Figures/messing around with timetables

[Thomas J Stamp]

one of the 5 was the lad from the NRG doing his survey although he did go all the way to heuston.

[ACustomer]

Last Monday (30th July) the 1605 to Ballybrobhy left Limerick with 4 or 5 passengers, and I travelled on the 1705, with about 5 on board. I was the only passenger from Nenagh to Ballybrophy, and on arrival I saw just one person leave the connecting service (1800 ex Heuston) to get on the retrun Ballybrophy-Limerick train. The train which we crossed at Roscrea had about 12 on board (there were probably some more who had left by the time our train passsed it).

The journey on the branch takes almost 2 hours for less than 60 miles: no wonder it's so badly patronised. The Killonan-Nenagh stretch, which is almost all CWR is slower than the Nenagh-Roscrea stretch which is jointed track, the reason being that the 50 mph line limit has long "temporary" restrictions of 25 mph, as well as vey slow speeds past the large number of manned level crossings. The Limerick Junction to Waterford line is super-fast by comparison. I just wonder what sort of incompetent management has managed to pour so much money into such a black hole, with no return.

The Alan Kelly timetable certainly seems to have killed off Limerick-Nenagh commuting. It's sad to see such a run-down line: closure would be a merciful release.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by ACustomer

It's sad to see such a run-down line: closure would be a merciful release.

local opinion, which i share, is that this has been done deliberatly to allow it to be sacrificed. As for Alan Kelly teimetable, is it one that he wanted for parish pump politics or one that was forced on him by Irish Rail to teach him a lesson and to have the line closed? Either way, once again, politics is being used to influence transport strategy.

[doherty jack]

the section between Limerick - Nenagh is very quite but the from Nenagh - Ballybrophy section is very busy mainly 6:25am service from Limerick and the 6:20pm and 7:25pm from Ballybrophy sevices are very busy during this Summer with a daily count of 40 - 50 , which is good considering conditions , the online booking in Nenagh , is proving very popular and on the 19th of august there is a Special train going to Dublin from Birdhill ,Nenagh & Roscrea to take people to the Semi final !

[Inniskeen]

Travelled to Nenagh on the 1340 to Limerick on Thursday. Three passengers left at Roscrea, two at Cloughjordan and three at Nenagh. As on the previous occasion I used this train it stopped in Portlaoise for almost fourteen minutes - what a waste of time (literally). A further eight minutes was wasted sitting on the branch at Ballybrohy awaiting the scheduled departure time.

On the return trip, six passengers boarded at Nenagh, one got off at Cloughjordan, two boarded. No business at Roscrea.

Twenty one passengers got off the 1705 to Tralee at Ballybrophy compared to 13 at Templemore, 40 at Thurles, 16 at Charleville and 6 at Mallow. Not sure how many boarded the branch connection at Ballybrophy, looked like about twelve heading in that direction.

[JamesK]

To add to the previous message, today (July 4), the 1705 Limerick to Ballybrophy service which is the only evening service on the branch on a Saturday departed with four passengers - one for Castleconnell, two for Roscrea and one for Ballybrophy (me). The only custom from the branch stations was one passenger who boarded at Cloughjordan and connected to the Dublin train at Ballybrophy. Approximately ten passengers were waiting at Ballybrophy for the return service.

The 1705 ex Limerick was delayed for twenty-five minutes on account of gates being closed against the train south of Castleconnell; in the end, the keeper from the next set of gates north had to be summoned to operate the unattended gates.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by doherty jack

the 6:20pm and 7:25pm from Ballybrophy sevices are very busy during this Summer with a daily count of 40 - 50 , which is good considering conditions

Originally Posted by Inniskeen

Twenty one passengers got off the 1705 to Tralee at Ballybrophy compared to 13 at Templemore, 40 at Thurles, 16 at Charleville and 6 at Mallow. Not sure how many boarded the branch connection at Ballybrophy, looked like about twelve heading in that direction.

Originally Posted by JamesK

Approximately ten passengers were waiting at Ballybrophy for the return service.

i have never seen more than 12 on the 18.20. the few times i have been on the 19.25 its been a ghost town. I expect the figures of 40-50 to keep up till I start getting it again in September

There is only one thing worse than IE trying to close this line, and that is grossly over inflating the figures on it. All that does is give them the ammunition to try and discredit all the good work being done by the Nenagh Rail Group.