22K power sockets

[James Howard]

Does anybody know if there is a problem with the passenger power sockets on 22K trains? Both yesterday and today I had no power at my seat two different trains. Yesterday morning, I moved car and there was still no power.

All three cars had engines running and all lights on, and I fiddled with the circuit breaker buttons.

[Colm Moore]

If there is a power issue, the sockets would be one of the first (even the first) thing to have power withdrawn.

However, if it is persistent, I would suspect that it may be something that was turned off and someone forgot to turn them back on. Mention it to on-board staff if it continues.

If possible, get thet carriage number(s).

[James Howard]

Gone again this morning on at least three cars including 22444. I guess there is a driver new to the route who finds it too much of an effort to turn the power on in the morning.

Chance would be fine thing regarding telling the on-board staff. I can't see much point in saying anything to the trolley pusher and the ticket collector only gets on between Mullingar and Maynooth and I haven't seen him yet.

This is particularly irritating because I've just bought a new laptop specifically for commuting that doesn't have particularly brilliant battery life but I reckoned I didn't need it because the power on the trains has previously been pretty reliable.

[Mark Gleeson]

The power sockets are by default switched on, the only switch the driver has access to is the emergency isolate switch in each coach which kills everything except the doors (which run on the battery). There is a huge wall of switches behind the driver but that is sealed but has a glass screen so the driver can see what is tripped

The 22k/ICR operates its onboard systems very like an airplane. If there is a technical fault, non critical systems are shed. The first system on the list to go are the power sockets. If that isn't enough it works through other systems such as the catering boiler. The safety critical systems run off the battery if everything else fails

At first when the ICR's where delivered the shedding order was all over the place and the heating and AC was the first to be chopped but the power sockets remained on. Clearly that was not acceptable

Curiously most of the reports are on morning trains towards Dublin which suggests a technical fault picked up the day before or that someone at maintenance is failing to reset the circuit breakers

[James Howard]

Gone again this evening on 22206 which is on a different set. Something has definitely changed over the last couple of months.

I was away for two weeks but even with this I've been without power more times over the last month than the whole time between when the 22ks came in and last month.

[Jamie2k9]

There is no power problems on services from Heuston. Recently traveled to Galway, Limerick and Waterford and all had power.

[lambo77]

For the last few months there has been no power at the tables on the Sligo-Connolly service. I have let the conductor know twice but nothing is ever done about it.
Was just told maintainence is not up to scratch.

Can anything be done?

[James Howard]

You can generally find power in one or two cars. This week there seems to be power on the Sligo end car on the first train up. This is an absurd situation and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the root of the problem is drivers not doing what they consider to be maintenance work.

[Thomas Ralph]

You're doing well. Normally there isn't a conductor to complain to, or he's in the other set.

[Mark Gleeson]

The story made the Irish Times yesterday after we released a press release

http://www.railusers.ie/news/news.ph...2011&no=6.html

I'm told a question has been submitted in the Dail to seek answers.

Its clear there is something quite badly wrong with the wiring setup on the trains. The problem is the circuit breaker for the middle coaches is behind a locked panel and is not visible unless the panel is opened, in the driving cabs the fuse panel is behind a perspex door behind the drivers seat so it is easier to spot. That said in general staff are not allowed to reset a circuit breaker unless instructed to do so by maintenance staff.



Please ensure you push the test button before use to reset the socket

[James Howard]

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

You're doing well. Normally there isn't a conductor to complain to, or he's in the other set.

The morning Sligo up train has been a 6 car set with a corridor all the way through pretty much every morning for the last year and the conductor is usually on between Mullingar and Maynooth.

I think I've detected a bit of a pattern with Irish Rail

• Millions spent replacing rolling stock where the biggest new feature is power sockets. Power sockets don't work most of time
• Millions spent resignalling the Sligo line. No improvement in running times
• Millions spent putting in 4 tracks to Kildare. No overtaking

Could it perhaps be that Irish Rail is a little bit inefficient? Perhaps we could just buy Dick Fearn & Co a nice shiny Thomas the Tank Engine train set and let some people who care more about customers that projects get on with running the network.

[Ballymore]

No power as usual this morning - maybe if they leave it unaddressed IR think we'll just get used to it like all the rest of the things they make a hash of.
I've never seen so many employees employed to do so little :-)

Also noticed a few shattered windows in one carriage this morning (7.26 from Mullingar).

[peterh]

Originally Posted by James Howard

Does anybody know if there is a problem with the passenger power sockets on 22K trains? Both yesterday and today I had no power at my seat two different trains. Yesterday morning, I moved car and there was still no power.

All three cars had engines running and all lights on, and I fiddled with the circuit breaker buttons.

The last time i used the service(last July) I plugged in my DS charger and it worked. How often does the sockets now work? I rarely use my laptop or DS on these trains

[Mark Gleeson]

It depends its probably about 70-80% currently working

Its a trip switch being a little over eager to address a defect in the sockets.

DO NOT use the test button on the sockets, thats what causes the trip to happen

[James Howard]

There still doesn't appear to be much progress on this. If anything I think the tripping out has got worse - I've had power go twice in the last month while using it. But they do seem to have go a bit better about resetting them as they don't seem to stay out for more than a day or two now.

[Ballymore]

Getting harder and harder to find carriages with power. Often have to travel through 3 or 4 carriages these days.

[James Howard]

I was about to post on this topic this morning. The power seems to be tripping out a lot at the moment. Mostly now I don't have power.