Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > Irish Rail Customer Service Issues > General Irish Rail Discussion
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 09-09-2013, 11:03   #1
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default [PR] Irish Rail fuel efficency

This came in on the grapevine this morning. Nothing new to RUI members as the 4 coach ICR fleet has been known about for several months

That said from a passenger point of view shorter trains are not exactly always a good thing

Quote:
Iarnród Éireann targets further €3 million in annual fuel savings

Energy consumption initiatives already yielded €16 million in annual savings

Off-peak DART train size and Intercity train configurations to yield savings


Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail is to implement new energy saving fleet utilisation initiatives to generate fuel savings, which will reduce fuel and maintenance costs by €3.2 million per annum.

The range of actions begin this week, focusing on train size for off-peak DART services.

Currently, 65% of total daily DART passengers travel in the four hours of either morning or evening peak, with the remaining 35% travelling across the remaining 14 hours of travel. In place of longer trains used currently, the company will increase the usage of 2-carriage DARTs at off-peak times from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and after 7pm, to eliminate unnecessary energy usage and reduce maintenance costs, while continuing existing service frequency to customers.

This approach also allows the flexibility for capacity to be increased on off-peak trains at times of higher demand, such as for major events. Furthermore, the company are continuing to monitor peak train sizes and will increase capacity on one peak service in response to demand, the 16.40hrs Bray to Malahide DART, from 6 to 8 carriages.

For Intercity services, Iarnród Éireann is to reconfigure the Intercity railcar fleet. Currently, the 234 carriages in the fleet are configured to form 48 three-carriage trains and 15 six-carriage trains. This has lead to capacity shortages on some services and oversupply on others. The fleet will be reconfigured to form 45 four-carriage trains and 18 three-carriage trains, allowing greater flexibility in train size, with 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 carriage Intercity trains possible as result by combining train sets together. These changes will be implemented on a phased basis by year end.

As well as savings in fuel and maintenance costs, the new fleet configuration will ensure train size can be targeted to meet demand, and increase train size and seat numbers on services which have experienced high numbers travelling.

The measures are the latest in a range of initiatives introduced by Iarnród Éireann to reduce energy consumption, yielding environmental and cost benefits. Since 2007, energy consumption – the vast majority of which is for diesel and electricity to power trains – has reduced by over one-third in Iarnród Éireann, through actions including:

- New trains incorporating improved energy efficiency

- Automatic shutdown of train engines to reduce idling

- Reduction in DART power supply voltage and competitive tendering of electricity supply

- Extension of regenerative braking on the DART

- More efficient DART train software

- Reduced train sizes where demand has decreased

- Implementation of improved lighting, heating and fan controls in depots

- Changes to lighting in station car parks

- Temperature and lighting control systems in buildings to prevent wastage

In total, energy usage in Megawatt hours has reduced from 793,400 in 2007 to 526,800 in 2012, a reduction of almost 34%.

The company’s energy bills were €16 million lower in 2012 than they would have been had these measures not been implemented.
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-09-2013, 13:23   #2
Thomas Ralph
IT Officer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Greenwich, London
Posts: 1,860
Default

2-car DARTs will badly slow down the service unless they install stop boards.
Thomas Ralph is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-09-2013, 14:48   #3
karlr42
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Clonsilla
Posts: 340
Default

They have, and from what I saw today(the two car DARTs are already in use from today) the boards seem to be being used properly. Will take a while for passengers to adapt though.
karlr42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-09-2013, 16:18   #4
jacko
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Default

nothing wrong with cutting capacity off peak but IR should be able to respond when demand is high.

Yesterday 4 carriage DARTs were not sufficient for the crowds pre and post the All Ireland Final.

they need to up their game for football in a fortnight and hurling replay which is on a saturday which is obviously a busier day than a sunday
jacko is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-09-2013, 19:02   #5
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

As you say, no big surprise as this has been in the offing for at least two years. Would expect many Heuston sets to reduce to 4 car and for 4 car sets to replace most of the remaining mark 4 services. Would also expect some shrinkage on the Sligo line, 1600 to Sligo or 1805 to Longford hardly need to be 6 cars. Same probably applies to the 1905 Sligo.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-09-2013, 19:53   #6
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inniskeen View Post
As you say, no big surprise as this has been in the offing for at least two years. Would expect many Heuston sets to reduce to 4 car and for 4 car sets to replace most of the remaining mark 4 services. Would also expect some shrinkage on the Sligo line, 1600 to Sligo or 1805 to Longford hardly need to be 6 cars. Same probably applies to the 1905 Sligo.
It will be interesting to see how they work it out. Ideally full benefit won't be seen until the 2014 timetable as dropping capacity on some intercity services out of Heuston in the evenings will result in problems for commuter stops, it could well result in another 18.35 Waterford service unless they are carful how they introduce it.

The 2 car DART's are a welcome for off peak services.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 13-09-2013, 16:21   #7
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Can anybody confirm if 4 car trains are in service, almost certain The 15.05 from Galway was a 4 car and there was a 7 car set arriving in Heuston as I passed.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 15-09-2013, 08:43   #8
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

4 car has been certified for operation
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 23-09-2013, 07:31   #9
joey
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Coach A
Posts: 188
Default

A 9 carriage 22k set, how is this configured, 3x3 carraige sets together?

and the 7 carriage set?

Any danger of the 0800 ex Dublin weekday service being upped to a 4 carriage set, given previously a 3 carriage set was operating the 0700 and a 6 carriage set operating the 0900 - which were amalgamated to form the now 0800 service

The now 0800 is a reasonably busy service and, this is the first westbound after Maynooth in the mornings.
joey is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 23-09-2013, 10:48   #10
Colm Moore
Local Liaison Officer
 
Colm Moore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,442
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by joey View Post
A 9 carriage 22k set, how is this configured, 3x3 carraige sets together?
Likely a 6+3.

Quote:
and the 7 carriage set?
4+3
__________________
Colm Moore is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 23-09-2013, 11:42   #11
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Any combination is possible up to a max of 9 in service. But you cannot couple two A2 cars together. Thats unlikely to happen as A2 is the first class coach. But a train can have two A2 cars provided they are not nose to nose

Emergency allows for a monster 18 coach train, but obviously you loose seat reservations, and the in cab CCTV system will be confused if you do that.
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 23-09-2013, 13:03   #12
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colm Moore View Post
Likely a 6+3.

4+3
Currently a 9 pce set can operate either as 6 + 3 or 3 x 3.

Once the reconfiguration happens there will be no 6pce sets left so your possible configurations will be:

3pce
4pce
6pce - 2 x 3pce
7pce - 4 + 3
8pce - 2 x 4pce
9pce - 3 x 3pce

8pce or 9pce sets can realistically only operate from Dublin to Cork or Dundalk, or to Galway excluding Clara.

The reconfiguration has not started yet (other than for testing), and will take quite some time to complete when it does start.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 23-09-2013, 13:13   #13
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Tullamore is out as well

Dublin Dundalk is only good for Connolly P2/4, Howth Junction (northbound), Drogheda (P1/2) and Dundalk. So basically no good

Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 23-09-2013 at 13:16.
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 24-09-2013, 15:52   #14
jacko
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Default

3 car set being used to operate 16.00 Heuston-Cork today.

Near capacity leaving Heuston and has just departed Port Laoise where over 100 passengers were waiting to board from Ploughing Chships

The cattle at the ploughing are going home in less cramped conditions - disgraceful overcrowding with large numbers standing

No forward planning !
jacko is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 24-09-2013, 16:34   #15
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jacko View Post
3 car set being used to operate 16.00 Heuston-Cork today.

Near capacity leaving Heuston and has just departed Port Laoise where over 100 passengers were waiting to board from Ploughing Chships

The cattle at the ploughing are going home in less cramped conditions - disgraceful overcrowding with large numbers standing

No forward planning !
That train is supposed to be a 2 x 3 pce - there must have been a failure or some other issue that meant it was shortened.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 24-09-2013, 16:38   #16
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

The 16.00 is always very busy and that's why cheapest online ticket is €33 to push people to other services. Might be better pushing it to €44.

Possibly given the Ploughing is on, maybe 6 car could of being used.

Quote:
That train is supposed to be a 2 x 3 pce - there must have been a failure or some other issue that meant it was shortened.
Only Fridays and Saturdays, not during the week.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 25-09-2013, 21:54   #17
Eddie
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 258
Default

At the entrance to Dun Laoghaire station there is a sign that says something like: "For your convenience on shorter Dart Services, we have installed a '2/3/4 Car Stop' point that tells you where the train will stop so you don't have to walk so far."

Where do they locate this Stop Point for North bound Darts? 80% of the way down the platform. It would be difficult to locate it much further away from the ticket office if they tried. Just a guess, but I doubt Dun Laoghaire is unique in this regard.

And my second point relates particularly to 2 carriage Darts. Why would you have 2 carriage Darts followed 15 minutes later by much longer ones? If the aim is to save money - and don't get me wrong - it's good that we now know that the cost of running a Dart is proportional to its length - but it would surely make logical sense for Dart sizes to be increased at peak periods and reduced in the offpeaks, but without the variability that seems present at the minute. Once traffic only warrants a 2 carriage Dart at 6.30pm for example, then, sporting or music events excepting, all Darts after this time should be such.
Eddie is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 26-09-2013, 09:13   #18
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie View Post
At the entrance to Dun Laoghaire station there is a sign that says something like: "For your convenience on shorter Dart Services, we have installed a '2/3/4 Car Stop' point that tells you where the train will stop so you don't have to walk so far."

Where do they locate this Stop Point for North bound Darts? 80% of the way down the platform. It would be difficult to locate it much further away from the ticket office if they tried. Just a guess, but I doubt Dun Laoghaire is unique in this regard.

And my second point relates particularly to 2 carriage Darts. Why would you have 2 carriage Darts followed 15 minutes later by much longer ones? If the aim is to save money - and don't get me wrong - it's good that we now know that the cost of running a Dart is proportional to its length - but it would surely make logical sense for Dart sizes to be increased at peak periods and reduced in the offpeaks, but without the variability that seems present at the minute. Once traffic only warrants a 2 carriage Dart at 6.30pm for example, then, sporting or music events excepting, all Darts after this time should be such.
Perhaps that longer set could be swapped at Connolly rather than Bray for example, as it is needed in Fairview for the following morning or for an exam. You are always going to have a certain amount of positioning moves with any transport operation.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 26-09-2013, 14:04   #19
ocian
New to the board
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 17
Default

Any idea Mark (or anyone else for that matter) if IR will be using the 4 carriage 22000 trains on the Rosslare line? I have e-mailed and written to IR so many times in the past asking them to replace the 29000 trains with the 22000s, but they always say they are using the 29000s because the 3 car 22000s are too small for the busy times (and most of the stations are too short for a 6 car 22000). So does any one know if they'll replace the 2 or 3 29000s we have with the 4 car 22000s when they're ready? Personally I'm getting sick of the 29000s on this line!

P.S. I'm new to the Forum so don't murder me if this has already been discussed somewhere
ocian is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 27-09-2013, 19:44   #20
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ocian View Post
Any idea Mark (or anyone else for that matter) if IR will be using the 4 carriage 22000 trains on the Rosslare line? I have e-mailed and written to IR so many times in the past asking them to replace the 29000 trains with the 22000s, but they always say they are using the 29000s because the 3 car 22000s are too small for the busy times (and most of the stations are too short for a 6 car 22000). So does any one know if they'll replace the 2 or 3 29000s we have with the 4 car 22000s when they're ready? Personally I'm getting sick of the 29000s on this line!

P.S. I'm new to the Forum so don't murder me if this has already been discussed somewhere
You may well see 4 car sets on Rosslare, I would imagine it is rather likely.

The 29k sets have to be used on certain trains due to the higher loadings at present. As to whether they will all be replaced, I wouldn't imagine that this will necessarily happen. Some may be replaced but I'd imagine the commuter services will stay 29k operated.

Remember that there are no additional units arising from this reconfiguration, but if certain trains are shortened from 2 x 3pce to 1 x 4pce additional sets may become available.

Until they actually plan this out and start the reconfigurations, we'll have to wait and see.
berneyarms 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 17:53.


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