Newbridge Rail Group (NRG)

[Derek Wheeler]

Platform 11 are delighted to assist this group as they commence their campaign and we urge all rail commuters in the Newbridge area to support them.

RELEASE. 24-01-06.


Newbridge Rail Users Take Action

The 3,000 strong rail users from the Newbridge Area have finally had enough of the service provided by Irish Rail and plan to take action. In recent months they have experienced increased delays in service, repeated engine failure and a change to the time table reducing the number of morning trains stopping for the Newbridge to Dublin commuters.

But just what are they planning to do? Well, Newbridge Rail Group (NRG) is about to be born. This group, associated with the National Rail Passenger Organisation, Platform 11, intends to be the voice of Newbridge rail users and its’ remit will be all issues concerning weary travellers. Everything from the lack of a sheltered waiting area in Newbridge Station, ticket price increases and poor information and announcements will be on the agenda.

Anybody who is interested in being involved in forming the group or who wish their issues on the Irish Rail service from Newbridge to be heard and taken for action, are invited to the Keadeen Hotel at 8.30pm on Thursday the 2nd of February for a public meeting.

[Derek Wheeler]

RAIL COMMUTERS FIGHT BACK.

Date : 29th January 2005
Issued by : Platform 11 Press Office
Contact : Derek Wheeler (PRO) 086 3452651

Platform 11, the national rail passenger organisation, is delighted to
announce it's support and involvement with the Newbridge Rail Users Group.
(NRG)

The 3,000 strong rail users from the Newbridge Area have finally had enough
of the service provided by Irish Rail and plan to take action. In recent
months they have experienced increased delays in service, repeated train
failure and an attempted change to the time table reducing the number of
morning trains stopping for Newbridge to Dublin commuters.

But just what are they planning to do? Well, Newbridge Rail Group (NRG) is
about to be born. This group, associated with the national rail passenger
organisation, Platform 11, intends to be the voice of Newbridge rail users
and its remit will be all issues concerning weary travellers. Everything
from the lack of a sheltered waiting area in Newbridge Station, ticket price
increases and poor information and announcements will be on the agenda.

Anybody who is interested in being involved in forming the group or who wish
their issues on the Irish Rail service from Newbridge to be heard and action
taken, are invited to the Keadeen Hotel at 8.30pm on Thursday the 2nd of
February for a public meeting.

Representatives of Platform 11 will attend this meeting to outline current
problems, put forward solutions and answer questions from disgruntled rail
users.

Platform 11 has recently joined the European Passenger Federation (EPF).
This body is made up of various public transport user groups from across
Europe and will strengthen our position in the area of rail passenger
representation.

It is the belief of Platform 11 that real and meaningful change on our rail
network, can only be achieved by a strong and organised effort from the
people who actually use the train service. Newbridge has already lost a
promised DART service under Transport 21. The focus now is on preventing any
further deterioration of services, reclaiming the previous promises made and
ensuring that Irish Rail and the Government are in no doubt that commuter
rail services from Newbridge and the Kildare area, should be enhanced to a
level that can deliver an efficient, reliable and progressive service.

ENDS.

[nlgbbbblth]

I was unable to attend due to working late.

Anything to report?

[Mark Gleeson]

Meeting went extremely well with a significant attendance which left every seat taken.

The meeting was purely for the passengers who where happy to vent their anger. Ordinary passengers aired their views and issues which where quite varied but the car parking issue seems to be a very very big issue. The list is being complied and the plan appears that IE will pay a visit and to explain themselves

Two Platform 11 committee members where present, myself and Derek Wheeler. Derek gave a 5/6 minutes talk outlining how the Kildare line is the poor relation, no Sunday services, the mental block IE have about the Park Tunnel and the lack of any action from IE when issues are raised eg Sunday services in December 2005.

You would be suprised at what could be done with no capital outlay

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Lensiter Leader

UNHAPPY RAIL USERS GET ORGANISED

By NIAMH O’DONOGHUE


A NEW rail users group has been formed to take action on the ongoing difficulties which have plagued commuters for years in Newbridge.

Over 50 people turned out for the formation of the Newbridge Rail Group (NRG) at the Keadeen last Thursday (February 2) night. One of the founder members, Regina Heavey stressed the group is fully intent on pursuing its goals.

“We’ve had a great response. We had great feedback when we handed out the leaflets about the meeting and everybody is one hundred and ten per cent behind us. I know people tried to get a group up and running before, but the commuters themselves were not willing to get involved and it will only be successful if they are the driving force behind it, but this time is different,” she explained.

A committee of 10 people have been appointed. They took note of the issues raised at last week’s meeting and are compiling a series of questions for Iarnrod Eireann. They are going to forward them to the company’s officials and invite them down to a public meeting where they can deal with the matters of concern.

“One of the main problems is station services at Hueston and in Newbridge and car parking in Newbridge is also a major issue. People are also concerned about the punctuality and reliability of the trains – sometimes they might turn up and sometimes they don’t. You are not informed of what is going on – it’s the lack of communication,” she added.

Cllr. Fiona O’Loughlin chaired the meeting. “It’s important this group is driven by commuters themselves because they experience the problems every day,” she said.

She praised James Lawlor from the Sallins/Naas Rail Group and Derek Wheeler from Platform 11, the national rail users group, for attending the meeting and sharing their expertise.
“It’s important that we are an integrated group, that we are able to link with the Naas/Sallins group and Platform 11 and the new group that is being set up in Kildare town,” she added.

Iarnrod Eireann had requested to attend the meeting but the group felt they wanted to get all the views of the community before approaching them.

A number of older people also aired their grievances in relation to certain services. When they want to travel down the country they often have to go to Dublin, Portlaoise or Kildare to get connecting trains even though the same service is passing through Newbridge but doesn’t stop.

A new Internet page has also been set up for rail users and can be accessed through the Platform 11 site or on www.platform11.org/NRG/

© Lenister Leader 2006
http://www.leinsterleader.ie/Desktop...cumentID=20763

[Derek Wheeler]

The current Metro North public consultation phase is very relevent to Kildare line users in relation to integration and onward connections.

We'd appreciate all feed back.

[Derek Wheeler]

UPDATE

A complete list of issues affecting passengers from Newbridge is available on the NRG page in PDF format.

http://www.platform11.org/local_groups/NRG/

[Derek Wheeler]

How the months fly.....

Its late, apologies. Here is the latest update from NRG.

On the 23 March Newbridge Rail Group held a public meeting with Irish Rail. During the course of this meeting Irish Rail made a number of commitments to improve the facilities in Newbridge train station within a three-month period, ending in June. These included:

Additional Shelter facilities
A Realignment of the car parking facilities
Additional Tanoys on the Platforms
Opening of the Waiting room on the Dublin bound platform
Additional Bicycle facilities
Improved CCTV and lighting in the car park
Cleaning and maintenance of the Arrows and Train station

To date only one of these has been completed namely the opening of the waiting room. Obviously NRG are disappointed with the progress to date on this matter.



At this meeting it was also suggested that pay parking could be introduced as a means of funding better facilities.



NRG are totally against this proposal and have begun a process to actively engage with our elected representatives to make them aware of our views and also to seek their views on this matter.



NRG are committed to ensuring that pay parking is not introduced in Newbridge, we also believe that if pay parking is introduced in Newbridge that it will be only a matter of time before it is introduced in other stations along the commuter belt. We therefore are seeking your support with this initiative and to request that you, as representative of commuters in Kildare town, Sallins and Portarlington lobby your politicians in a similar fashion.



If you have any queries or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact us at this address or contact Sean Meenan at 086 3808186 or Garrett Cummins at 086 1517570

[PaulM]

Online at http://www.platform11.org/local_groups/NRG