Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > Irish Rail Customer Service Issues > Commuter Services > All stops to Thurles
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 07-10-2014, 13:56   #1
laoisfan
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lovely Laois
Posts: 100
Default Why is the 06:00 Cork to Dublin running 10 minutes late?

Hi,

Just wondering can anyone explain why the 06:00 Cork to Dublin train is running consistently 10 minutes late each morning for the last 3 weeks?

This impacts on several other trains, in my case the 07:44 from Ballybrophy and the 08:10 from Portlaoise (I go to Park West).

The guys in the office at Ballybrophy & Portlaoise have been unable (or unwilling) to give an answer.

Leaves? Track works? Driver slept it out?

Anyone?

Thanks.

Last edited by laoisfan : 07-10-2014 at 13:58.
laoisfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 14:10   #2
laoisfan
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lovely Laois
Posts: 100
Default

Irish Rail replied to my tweet with the following link.

Linky
laoisfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 14:15   #3
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

I'd say it's adhesion problems with the leaves. Same issue every year around this time of year unfortunately.

I don't really think you need to diminish your (legitimate) query with suggestions like "driver slept it out" - that's really a bit below the belt to be honest.

While we all may have gripes, I think that's taking things a bit too far.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 14:22   #4
laoisfan
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lovely Laois
Posts: 100
Default

@berneyarms

In the 3 weeks the 06:00 Cork-Dublin has been running late not a single staff member at Ballybrophy/Portlaoise was able to offer a reason why it was late. RPU staff were unable to offer a reason too. The RPU staff go in/out to the driver's cab a lot so you would think that the driver might know or just mention it in passing to them.

"diminish" seriously? my gripe, like other customers, is that I pay a lot of money over to Irish Rail each year and I would like a certain level of service (I can dream). Delays I can handle. Lack of information I can't handle. Inexcusable.
laoisfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 14:57   #5
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Traveled to Cork last week and there was no wheel slip or TSRs in place. Its an excuse which we put up with for 4 months.

Why cant they place one or two hundred more of those things on the rails or ever plaster the rail heads with the grit manually.

The invisible leaves that fall on Irish Railways are amazing!

Last edited by Jamie2k9 : 07-10-2014 at 15:01.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 15:06   #6
laoisfan
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lovely Laois
Posts: 100
Default

Thanks Jamie2k9, I'm not buying the leaves on the track excuse...certainly not for 3 weeks straight!
laoisfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 15:11   #7
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Train left Cork ontime this morning, arrived Dublin 6 minutes late

Delay issue appeared to be in the North Cork/Tipperary area
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 16:49   #8
Colm Moore
Local Liaison Officer
 
Colm Moore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,442
Default

I can understand issues since about last Friday, but was there really much leaf fall before that? Given that we had one of the warmest and driest Septembers in a long time? http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news...ber-on-record/
__________________
Colm Moore is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 20:05   #9
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by laoisfan View Post
@berneyarms

In the 3 weeks the 06:00 Cork-Dublin has been running late not a single staff member at Ballybrophy/Portlaoise was able to offer a reason why it was late. RPU staff were unable to offer a reason too. The RPU staff go in/out to the driver's cab a lot so you would think that the driver might know or just mention it in passing to them.

"diminish" seriously? my gripe, like other customers, is that I pay a lot of money over to Irish Rail each year and I would like a certain level of service (I can dream). Delays I can handle. Lack of information I can't handle. Inexcusable.
I'm not excusing a lack of information - that is just not good enough, and of course you are entitled to an explanation of why the train is running late. I think any delay should be explained. It is something IE are atrocious at.

And thinking about it, leaf fall would really only have impacted since the end of last week. So like you I'm kinda at a loss to explain it - you'd need to be on to them every day.

But let's be honest, including a comment such as "driver slept it out" is a bit insulting to staff. Do you really think that staff are going to turn up late for work on a regular basis? I understand (and agree with) your frustration, but I just think that comment's a bit uncalled for.

Last edited by berneyarms : 07-10-2014 at 20:23.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 20:37   #10
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

All the evidence shows the train leaves on time
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 21:11   #11
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Is there an extra temporary speed restriction (TSR) along the line possibly?

The 06:00 and 07:00 are very tightly timetabled with little slack if an additional TSR is put in place.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-10-2014, 21:32   #12
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

The Limerick shuttle usually has a lot to explain when it comes to OTP. Was that on time.

As for times the same as all routes and gets 5/6 minutes lee way and it would take a lot of TSR to make it late. Given the 07.00 does the same time with an extra stop the 06.00 should of being able to absorb a couple of TSRs if they were in place. Did the 07.00 run to time?
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 16:05   #13
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
All the evidence shows the train leaves on time
maybe the driver has a snooze at the junction.
__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 16:31   #14
ACustomer
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 767
Default

The 0600 is not tightly timed, assuming its an ICR. I recently came up from Cork on the 1620, six scheduled stops in 2.45. We arrived 13 minutes early: 2.32 for six stops, so 2.30 for 3 stops should be easy. And by the way there were severe TSRs at Lisduff and Kildare.
ACustomer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 16:37   #15
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp View Post
maybe the driver has a snooze at the junction.
Highly unlikely to be a staff issue - no doubt somebody is late now and again but drivers normally sign on well in advance of scheduled departure time and in any event an alternative driver would typically be available in Cork.

Driving style can significantly affect train punctuality, some drivers drift along at speeds well below the speed limit or are excessively cautious in braking or are slow to accelerate. Some drivers exibit more than one of the above tendencies and consequently services run late as a result.

In this instance I would guess that the predominant issue is a combination of wheelslip, TSRs and perhaps locomotives running with traction motor defects.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 18:10   #16
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ACustomer View Post
The 0600 is not tightly timed, assuming its an ICR. I recently came up from Cork on the 1620, six scheduled stops in 2.45. We arrived 13 minutes early: 2.32 for six stops, so 2.30 for 3 stops should be easy. And by the way there were severe TSRs at Lisduff and Kildare.
It's not an ICR - it's Mark 4 operated.

There is damn all recovery time in the 06:00 schedule.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 18:28   #17
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Quote:
And by the way there were severe TSRs at Lisduff and Kildare.
Lisduff can no longer be classed as a TSR, its full time despite bran new points being installed. Such a waste of time and resources if there was no benefit. It would of being factored into timetabling in 2013 anyway.

Kildare has being TSRs for the last year on and off anytime it increase the speeds days lather its back to 25. Its being 25, 40, 50, 70 and 90 for a long time.

The 06.00 is well capable of doing the 2h30m, this mornings 07.00 was in a few minutes early so that puts any excuses of TSR and wheel slip out the window + the extra minute or two at Thurles.

Quote:
There is damn all recovery time in the 06:00 schedule.
Not an acceptable excuse all the same.

Quote:
Driving style can significantly affect train punctuality, some drivers drift along at speeds well below the speed limit or are excessively cautious in braking or are slow to accelerate. Some drivers exibit more than one of the above tendencies and consequently services run late as a result.
Drivers should be given a telling off for going under speed and making a service be late and its usually the drivers who spend more time concentrating on the horn instead of their foot.

Last edited by Jamie2k9 : 08-10-2014 at 18:49.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 19:32   #18
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie2k9 View Post
Lisduff can no longer be classed as a TSR, its full time despite bran new points being installed. Such a waste of time and resources if there was no benefit. It would of being factored into timetabling in 2013 anyway.

Kildare has being TSRs for the last year on and off anytime it increase the speeds days lather its back to 25. Its being 25, 40, 50, 70 and 90 for a long time.

The 06.00 is well capable of doing the 2h30m, this mornings 07.00 was in a few minutes early so that puts any excuses of TSR and wheel slip out the window + the extra minute or two at Thurles.



Not an acceptable excuse all the same.



Drivers should be given a telling off for going under speed and making a service be late and its usually the drivers who spend more time concentrating on the horn instead of their foot.
I wasn't making an excuse, so please don't suggest I was. I don't think there is any need for that.

What I was getting at was that if there are any additional TSRs, then the 0600 is likely to be affected as it has little or no recovery built into the schedule.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-10-2014, 22:55   #19
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

But you still don't see my point and that is the 07.00 can complete the same 165 mile journey with an extra stop and the same TSRs in place on time and slightly early so whatever has delayed the 06.00 is either train or driver related. There is no difference between both services apart from the drivers so its either them or a problem with a set.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-10-2014, 00:17   #20
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

Over the 19 days between the 7th of September and the 8th of October the 0600 ex Cork was on time or early at Heuston on 5 occasions, no more 5 minutes late on a further 5 occasions and over 10 minutes late on 2 occasions.

Over the same period the 0700 ex Cork was on time or early at Heuston on 8 occasions, no more 5 minutes late on a further 1 occasion and over 10 minutes late on 6 occasions.

If anything the 0700 from Cork is a worse perming service than the 0600 from Cork. Using the IR standard of being on time if arriving within 10 minutes of booked time, the 0600 was on time 89% and the 0700 65%.

The argument about the 0700 v 0600 doesn't appear to have any substance in reality. It may well be the case that the 0600 being late at Portlaoise or other intermediate points is more significant as there is a greater potential to delay other services than is the case an hour later.

The earliest arrival of the 0600 at Heuston was 0825 and the latest 0845. The earliest arrival of the 0700 at Heuston was 0922 and the latest 0953.

Incidentally both trains have 3 intermediate stops.

Last edited by Inniskeen : 09-10-2014 at 00:20.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 20:21.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.