Overhauls are ongoing they are unavoidable they must be done, units to be overhauled are taken from the 21 stored units.

When a unit hits its mileage limits it goes into the 21 pool

That makes sense, as long as the pool isn't expanding fair enough.

I have official confirmation that the 18:35 this evening is a 6 coach train

From Monday onwards its should be a 6 coach also, but we are pending absolute confirmation of this.

The overloading of the 1835 to Waterford presumably arises from the stops at Newbridge and Kildare. Not sure that working an additional 3 cars all the way to Waterford and back is the most efficient way of catering for Newbridge and Kildare commuters.

Mark I have avoided it on Fridays but it could be just a 6 coach today considering its bussiest day and online bookings were around 100 mark and add student travel etc. Don't tell me its being a 3 carrage every friday to.

Agree I have pointed out a number of cost saving measures to Irish Rail on how to provide an adequate service for the 18.35 and save operating costs at the same time now they say they will pass to service planning dep but they will just do the opposite and not listen to anyone.

Now as it looks like 6 car set has being restored it will make the NTA response to my emai that I send this morning easier.

1 - Run 18.35 as a 6 peice and split it at Kildare.
2 - Remain a 3 car on 18.35 but run a 18.40 3 car non stop to Kildare service only Newbridge.
3 - Run 18.35 as a 6 peice and split in Carlow and the 21.35 from Carlow can take the extra carrages to Dublin. Now this would be better than option 1 as it would require another driver to move the train in Kildare etc. By splitting in Carlow you would be saving 180 km of fuel per day and then the millage on the clock + wear of the ICR. This is a sensable option and it needs to be done if the company are to provide a service while cutting costs. It spends around 4/5 mins stoped so splitting wouldn't be a problem. It would save just over 55,000km of fuel per year which is massive and passengers are kept happy at the same time.

Is splitting a big difficulty? It would seem to me that the Sligo line in particular would be very much a candidate for this if it were relatively simple to do. There would be very few trains that justify a 6-car ICR beyond Longford and there is no requirement for first-class or buffet service to complicate matters.

Its takes seconds to split them but they will not leave a train overnight somewhere its not safe and scure so thats another factor to be considered. The 18.35 is ideal as they don't want to run a full service and the only reason its happening as they have had lots of complaints and came under pressure to do it. On an average day there would be less than 50 left on the 18.35 so they have to give some consideration to the split in Carlow.

Back to 3 carrages for 18.35 today and I myself also got off at Newbridge and counted 70+ others and I missed a few who go to the car park on platfrom 2 so we are talking about 80+ getting off. The 18.25 has just arrived and there is under 15 passengers on board when only around 5 or 6 got off.

Best thing that can be done to solve all problems is the 18.35 changed to 18.40 and allow the 18.25 service to Portlaoise go ahead or increase costs and operate a 6 carrage train. Very simple solutions.

I have been informed that the 18:35 will be 6 coaches this evening.

I was emailed at lunchtime saying from this evening it will be a 6 car however that remains to be seen although today could be down to the fact the 07.10 is heavily booked well above normal tomorrow morning so I guess tomorrow evening will be the day we find out for sure that its a 6 car.

At last some sensible capacity/demand measures have dawned on Irish Rail. Since very recently 21.00 Heuston-Cork reduced to 3 car set, 06.00 up currently ICR operated but not sure if its 3 or 6 at the minute.

Where do you think the extra 3 coaches on the 18:35 came from?

Expected it would be connected, surely it wasn't because of no spare trains, I suspect they were told restore the capacity and drop capacity on another service that's lightly used to keep costs down. Its more decisions like this that are needed where possible.

With no Kerry connection a 3-car is more than adequate for the 0600 from Cork. Adding the Kerry connection to the 0700 from Cork makes that train a bit tight when operating with a reduced formation.

First set of OTP results for new timetable:
http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=115&n=265

Irish Rail Blog:
http://www.irishrail.ie/blog_post.jsp?blogID=1&a=343

Some small changes coming to Galway/Westport evening services.

New Galway timetable for opening of Oranmore station. To solve the evening delays up to 10 minutes added to many services.

Majority of services not take 2h30m+ and 2h25m down. Major changes are the xx.30 departure between 11 and 15.30 are now xx.05.

Starts from 28 July, PDF will be out soon.

6.40 Limerick-Heuston also stops at Nass
7.10 Waterford-Heuston also stops at Newbridge from this date.

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_news.jsp?i=4882&p=116&n=237

* Heuston to Cork - slight changes to 19:00
* Cork to Heuston - slight changes to 19:20

* Heuston to Limerick / Ennis - quite a few minor changes,
* Limerick / Ennis to Heuston - quite a few minor changes, 05:40 ex-Limerick moved to 05:30, 18:59 ex-Ennis leaves at 19:02, but arrives into Limerick 10 minutes late.