New Train Service from Newry

[irishsaint]

I don't have full details yet and Translink confirmed that details will be published both on their website and in Newry Train Station in the coming weeks.

From December 13th 2010.
Depart Newry @ 06:50
Arrive in Dublin Connolly @ 08:31

Presumably this is an extension of the 07:10 from Dundalk to now start in Newry - I cant confirm this however as Translink have not given me any more details than the times above.

[Mark Gleeson]

There is a long term aspiration to provide a 6 coach ICR service from north of the border starting in late 2011. Calling limited stops to Dublin. This was affirmed at a recent North/South meeting http://www.northsouthministerialcoun...tober_2010.htm this is entirely dependent on the delivery of new trains in 2011

Two cross border meetings took place this year with the approval of the North/South Ministerial body where the inability to reach both Belfast and Dublin by rail before 9am was highlighted as a serious restriction to cross border business. RUI was represented at both meetings

Irish Rail do not have any rolling stock approved to operate north of the border bar the Enterprise sets. The 29k fleet cannot legally operate in Northern Ireland due to a lack of AWS/TPWS equipment, Newry station is fitted with both

The 7:10 Dundalk Bray is already overcrowded, routinely delayed and unsuitable for a 70 mile journey. If this happens we will be complaining. There are much higher priorities which need addressing and most of all no change should make matters worse

Irish Rail have indicated there will be NO timetable change in December 2010 and the usual planning process did not happen over the Summer.

[irishsaint]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The 7:10 Dundalk Bray is already overcrowded, routinely delayed and unsuitable for a 70 mile journey. If this happens we will be complaining. There are much higher priorities which need addressing and most of all no change should make matters worse

I will be countering your complaint - we badly need a service from Newry arriving in Dublin before 9am. If this is the available solution at present, then so be it and I get the 07:10 from Dundalk on many occasions, which requires my own transport from Newry. This train is not overcrowded as you state. It peaks with passenger numebrs maybe from Rush and Lusk but is by no means over-crowded. Routinely delay yes, but almost all services from Dundalk are at present.

[Mark Gleeson]

The understanding we had was extra services using suitable trains and that is in directly alignment with the submission made to the North/South body and the response from both Translink and IE. This is the usual half arsed Irish Rail solution which makes life worse.

Overcrowding is a serious problem, grand if you have a seat, horrible otherwise. Irish Rail did cut the 7:10 to 6 coaches for a few days recently.

The Newry Dundalk section is notorious for wheelslip and as I've pointed out numerous times there are no trains of any type currently approved to operate in NI so how exactly this will occur is anyones guess, after all Irish Rail's statement clearly says they waiting on extra trains to become available some of which are fully equipped for Northern Ireland.

[irishsaint]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The understanding we had was extra services using suitable trains and that is in directly alignment with the submission made to the North/South body and the response from both Translink and IE. This is the usual half arsed Irish Rail solution which makes life worse.

Overcrowding is a serious problem, grand if you have a seat, horrible otherwise. Irish Rail did cut the 7:10 to 6 coaches for a few days recently.

The Newry Dundalk section is notorious for wheelslip and as I've pointed out numerous times there are no trains of any type currently approved to operate in NI so how exactly this will occur is anyones guess, after all Irish Rail's statement clearly says they waiting on extra trains to become available some of which are fully equipped for Northern Ireland.

I agree about not having a seat but not having a seat can't be classed as overcrowding? On intercity services, its shambolic but commuter and DART, it has to be expected. I remember when people were standing from Laytown on the 07:10, I have not seen that since before the Malahide incident now - regarding the 6 coaches, I have not been on the 07:10 this week.

Maybe it is a half arsed solution but I would say the majority of the Newry users of a new 06:50 service are the ones you will find that go to Dundalk for the 07:10 anyway, I don't think passenger numbers from Newry will increase the passenger count on this service but will reduce the number of car park spaces being used in Dundalk.

But this 07:10 from Dundalk may not be extended to Newry - all I know is there is a 06:50 starting in Newry from December 13th. Maybe one of NI's C3Ks which leaves Newry around 07:30 is going to do a Newry - Dundalk service before returning to Newry for the Newry Belfast service @ 07:30, meaning a change at Dundalk for the 07:10 Dundalk to Bray?

[Mark Gleeson]

Irish Rail have indicated ownership of the service. True a C3K could be used which would resolve many practical matters. It would require a 6 piece set with two drivers and two conductors on the 6:20 from Portadown, split at Newry. NIR has suspended all 6 coach operations recently due shortage of trains.

That said having to change trains is again was not what was proposed, direct Belfast Dublin arriving 8:30-8:40

The information tends to suggest a one way service with no corresponding Dundalk Newry leg

[KSW]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Irish Rail have indicated there will be NO timetable change in December 2010

There should be )

[chris]

It's worth pointing out that a 06:50 from Newry would allow passengers to connect from the 06:20 Portadown-Newry service, but would not actually help Belfast-Dublin commuters

[irishsaint]

Originally Posted by chris

It's worth pointing out that a 06:50 from Newry would allow passengers to connect from the 06:20 Portadown-Newry service, but would not actually help Belfast-Dublin commuters

The information provided to me does not state Newry as the start point, only referring to 06:50 from Newry. Information in email from May Orr, Cross Border Customer Services in NIR. Incidently, the email initially related to a completely different issue regarding the cancelled 06:50 from Belfast at Portadown on the 18th Oct but she decided to add information regarding this new service as I a long with many other Newry commuters have continually complained at the fact that NIR does not cater for frontier workers. On this note, does anyone know who to complain to if you are not satisfied with NIR's response, Department for Regional Development?

[Mark Gleeson]

You must appeal first to the Rail Services General Manager, Central Station

If still unhappy

The Consumer Council
Elizabeth House 116 Holywood Road Belfast BT4 1NY
Complaints line: 0845 601 6022 Fax: 028 9065 7701 complaints@consumercouncil.org.uk www.consumercouncil.org.uk

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Irish Rail have indicated there will be NO timetable change in December 2010 and the usual planning process did not happen over the Summer.

But from what I can see on the Irish rail site, the current IE timetable is in operation until the 14th January 2011? Is this more an adjustment on the translink side, allbeit with impact on irisb rail?

[Mark Gleeson]

The website keeps rolling the date forward so don't take it as some indication of something

[irishsaint]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The website keeps rolling the date forward so don't take it as some indication of something

The new 06:50 should effect IR's timetable, only NIR's - However, the 09:35 and the 19:00 Dublin to Belfast are timetabled to arrive 5 minutes later from 13th December and the 20:10 Belfast - Dublin service is timetabled to arrive 3 minutes later. (Lisburn stop added, bizarrely these are not the only services with a lisburn stop added but are the only ones which will take longer)