Official 2008 timetables?
 

I know there are other wishlist threads on the scheduling within the timetable, but I've a really, really simple question which I didn't see (though I may have missed it...)

When will the new timetables be issued?

There are less than 8 weeks to go on the current ones, and if past experience is anything to go by, we'll be desperately searching for the new ones the week ending Friday 7th Dec, will probably fail, and just be hoping that on Monday the train we took last week is still running. Right now you couldn't even make plans for Christmas travel. This is pathetic.

While Irish Rail have simplified the appearance of the timetables, the information is still too minimal. Even simple changes would help (especially visitors) such as replacing the front-page photograph of some kid pointing out the window with a map of the route. This year I took a train in Austria for the first time — their timetables detail the platforms at every station, and the platforms and times of all connecting trains. If the timetable doesn't change all year, why can't IE do this?

Given they never published the offical 2007 (or the 2005, 2004, 2003 ....) timetable I doubt you will see it in 2008 either

Someone was nice enough to get us the proof

Strangely bigger isn't it?

The one you can buy is stuffed full of errors and the times in it particularly on the Belfast route don't match up with the actual timetable.

Despite what IE claim there is no public consultation on the service needs of rail users its more a case of this is how it is going to be and there is nothing you can do about it

Surely there has to be differences in terms of size of data for a working timetable (I am assuming thats what your using) which includes all non-passenger movements?

And Irish Rail run a lot of freight do they?

There are substaintal differences in times in places, most Dublin Belfast services have signifcant differences of up to 5 minutes.

The internal timetable also tells you the train type on the service as well and for some trains the length, which would be common elsewhere

You also learn of the shocking number of empty trains running around

I ment the following:
Like where the 16:15 Heuston - Ballina goes (I assume it sits in Claremorris then goes down to Westport for one of them services etc)

Hmm, I wasn't even think of that one! I was simply wondering when the “rough guide to the trains we've finally decided to run” timetables (even the little leafletty ones) might be available.

I suspected that was the case when they made the Athy morning departure a few minutes earlier without doing the same in Carlow. I had (generously) thought it was a trick to make sure nobody missed the train, although it's so late these days, people have moved to getting the previous train altogether...

Following up to myself...

While asking about the chronic unreliability of the 6:10 Waterford/Dublin, I asked about the new timetable. I was told that it was being finalised and would probably be published in the first half of December and take effect from January. It seems that it'll depend on whether or not the new trains for the Sligo line are approved or not in November.

Has anyone heard any info on changes in the timetable?

If you are a Waterford line person, keep an eye on 17:35 out of Heuston

extra, or just a change of time?

extra

I think the working timetable also uses a bigger font.

Going from past experience, the mini timetables usually come out around Jan/Feb, and the bigger one (the customer one, not the working one) about April.

Only in Ireland, eh?

Look out for an entry in the 2009 Guinness Book of Records for "longest time spent with crossed fingers". ;)

`

I didn't think any of the timetables actually worked?

The internal timetable used by staff, the actual one that the trains operate to is known as the working timetable or WTT for short.

I just tried checking on the online timetable for Pportlaoise-Heuston return on 10 December and there is nothing there yet.

More Trains for Dalkey!
 

I know that everytime Irish Rail renew the timetable that it is released with the introduction of new services on some of the lines. However, I am aware that there are currently a good few rail services that only go to Bray from Drogheda and Maynooth or start from Bray and go to Maynooth or Drogheda. They currently serve Sydney Parade, Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire and a few other stations. I notice that some of these services go really slow and cruise along between Dun Laoghaire and Killiney before picking up speed. The reason why they cruise along is because a lot of them are tightly squeezed between two DART services.

As opossed to slowly passing Dalkey, they could decide to make Dalkey an additional stop and if possible one or two other stations as well. It could also allow the DART ahead to get further ahead to give the Commuter more room to breath. The 15:58 Connolly-Bray service from Longford is a prime example. I even notice people boarding this service at Pearse at 1602 with plenty of seats to spare. It is also six minutes behind the previous DART service. While I am aware that Sydney Parade, Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire are interchange stops for bus services, Dalkey and Killiney are well known tourist attractions.
With Dalkey as a heritage town and Killiney for its walks and beaches.

I think Irish Rail could standardise Dalkey and Killiney as Commuter stops to encourage people outside of the DART line to visit these areas. Also, the Maynooth service which stopped at Dalkey at 15:36 until January of this year no longer calls at Dalkey. It additionally used to call at Shankill, Killiney and Glenageary. I used to avail of that service on a regular basis and I noticed that a lot of people used to get on at Shankill, Killiney, Dalkey and Glenageary. In the next timetable, I would like to see these stations being returned to the list of stops for this service. If there aren't going to be any extra DART services in next years timetable, they could at least use more of the short haul Commuter services to increase the frequency of trains in stations such as Dalkey, Killiney and Shankill.

Should we expect an announcement on the extension of the current timetable fairly soon possibly next week given the 28 days reservation rule?

06:30am from Portlaoise to Heuston will run from 8th December onwards.

Asked at Heuston last night when timetables likely to appear - was told shortly, as they had gone to the printers. Confirmed change date as 9th December.

Sean

They said a very similar thing last year

i was told that the planning department wouldn't be finished the timetable til december and it would be effective january. maybe unforseen circumstances changed that again. still strange.

If thats the case then the timetable should be online sometime next week, should it?

If it was at the printers it would be online

As it stands Irish Rail don't have sufficent rolling stock to match the proposed 2008 timetable

My brother was getting to train from Connolly to Maynooth over the weekend. He had checked the timetable online and when he got to Connooly there was no sign of the train. When he asked someone in unifrom on the platform he was told "ah sure the timetable on website is the old one, never trust that".

Typical.

What service was this?

28 days till the new timetable, its not online, you can't book

(Apolgies for long thread) I hope the Rosslare/Gorey services gets there times slashed and if Iarnrod Eireann are reading this fair enough you need padding to run a efficient service but there is a limit on the amonut of padding you can use. I read that from Dun Laoghaire to just Blackrock the train is allowed 9mins to complete this section. Also 4mins at every station your losing passengers by addding so many minutes on. I will be driving to work and I wont be the only person doing this. I know someone who uses the 06:50 Direct bus to Dublin and arrives at 08:20 sometimes 08:10 thats 1hr30 Max and the 06:45 which arrives in Dublin at 08:55 at Connolly there is a massive difference. I know you have matters like the DART and curves along the line but really if you put enough thought into this it will work. The section between Gorey and Wexford is still slow just wow. The last time I travelled on this part the train arrived in Wexford and left bang on 14:00 and it was 19mins to Enniscorthy and I think 17/18mins from there to Gorey. I know you cant being told by Mark do a timetable simply by doing the best times or why not and work from there. 28 days for new timetable I'm not expecting any changes but then again I am. The part I hate travelling on is the section between bray/Dun laoghaire/Connolly because Iarnrod Eireann are entering new DART and Commuter services and the Gorey and Rosslare services are suffering because of it. Mark you have a theory if the Rosslare train travelled on the wrong track from Dun Laoghaire to Dalkey but how much time would it cut of the journey. I was researching information on this route and back in 1996 the Rosslare service did Bray/Connolly in 20mins and with the new track in place can it be done again,Have the Train travel on the wrong track a number of times in order to archive this.

still no news on the timetable?

How many days can you book in advance at the moment?

26 days, beyond that you get blank

Dublin Gorey Rosslare Timetable
 

The latest info I have heard on the timetable is a train due to leave Gorey for Rosslare at 05.55 which will provide a connection to Waterford at Rosslare strand.

The evening Waterford to Rosslare Harbour train is to extend to Enniscorthy where passangers can connect to a 20.00 Enniscorthy Connolly service.

The current 17.25 Connolly to Gorey train is to operate to Enniscorthy. The long awaited 16.40 Dublin Gorey train is due to start on the 6th may 2008.

Ed

Am i correct in presuming that the entry date of the new 16.30 is the date they hope/expect to have the 22000s on the rosslare line by to free up the railcars for that service

That all sounds very funky, but rarely if ever does it come true. Anyone remember the Ballina-Kildare (split) then Pearse and Waterford

6th May, I thought it was in this timetable coming up, But why am I not surprised. (Give me something I believe)

From IE's Website Connolly Gorey is 07:26 11:35 13:05 17:25 18:37. Still the same long service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sligo times unchanged still have the 06:00 Gorey Sligo and not 06:15 as suggested

The existing timetable has been extended generally to Sept 2 2008

The expected changes nearly all in

So 17:25 to Limerick loses its Sallins stop
17:35 to Carlow runs
06:30 from Portloaise

Fairly major changes to Docklands services as previously expected as the Clonsilla siding is available now

Sunday service to Maynooth remains as was

Its 4 trains a day on the Limerick Waterford section

Sligo and some Rosslare to see further change in January, the afternoon Rosslare move back up 30 minutes which may have something to do with the resignalling

Now the ultimate weridness

The 17:25 to Gorey is now Enniscourty no longer returns to Dublin it leaves Enniscourty crazy early in the morning and treks to Rosslare and returns to take up the 6:45 from Gorey

And the 17:25 Waterford Rosslare now gets to Enniscourty and connects with the 17:25 from Dublin

I should hope so, with the 22k! Anyway we'll see soon enough
(Off Topic) Will the new 22k trains have the same Announcements like the Cork InterCity (Example) This is the 13:05 train from Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort serving.... Just curious!

If further change is expected in January along the Rosslare and Sligo lines, does that mean the current change from December 8th is only temporary?

If it does,does this include a temporary change in the DART timetable also?

I checked it out and noticed that an extra Bray express has been added as an evening service. By Bray express, I mean the Commuter branded services which terminate and begin their journey at Bray.As usual it calls at stations such as Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire. However, Sydney Parade has been left out. I also noticed that Dalkey and Glenageary haven't gained any extra services. It has been two years now since I have noticed any change in Dalkey's timetable. If they revise the timetable in January as you are suggesting, why don't they at least have more Bray express trains serving these stations to fill in gaps which currently exist in the timetable?

0535 Limerick - Heuston also loses Sallins stop, and Portarlington too and gains 3 minutes - even closer to the Carlow, but should have a better chance of getting through Newbridge before the 0735 Newbridge - Heuston.

Sean

anyone having problems when they press the "later train" button on the results screen getting back "Unable to process your request please try again"

So the 11:35 Connolly Gorey slow train as I call it,That is not the 14:10 back as a train leaves Wexford at 13:25 or in around that so the 11:35 ex Connolly will be the 14:50 I still think they are to close to each other. A 15:30 maybe would have been better as there is no service still in the 6pm area.

Note: Rosslare/Dublin 05:35 07:40 13:00 18:55
5hr20 - 5hr55 TIME GAP BETWEEN 07:40,13:00 and 18:55