Multiple Gripes from a noob

sean · 26-12-2011, 02:15

As for the Cork line, I remember being pea green with jealousy when the new CAF Dublin-Cork carriages landed (photographed by the IRN types in the Port) and Dublin-Sligo still had only 29000 railcars. But recent experience has shown that the Intercity railcars, the 22000s, while perhaps not being as glamorous as the CAFs, are much more practical. For one thing, they do have at seat sockets throughout the train, though they cannot be depended on, while the CAFs only have them in First Class. Secondly the 22000s have a decent ride quality, the CAF carriages were (in the beginning at least) a lot like their Commuter cousins in terms of crappy ride quality and awful suspension.

I don't know if it's got any better with the trackworks on the mainline in recent years, perhaps Mark G can fill us in?

As to the matter of train speeds, it could be better - by a good margin - but all the lines ex-Connolly have the disadvantage of being twin-track mainlines with a small amount of Intercity traffic mixed with a lot of short haul commuter traffic. Whereas with Heuston, the mainline out of that carries 2/3 or so of all national Intercity traffic plus requirements for a frequent short haul commuter service to Hazelhatch and Kildare. Hence it was a much more obvious candidate for the quad track treatment that allowed more efficient line-sharing. Both the Rosslare and Belfast lines are worse off on this score, sharing the last few kilometres of the run into Connolly with the DART.

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26-12-2011, 02:15	#9
sean Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin Posts: 707	As for the Cork line, I remember being pea green with jealousy when the new CAF Dublin-Cork carriages landed (photographed by the IRN types in the Port) and Dublin-Sligo still had only 29000 railcars. But recent experience has shown that the Intercity railcars, the 22000s, while perhaps not being as glamorous as the CAFs, are much more practical. For one thing, they do have at seat sockets throughout the train, though they cannot be depended on, while the CAFs only have them in First Class. Secondly the 22000s have a decent ride quality, the CAF carriages were (in the beginning at least) a lot like their Commuter cousins in terms of crappy ride quality and awful suspension. I don't know if it's got any better with the trackworks on the mainline in recent years, perhaps Mark G can fill us in? As to the matter of train speeds, it could be better - by a good margin - but all the lines ex-Connolly have the disadvantage of being twin-track mainlines with a small amount of Intercity traffic mixed with a lot of short haul commuter traffic. Whereas with Heuston, the mainline out of that carries 2/3 or so of all national Intercity traffic plus requirements for a frequent short haul commuter service to Hazelhatch and Kildare. Hence it was a much more obvious candidate for the quad track treatment that allowed more efficient line-sharing. Both the Rosslare and Belfast lines are worse off on this score, sharing the last few kilometres of the run into Connolly with the DART.