Intercity Railcars Will Enter Service 19/12/2007

[ThomasJ]

Have just passed a 22k train at 18.45 at Drumcondra on route to connolly the full dmds were working didnt get a chance to see if passengers were on board. Unusual time to have training are they in service?

[Mark Gleeson]

Thats the normal training run

Not in service yet but very very soon. While we haven't the actual date yet we have some specifics in the members forum

[sean]

Are they in service yet? I've been out of the loop for a few weeks.

[KSW]

Its now October and no sign of the new 22000's.. The Rosslare line was promised these trains in December but now its April 2008.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by Keith/Gorey

Its now October and no sign of the new 22000's.. The Rosslare line was promised these trains in December but now its April 2008.

Havent even started in Sligo yet and we think you're not getting them till Easter.

[Mark Gleeson]

They will start Sligo this month, one of the hold ups was the new railcar facility in Connolly on platform 1, they just finished the resurfacing late last week.

There are three different types on order, the 3 car regional of which at least 14 of the 41 sets have arrived.
We are waiting on the first 6 coach as in the proper intercity railcar to arrive (due November for service Spring 08) and also the long distance suburban 6 car version (late 2008 for 2009 service)

[Mark Gleeson]

Happy to now confirm IE have officially signed over the first two intercity railcars into service

They now carry numbers on the front which is the typical indication of IE taking ownership

Should be platform 3 11:05 today

[ThomasJ]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=314

Christmas comes early for customers on the Dublin-Sligo line today (Wednesday 19th December 2007): the 11.05hrs Connolly-Sligo service will see the inaugural journey of the first train of a new 183 carriage, €400 million Intercity railcar fleet, set to transform quality, comfort and frequency right across the national rail network.

In-service trials have begun on the daily 11.05hrs Dublin-Sligo and 14.55hrs Sligo-Dublin, with more new trains to be brought in to service on the Sligo line in the New Year, resulting in an increase in services from 5 to 8 trains each way daily from 21st January 2008.

All routes will then benefit as the fleet is rolled out through 2008, including:

- Sligo/Dublin

- Rosslare/Dublin

- Waterford/Dublin

- Westport/Dublin

- Tralee/Dublin

- Tralee/Cork

- Galway/Dublin

- Limerick/Dublin

- Carlow, Athlone, Portlaoise commuter routes

The 183-carriage Intercity railcar order will see frequency improvements across all routes, when all trains are in service by the end of next year.

The fleet was ordered from Mitsui of Japan, in partnership with Rotem of the Republic of Korea (where the fleet was constructed) and Tokyu Car Corporation of Japan.

Together with a previous order of 67 carriages now operating hourly services on the Cork-Dublin route, the new fleet will transform Ireland’s Intercity rail fleet from the oldest in the European Union to the newest.

The Intercity railcar order is funded by the Irish Government under the Transport 21 investment programme and the European Regional Development Fund.

Features of new fleet

Benefits to customers will include:

- Significantly higher frequency and capacity on all InterCity routes

- Modern on-board comfort standards

- The replacement of outdated fleet across the network

- Improved accessibility for mobility-impaired customers

- Better reliability and performance, with integral engines in each carriage

Features of the Intercity railcar fleet will include:

- Automatic PA and information display systems

- Electronic seat reservation displays for web bookings

- Fully air-conditioned

- Internal CCTV system for improved security

- Sleek carriage design

- Advanced safety features throughout

In a new departure for Iarnród Éireann’s Intercity fleet, the new trains are railcars, with integral engines in each carriage – this delivers greater reliability and performance, as well as operational flexibility.

Trains are in 3-car and 6-car sets, with seating for 192 customers and 378 customers respectively.

Eco-friendly fleet

It has also been revealed that the new Intercity railcar fleet will be the greenest diesel train fleet in Europe.

The European Union are set to impose stringent new emission standards for rail vehicles, which are already the most environmentally sustainable form of travel.

Iarnród Éireann’s new fleet already meets the Stage 3B EU emission limits for nitrous oxides (2.0g/kWh), a limit which will not be enforced until 2012. They also meet the Stage 3A limit for soot particles, of 0.2g/kWh, which will be enforced from 2009.

Iarnród Éireann’s fleet transformation comes at a time of record demand for rail services, with 43.1 million journeys made on the country’s rail network last year, and a further record journey total set to be achieved in 2007.

The figures confirm Iarnród Éireann’s status as the fastest growing railway in the European Union.

CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Dr John Lynch said “with this record order of new trains for our network, every single rail customer with Iarnród Éireann will be able to travel on modern, quality trains, designed with the latest customer needs in mind. The transformation of our rail service is extraordinary – we have totally rebuilt our network, we have dramatically expanded commuter capacity, and now we are completing the task of a total renewal of our Intercity fleet. With record demand, and the best performance levels ever achieved on our network, we will continue to grow with the investment support from the Irish Government under Transport 21, to allow our rail services play the strongest possible role in meeting the transport needs of our customers and our communities.”

Sligo route investment

The new fleet is the latest phase in the transformation of the Sligo-Dublin route.

Since 1999, over €150 million has been invested in Sligo services; including the total renewal of track along the route; resignalling, level crossings, platform lengthening and other safety investment. This also includes investment in the existing railcar fleet introduced in December 2005 on the route, which delivered an increase in services from three each way per day to five each way per day.

Together with the route’s best ever punctuality, consistently over 95%, these improvements have resulted in the Sligo-Dublin line being the national network’s fastest growing route, with more than 1.1 million passenger journeys in 2006 – a huge increase of over 17%, with a further 11% growth forecast for 2007.

With the new fleet, and increases in services from January, growth on the Sligo-Dublin line is set to continue into the future.

[Mark Hennessy]

Christmas comes early for customers on the Dublin-Sligo line today

Some would say that Autumn came late for customers.

[ThomasJ]

I am going to say something controversial but for all the criticism for not being suited for long-haul journeys the 29ks did do a good job performance-wise on the Sligo line. It will be good to see them return though to where they belong and are needed.... Commuter services!

Hopefully the 22k will match them on reliability!

[Thomas J Stamp]

some points to note:

Christmas comes early for customers on the Dublin-Sligo line today

Autumn ended late.

In-service trials have begun on the daily 11.05hrs Dublin-Sligo

The 11.05 which is running at the moment is a six car set. This is mrely a show for the press, it is well known that once the top brass have all gone home it will be a three car. Not quite planting trees whilst Mary Harney opens a centre and then pulling them up afterwards but its the same thing.

Together with a previous order of 67 carriages now operating hourly services on the Cork-Dublin route, the new fleet will transform Ireland’s Intercity rail fleet from the oldest in the European Union to the newest.

As the Sligo passengers will know to their cost new dosnt equate to suitable. There is no good reason why vast amounts of Mark3 carriges, which dont forget are newer than the LHB Darts currently being refurbished, are being consigned to the scrapheap.

Significantly higher capacity on all InterCity routes

The 8% increase in seats will be swamped by the 10% year on year increase IE are expecting.

This also includes investment in the existing railcar fleet introduced in December 2005 on the route, which delivered an increase in services from three each way per day to five each way per day.

Yes, and we know that they werent suited - a fact we told you here before they were intoduced and whihc IE only admitted this year.

Together with the route’s best ever punctuality, consistently over 95%, these improvements have resulted in the Sligo-Dublin line being the national network’s fastest growing route, with more than 1.1 million passenger journeys in 2006 – a huge increase of over 17%, with a further 11% growth forecast for 2007.

Dont forget that the "Dublin Sligo line" includes services to Maynooth/Longford.......

For what it's worth, the new railcars look the business. Lets hope they dont become the Vomit Comet Mk2. That said, there is a fairly large contingent from the far east in Connolly today.

Fingers crossed, and all that.

[davekoolhill]

iv not actually been lucky enough to have traveled on the new trains yet but im just curious regarding 6-car and 3-car sets. If they are Intercity trains should they not all be in 6-car sets? Do you know if there is a buffet/snack car on board like on most other intercity services? Will there be a first class carriage? Are these new trains really Intercity's or just upgraded and better commuter services?

Kind regards,
Dave

[sean]

There will be some 3 car sets and some 6 car sets.

Most lines will get at least one full 6 car set, this will have 1st plus dining car.

In some cases, 3 car sets will be paired up to provide 6 coaches, and on the network ex-Heuston some trains will be made of 6+3.

[davekoolhill]

Originally Posted by sean

There will be some 3 car sets and some 6 car sets.

Most lines will get at least one full 6 car set, this will have 1st plus dining car.

In some cases, 3 car sets will be paired up to provide 6 coaches, and on the network ex-Heuston some trains will be made of 6+3.

do you think that the sligo route will have the 1st plus dining car? Has the sligo train ever have a first class and dining car on the old mk3's?

[Mark Gleeson]

Sligo line will have one single 6 car fixed set which will have full kitchen and first class, we assume this will run the Sligo Dublin morning service and the evening return. We where told this over two years ago by a very high up manager in IE and have it in writing from the CEO in committing the use of the IC railcars to Sligo long from the original batch of 120

Sligo probably hasn't seen first class on any service since when 3rd class was abolished and made second

[KSW]

Originally Posted by davekoolhill

If they are Intercity trains should they not all be in 6-car sets?
Do you know if there is a buffet/snack car on board like on most other intercity services?
Will there be a first class carriage?
Are these new trains really Intercity's or just upgraded and better commuter services

Hey Dave,
Your like myself, I seen the new InterCity's yesterday at Connolly working the 17:05 Sligo and I have to say they are very impressive way better than the pictures. The inside is lovely, When you see the train you'll understand.

There is no Buffet/Snack car on any of the 3 car sets but Mark G mentioned there will be a trolley service (Example) Connolly-Longford the trolley will be in the first 3 sets then at Longford change to the other 3sets.

The internal engines are brillant they can gain speed quickly and they are not as noisy as the 29000/2800's Commuter trains. I can honestly say the new trains do have that InterCity feeling to them.
You will like them no doubt....... KSW

[peteretep]

so i needed to travel to dublin from sligo this week and wanted to bring my bike. i checked the irish rail website to see what times the new trains were running at and found a news item saying they ran on the 11.05 from dublin, and the 14.55 from sligo.
so i got the 14.55 and found it was a useless commuter train and i couldn't bring my bike, even though the train was empty and its a relatively small bike.
I told the staff about the info i got on the internet, and they said no the new trains have never run on this service at this time.
so i had to leave my bike in the station, and continue to use ridiculously overpriced public transport when i got to dublin.

Now on the way back this morning, I rang the 1850 help line and asked what services the new trains were running on, and the man said it was on the 11.05 service. So i thought great, ill finally get to see these fancy new trains, only to find, yet again i was stuck on a useless pile of commuter train rubbish.

is it too much to ask for accurate information from irish rail?? especially with these new ticket prices.

[Mark Gleeson]

New train currently operate as follows

6:55 and 8:55 Sligo Dublin
17:05 and 19:05 Dublin Sligo

Those are the four busiest trains between Sligo and Dublin

There is no notice on the Irish Rail website listing any services operated by the new train, the only notice was the press release of the first day which was removed when the train began to run the 8:55/17:05 which is responsible action by Irish Rail

Irish Rail don't advertise that they carry bikes on any Sligo service at the moment nor do they advertise the fact the new train is actually in service, doing so prevents trouble when the new train isn't available again can't fault that

Bikes have been carried on the 8:55 and 17:05 services since March 07 and that remains the case

[peteretep]

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply.
To be honest, I never imagined that it would be that difficult to bring a bike on a train, I've seen people with bigger suitcases!
I found the info about the services here - http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/news_ce...ew&news_id=314
Ok I know its in the archive, but I knew I saw the information somewhere.

I may be going mad but I was sure I checked this website recently and it said bikes were carried on the 14.55 service

[Mark Gleeson]

When the new train entered service we updated our website to reflect the change, we have updated the bikes page 3 times since December 19th with respect to Sligo, the trial run then when the new train replaced the old one and then when the second entered service and it will be updated on Sunday when we know the exact list of bike friendly trains for Monday, Irish Rail have enough certified trains for it but not all are in Connolly

We are running normally 1-2 days behind since the information has to get back to us, Irish Rail don't tell anyone, even there own staff beyond the driver don't know

The roster does allow the 6:55 service to run 11:05, 14:55 in addition to the 19:05 it may or may not run. If Irish Rail break there own internal roster it makes life difficult

The link to the story is to the iarnrod eireann website, and is to a archived news item, not a current one. It takes some finding