Alternative, as I said, is the 08:30 with a change @ Mallow = Two changes, not very appealing to anyone!

Don't get me wrong, the timetable is really well planned and offers a good service to the people of East Cork. A connection into either the 06:30 or the 07:30 to Dublin from Midleton/Carrigtwohil would allow people to leave there cars closer to home (or even walk from home) instead of having to drive into the city.

Also might get me to work earlier

Fin
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Unread 09-06-2009, 11:41   #47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by comcor View Post
Is there any point really?

It makes the construction of stations more expensive and makes it more difficult to site them.

There are stations all over the network that will never need to take a CDE or Enterprise.

I'm a bit surprised that Cobh can't. It's a pretty substantial station dating back to the time when Cobh was the Dublin Airport of the 19th century (except of course that it had a railway station...).
I didn't mean every station platform!! Certain stations.

Cobh could handle a Mk3, Mk4 and 6 piece 22k. IE are probably just not interested in extending the Cork enterprise for the reasons Mark gave
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Unread 09-06-2009, 11:56   #48
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Its far cheaper send a 2 coach railcar out to Cobh or Midleton, it doesn't have any union, technical or safety problems. As it stands you can get from Cobh to Cork in time for the 6:30 to Dublin, from Midleton the best is the 8:30 which isn't really useful.

There are 3 platform lengths,

90m Cork-Cobh-Midleton + WRC + Ballybrophy (some will take longer) + Limerick - Rosslare
174m all Dublin suburban stations + Sligo line + Rosslare (Rathdrum excepted)
210m all Intercity stations from Heuston

Longer platform costs more money and also require greater exit capacity. Midleton line platforms can be extended to 174m length. A Mk4 or Enterprise set is 203m in length
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Unread 09-06-2009, 15:13   #49
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Will Midleton and Carrigtwohill stations be staffed, I wonder?
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Unread 09-06-2009, 15:58   #50
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Quote:
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Will Midleton and Carrigtwohill stations be staffed, I wonder?
Nope, but they will have TVM's, with the exception of Little Island and Cobh all the Cobh line stations are unstaffed, Cobh isn't staffed after 2pm. Little Island is the only station currently with a TVM.
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Unread 09-06-2009, 20:14   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
Nope, but they will have TVM's, with the exception of Little Island and Cobh all the Cobh line stations are unstaffed, Cobh isn't staffed after 2pm. Little Island is the only station currently with a TVM.
Hi Mark,

will they be staffing Little Island again? I thought they would continue to keep Glounthaune staffed as they will require a signalman there for another while.

Finbarr.
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Unread 09-06-2009, 20:27   #52
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Little Island was a strange location, bit of a strange staffing issue down there.

I'd say it will be a totally unstaffed operation and few if any checks onboard
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Unread 16-06-2009, 08:33   #53
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It continues

Quote:
July date set for Cork to Midleton rail line
By Sean O’Riordan
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A NEW deadline of July 27 has been set for the long-awaited opening of the €75 million Cork-Midleton commuter rail service.
But senior Iarnród Éireann officials conceded the commencement date was, however, dependent on a green light from the Railway Safety Commission.

The commission is currently examining the track, signalling and stations along the route. Once it has given approval Iarnród Éireann will put trains on the line and start training its drivers on route familiarisation.

Fortunately, it now looks as though there is some light at the end of the tunnel in a long-running saga which at times descended into farce.

Just a few weeks ago Transport Minister Noel Dempsey came down to the new railway station in Midleton to announce the service’s timetable.

But he couldn’t provide people with the actual start-up date. The ministerial photo-session took place in a train at the station. But the train didn’t move, because it wasn’t certified to carry passengers.

On numerous occasions during the past few years both Mr Dempsey and his predecessor at the department, the late Seamus Brennan, have attended photoshoots along the track.

Iarnród Éireann prided itself in the connectivity of the service with the Dublin train. However, the ink wasn’t dry on the timetable when eagle-eyed TD David Stanton noticed a major mistake. The first train out of Midleton in the morning would arrive eight minutes after the Dublin-bound train had left Kent station. As Mr Stanton pointed out, that would be the train most people would have to get in order to be in the capital for an early business meeting. Red-faced Iarnród Éireann officials said they would try and address the situation.

Midleton Chamber of Commerce president Cillian O’Sullivan said his members had also been informed by Iarnród Éireann officials that the first commuter trains would start rolling during the week commencing July 27. "We met with people from Irish Rail last week and informed our members. We would like to see the railway line open as soon as possible," Mr O’Sullivan said.

Businesspeople in Midleton – which is regarded as one of the finest shopping towns in Munster – will be hoping to cash-in on the rail link by attracting customers from Cork city.

It will also make the town increasingly attractive for home buyers, as the train will also connect with Carrigtwohill, Glounthaune, and a large number of factories in Little Island.

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/july-...xzz0Ia1ZKCII&D
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Unread 24-06-2009, 08:29   #54
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in today's printed version of the Irish Examiner (24.06.2009) the IDA are funding a station at Carrigtwohill West, which is situated in the middle of the Carrigtwohill industrial estate at Kilacloyne

The cost is estimated at 1 million Euro, it is to be a 90m platform + a carpark. Its has the backing of Iarnrod Eireann and is due to be complete by Christmas / early 2010.

Could they not have built this while building the line?!

Also in the article Barry Kenny said trial trains on the Midleton line would start next week.
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Unread 24-06-2009, 10:57   #55
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The proposal for a second station in Midleton was shot down because the extra stop would add too much time onto the journey. Midleton is a substantially bigger town than Carrigtwohill.

Next question, will there be a passing loop in the new station. If so, does this mean they'll pull up the recently laid lines. If not, does it not introduce an unwelcome bottleneck on the single track line?

On your map, it looks like it's only about 1200m from the other station in Carrigtwohill.
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Unread 24-06-2009, 11:34   #56
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It shouldn't really be a problem, I think the trains will pass at Glounthaune which is roughly half way

It won't require any track changes, yes it should have been done as part of the project. You will probably discover that its been on the table for ages except that Irish Rail said you pay
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Unread 24-06-2009, 11:47   #57
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Their argument about the existing Carrigtwohill station is that it is about 3 miles from the IDA park/Killacloyne (via road).

With the passing loop at Carrigtwohill and the distance from Glounthaune/Cobh Jctn to Carrigtwohill (~4.5km), I cannot imagine they would put in a passing loop at Carrigtwohill West - otherwise they should have just double tracked the line from Glounthaune to Carrigtwohill. The rough distance of the "proposed" new station is about 3.5km from Glounthaune.
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Unread 24-06-2009, 13:28   #58
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Will the new station be equal distance between Carrigtwohill and Glounthaune?
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Unread 24-06-2009, 13:53   #59
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According to finnyus, it will be 3.5km from Glounthaune and 1km from Carrigtwohill. So I'm guessing not
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Unread 24-06-2009, 14:03   #60
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does anyone know if there is going to be a change to public transport routes in the East Cork area? At the moment we have the bus commuter routes:
  • 240 Cork - Midleton - Cloyne - Ballycotton
  • 241 Cork - Midleton - Whitegate - Trabolgan
  • 260 Cork - Midleton - Youghal - Ardmore
  • 261 Cork - Midleton - Ballinacurra

Anyone know if these will serve Midleton station? Or should I just be grateful that we have a train station (and currently no train) from Midleton now
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