Clearly there were issues - what they were I don't know.

But I'm not really sure what your point is - problems can crop up with any project in any organisation - I would doubt Translink were just sitting around for four months doing nothing.

The problems are very similar to the DART refurbishment project, bad management and control. I doubt York Road has the space to take another set of coaches. As early as January the program was already a month behind.

The contract for the carpets was only signed in March, there were 15 odd contract lots and I know the names of only 5 companies awarded so odds are other bits are sitll in limbo

The first carriage entered the shed on November 12th, so 5 months to decide on carpet is a farce. There are also major compliance issues in terms of accessibility which could sink the whole project due people not reading up on the legal requirements.

There isn't really an issue with NIR staff driving an 22k, the train is compliant with UK reg. The train doesn't have guards panels and no provision for door release/close from the rear cab so it doesn't work with NIR's conductor operation with local door control, it could be done but in the 21st century it gets messed up with safety requirements and reviews for something IE have done for years. IE driving a C3K would be easier has its basically a pimped out 29k

http://www.irishrail.ie/news/enterpriseupgrade

I'm told that NI still don't an a date for when the first set will return to service, anyone in IE side know any more and what sort of progress have they made since May?

First Enterprise set was supposed to be put back into service on 28th Sept however I understand there is a delay with testing and while they hope to have it back in play on the 5th Oct it will most likely be the 12th Oct. It will be the 8am from Belfast - the other 2 sets will be well into next year, they are way behind schedule. Have a look at some of the pics of the refurbished Enterprise.

Edit... had issue uploading images, shared links instead.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x7d5qpukw6..._3605.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zgzybguwts..._3606.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1di5qp7c8q..._3607.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/159cmd5fmn..._3608.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fbf2jg3lad..._3609.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xhfq22m95p..._3610.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7uydmvlrat..._3611.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v5akam8546..._3612.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eh1t4rj92g..._3613.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/027c529jat..._3614.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zgmv3xz0gf..._3615.PNG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ysc788tly..._3616.PNG?dl=0

There were some photos posted on another site in the past 3 days showing two DD coaches at Connolly en route for Inchicore. So it seems that IE are having to help resolve what is a very bad performance by NIR.

I don't thing that Inchicore figured in the original plan. Maybe they should have!

Members section has more details as to the goings on

Inchicore did not feature in the plan, but was tabled 4 months ago to Translink

The dinning car is the unknown, as its getting seats fitted. Clearly the seats haven't arrived. The interior thankfully looks better than the photo mock ups we were shown nearly a year ago

Mark

There is one Dinning Car fitted with 22000 seating (purple of course). Its in same config as First (2:1) layout.

Planned or penny pinching??

Another thing I noticed is Open/Close door buttons are yellow, have not learned from when they decided orange on 22s. Will it be raised as its a stupid mistake to make again. Not even bothered to write open or closed on them either.

No table lamps in First also, suprised.

Lots of photos below:
https://chrisplayfair.smugmug.com/Tr...5372&k=8F8bb8d

some pics of the finished dining car

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7e18d7qss3..._3638.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xs10abhrv3..._3639.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/od8x8ke2ts..._3640.JPG?dl=0

The remaining enterprise set has gone out of service. Where NIR have found spare C3K sets for the displacement, I can only guess.

Good to see progress is finally being made. I was beginning to wonder if the sets would all go out of service, and mysteriously never be heard of again.

James

Been some significant service cuts in NI in a recent timetable change which helped. That said on some days its 3 cars only

NIR timetable changes are actually relatively modest and mainly affect off peak services, principally on the Larne line. Little impact on set requirements.

Any word on refurbished stock reentering service? I was on the 20:50 from Connolly last night, which was enterprise stock until a couple of weeks ago, but it's still NIR stock.

James

No word

As far as I know it hasn't crossed the border and it will require RSC sign off before carrying passengers.

There is a staff training issue also for the driver MMI and on train computer. That said its basically the same as used on the Mk4 sets

The three coaches sent to Inchicore are still there

Every week I hear next week..... But I am told to expect the 08:00 from Belfast next week to be the first new Enterprise. Believe it when I see it! I would say we are very close to the first set coming back, but the other 2 are about 20 billion years behind... well, way behind anyway, being told March next year earliest we will see one of the other two back in action.

Aren't there 4 sets?

Yes, there are four seven-piece sets (eight-piece including generator van, excluding loco) although until the collapse of Malahide viaduct, the fleet was typically formed into three sets of eight vehicles (excluding loco).

Current traffic levels frequently exceed the capacity available in the seven+generator formation although it appears there are no plans to restore capacity to pre Malahide collapse levels.

there is a pic of 206 and the refurbished test train on a closed facebook page at bradbury place, so i guess something is happening.

refurbished train was/is in connolly today. going down well it seems.

First visit to Dublin was today

Interior was not complete, still work needed in dining car.

Next Monday might be possible but who knows