Extending Cork Commuter services to Thurles
 

Is there a case to start a commuter train service from Thurles to Cork Kent. The first train from Thurles until 8:20am arriving in Cork at 9:55am. Is there demand for such a service as commuter services seem to be the focus of alot of investement currently by IR

What is needed is a 6am Dublin Cork service which fills the gap on the entire route. Its no problem get back from Cork as there is a 20:30 service (which is lucky to have more than 100 on board).

But lets be sensible do we really want to promote a 80+ mile daily hike to Cork from Thurles? Its not sensible, not sustainable and the economics say the trains are better used on Mallow - Cork - Cobh/Midelton where there is good demand.

I see your point I was of the impression that Thurles would be similar to Longford/Athlone types of towns were people from Thurles would work mainly in Cork. Best to work on the Midelton/Mallow/Cobh towns for the short them to build up commuter numbers thanks again.

I know many people in Thurles and know of many travelling to Dublin but have yet to meet someone travelling to Cork.

There's actually a map from the CSO of where people commute into Cork from (similar maps exist for other cities too).



Anywhere not shown on the map is below 20 commuters a day, so numbers from Thurles have to be minute.

Looking at it, you'd have to say that Mark's idea of a 6:00am Dublin-Cork train, with a stop in Charleville for the only significant number of commuters who are currently unserved, would look like the best idea.

In the longer-term, maybe there's a case for a stopping service along the lines of Cork-(Blarney)-Mallow-(Buttevant)-Charleville-(Kilmallock)-Limerick Junction-(Dundrum)-Thurles running a few times a day and feeding a Cork-Dublin train in Thurles, thus providing better connectivity for some towns that have either seen their station closed or seen frequencies cut as the Cork-Dublin doesn't stop as frequently any more.

Not to take the focus away from the Cork-Thurles commuter service but I wanted to ask is there a map from the CSO of people commuting from Rosslare/Wexford/Gorey.

Commuters from Co Wexford show up for four of the towns for which maps are available - Bray, Dublin, Waterford and Wexford

The first link has Bray and Dublin in it, the second Waterford and Wexford

http://www.cso.ie/census/..%5Ccensus...iles%20A-D.pdf

http://www.cso.ie/census/..%5Ccensus...iles%20P-W.pdf

Where is Portlaoighise ?
 

Looking at one of those PDFs, I see Portlaoighise . . . interesting spelling. I guess it explains the Port-leh-oishah pronunciation on RTE.

I don't suppose anyone has details of heated local council debates between the Portlaoise-er and the Portlaoighise-ers ?

z

Not for this year, but I'm wondering if the early Thurles-Limerick train could meet an early Limerick-Cork train.

0725 Limerick
0800 Limerick Junction
0821 Charleville
0834 Mallow
0909 Cork

Bringing both trains forward a little would mean an arrival before 9am in Cork, although it might be possible to get a much better time out of a railcar on Mallow-Cork. It also has the disadvantage of Thurles & Limerick Junction passengers arriving very early in Limerick.

Where will the Thurles train originate from the night before? Thurles, Limerick? Port Laoise?

The Thurles-Limerick train operates Limerick-Thurles arriving 0722 and then returns departing 0730.

Thats rather early for people who start work / college at 9am. :)

It would be better if the schedule allowed the Clonmel train to reach LJ in time to transfer passengers to the Thurles-Limerick. But that would involve running that train at more than 40mph...

simple solution is the 6 am from dublin, i would think patronage would be dismal, that said we have been looking for this train in tipp for years, but the man form del monte (or Galway if you like) he keep saying no.