Intercity journey experiences

[on the move]

Originally Posted by PLUMB LOCO

Don't get your point about commuters skipping DART stops. Of course commuters will board any train that they can, I used to myself, but if the train no longer stops at Bray, Dun Laoghaire etc the option is not there.

All trains going through Bray must stop there. It is a major station. Dun Laoghaire is another major station, where all trains stop. I give preference to the Rosslare train if it's a choice to Dun Laoghaire/Bray/Greystones over haggling through Booterstown, Sandycove, and Shankill on the DART. I'm sure many others do the same.

What has 1909/2009 got to do with anything?

It's in reference to the third-world single line track system, still in use in a lot of the country. Having to wait for trains to arrive before leaving because of the track layout, is a joke. It belongs in the flintstone age or third-world countries, not in a EU country where so much money has been invested in the railway system.

You wouldn't tolerate a single lane motorway, so why tolerate a single lane track?

[PLUMB LOCO]

It's in reference to the third-world single line track system, still in use in a lot of the country. Having to wait for trains to arrive before leaving because of the track layout, is a joke. It belongs in the flintstone age or third-world countries, not in a EU country where so much money has been invested in the railway system.

You wouldn't tolerate a single lane motorway, so why tolerate a single lane track?

There are many thousands of miles of single track railways throughout Western Europe and they operate successfully - it's called operating to a timetable - novel idea??. The idea of doubling the DSER is nonsense and shows that you have little appreciation of the terrain through which the line runs, the costs associated with such a massive proposal and the return on same - we not talking a few packs of Hornby track!

[sublimity]

Originally Posted by on the move

All trains going through Bray must stop there. It is a major station. Dun Laoghaire is another major station, where all trains stop.

Stopping at Bray YES, stopping at Dun Laoighaire NO. The whole point of an intercity journey is to cut out the amount of needless stops along a DART/Commuter route with the first major town being the first port of call I.E Bray.

It's the same with Sligo;first stop is Maynooth and indeed with the majority of InterCity journeys ex Heuston, the first stop is Kildare Town.

Up until a few years ago the Rosslare train's first stop was always Bray. Then the fools put commuter carriages on the line and gave them the excuse to stop at numerous stations on the DART line.

Dun Laoighaire is for DART and COMMUTER stops only.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by sublimity

Stopping at Bray YES, stopping at Dun Laoighaire NO. First major town being the first port of call I.E Bray.

It's the same with Sligo;first stop is Maynooth,Heuston the first stop is Kildare Town.

I totally agree Bray YES, Dun Laoghaire NO same with Pearse & Tara Street. Connolly right through to Bray no stops.

Originally Posted by on the move

You wouldn't tolerate a single lane motorway, so why tolerate a single lane track?

Single track isn't really the issue, You just need good timing. Trains on the line could go faster say Rosslare to Dublin 2hr30mins & Gorey to Dublin 1hr30mins. Its all there the line has the potential already just if IE would let the trains lose.

News trains, New signaling, Give the customers something to remember after 5years of the Commuter trains.

[Mark Gleeson]

Dun Laoghaire is the biggest town on the entire route really and a ferry port, the stop should be there, Tara Street is the one to drop. Pearse stays given the interconnector is coming

[sublimity]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Dun Laoghaire is the biggest town on the entire route really and a ferry port, the stop should be there, Tara Street is the one to drop. Pearse stays given the interconnector is coming

Totally disagree Mark. Dun Laoghaire is a suburb of Dublin. Having it as an Intercity stop would be taking away the whole concept of the word 'Intercity'.

A Lot of people think Bray should be the first stop and rightly so. I agree with Pearse being a stop though.

[ThomasJ]

You seem to be forgetting those folks who work along the southern DART line especially seen as how bad the timetable. For those folks that extra stop is a lifeline.

Forget about looking for a 20-minute gap between the Rosslare train and the DART before it because if this stop is removed these people need a connection to Bray or the city!

I remember working in blackrock and my evening train to maynooth would fly pass, it would annoy alot of people. So I had to travel to town to make the connection. No bother seen as though MY LAST TRAIN WAS NOT 18:30!!!

Its not fair when a timetable is so infrequent to have to put the onus on people to rely on a connecting train with a fairly big distance!

[DangerM]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Dun Laoghaire is the biggest town on the entire route really and a ferry port, the stop should be there, Tara Street is the one to drop. Pearse stays given the interconnector is coming

Eh no thanks that's my stop!! I'd never make it from work to Connolly or Pearse for the 16.43 back home so would end up working an extra half hour each day until the next one. What would you gain cutting out that stop, 3 mins maybe?Its blackrock and lansdowne that could go!

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by DangerM

Eh no thanks that's my stop!! I'd never make it from work to Connolly or Pearse for the 16.43 back home so would end up working an extra half hour each day until the next one. What would you gain cutting out that stop, 3 mins maybe?Its blackrock and lansdowne that could go!

Theres a difference when someone has a 2 minute connection with frequent services to get from tara street to connolly or pearse or someone who has to take 20-30 minutes to get from Sandymount or Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire to Pearse/Connolly or Bray. [ps The Rosslare train doesn't stop at Blackrock or Lansdowne in the evening!]

There seems to be a perception that everything happens 9-5 in Dublin City Centre! How backwards is that thought! Connolly/Tara/Pearse or Bray is not the best option for everyone!
Certainly not for someone working in Sandyford!

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by sublimity

Stopping at Bray YES, stopping at Dun Laoighaire NO. The whole point of an intercity journey is to cut out the amount of needless stops along a DART/Commuter route with the first major town being the first port of call I.E Bray.

It's the same with Sligo;first stop is Maynooth and indeed with the majority of InterCity journeys ex Heuston, the first stop is Kildare Town.

Up until a few years ago the Rosslare train's first stop was always Bray. Then the fools put commuter carriages on the line and gave them the excuse to stop at numerous stations on the DART line.

Dun Laoighaire is for DART and COMMUTER stops only.

Maynooth, Kildare and Bray are the outer ends of their respective commuter lines (yes, I realise that some commuter services go beyond those points).

7, 7a, 45a, 46a, 46x, 58c, 59, 75, 111, 746 buses all operate to Dún Laoghaire.

[Thomas Ralph]

Was on the 1100 Heuston-Cork this morning. Packed to the gills, primarily due to the €10 fares one assumes. With coaches C, D, and E almost booked out, there really needed to be someone directing people without reservations to the far end of the train. Train host was, however, camped in first class for most of it (there's money to be had there from selling upgrades).

There were at least three sets of people laying claim to seats C7 and C8 as well, although they had no names on them.

[Mark Gleeson]

To be fair its probably due to the U2 concert, Cork folks tend to stay the night and travel down the following day

The entrance on platform 5 in Heuston puts all passengers facing a door on coach C

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The entrance on platform 5 in Heuston puts all passengers facing a door on coach C

Indeed. Surely it's not too much of an inconvenience to stand a person (or even a display board) there to tell people without a reservation to head down to carriage F?

I don't usually have a reservation (my journey Sandymount to Cork isn't bookable) and I go down to the right carriage, but surely it would reduce customer inconvenience to do this?

[Oisin88]

Because most trains on the Galway/Mayo Lines "off peak" are now 3 carriage, the increase in passengers in the run up to Christmas has led to very busy trains.

While most days there are still just about enough seats, last Friday 30+ passengers were left behind in Tullamore by the 15:35 (Westport-Dublin) and had to wait the hour for the 16:35 (Galway-Dublin) Luckily 6 carriages were provided, it being a Friday.

If this happens, are passengers entitled to 50% refund (arriving 60+ minutes late at destination)?

[CSL]

1200 Dublin Mallow Enterprise on Sat. 5 December 2009.

Booked a first class single [ 54.00 single + 20.00 fc supplement ] ... Sigh.... too bloody expensive for what you get.

Train left on time, arrived on time, seats clean, carriage quiet.

No at-seat meal service, 1x trolley run for Tea + Coffee.

[sublimity]

Originally Posted by Oisin88

Because most trains on the Galway/Mayo Lines "off peak" are now 3 carriage, the increase in passengers in the run up to Christmas has led to very busy trains.

While most days there are still just about enough seats, last Friday 30+ passengers were left behind in Tullamore by the 15:35 (Westport-Dublin) and had to wait the hour for the 16:35 (Galway-Dublin) Luckily 6 carriages were provided, it being a Friday.

If this happens, are passengers entitled to 50% refund (arriving 60+ minutes late at destination)?

I'd imagine they are.

Its December 8th today which (traditionally) means a significant increase in passengers travelling to/from Dublin for xmas shopping. Will Irish Rail put on extra carriages for some services? I certainly hope so but wouldn't hold my breath. More 6 carriage 22ks over the Christmas period please. Nothing worse than having to stand after a long days shopping!

[Thomas Ralph]

This train set off late due to obsessive ticket checking (what need is there to check everyone's ticket at the end of the queue when they've already been through the ticket gates?) and there was a vast number of people ignoring reservations and sitting in the wrong seats. The train host focused on getting seats for people standing. Due to line speed restrictions it arrived in at 1435.

[Thomas Ralph]

Lots and lots of train host announcements on this one (at least the automated announcements only scrolled over the screen and weren't broadcast out loud). Lots of requests to keep quiet in the quiet carriage too. Some of the reservations didn't work properly. Priveless was the announcement at the end: "We apologise for the late running of this train, this is due to the additional stops brought in in the new timetable".

[Thomas Ralph]

The rugby return special last night could have done with some STT or any sort of on-train staff presence. There was a substantial contingent of drunk and disruptive passengers, singing at high volumes and intimidating and blocking in other passengers. Seat reservations were also not honoured.

[karlr42]

I was imagining that IE would contract STT to supply as many bodies as possible for that train, considering how late it was, that it was relating to a sports event, and that it would no doubt be carrying many people who had visited Limerick for its special exemption yesterday.
But clearly such obvious facts elude IE management. It must have been a scary experience from the sounds of it.