Rail Users Ireland Forum - Punctuality Woes

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Punctuality Woes

The punctuality on the Sligo line has been absurd for more than two months now -as is the norm at this time of year. Every year, the journey time gets a minute or two longer, the prices go up by 5 or 6 % and the punctuality gets worse. And until last year, this has been while investing millions into the line. What is going on?

Miraculously, this all gets fixed over the Christmas break and everything gets back to the normal 5 minutes late or so. We go through the exact same thing every year.

The official punctuality on the Sligo line is under 80% and the real punctuality of the evening peak services as far as Longford has to be well under 50%. Maybe I get the one train that is always late, but my personal experience is under 25%.

I'm on the 1705 Connolly to Sligo departing Maynooth 20 minutes late and we'll meet the 1505 from Sligo at some random point which will as usual make every down train on the line somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes later.

Another woeful week for Sligo, Longford and Maynooth services although last night's 1805 Connolly to Longford was precisely on time for once at Edgeworthstown.

Can anybody answer this question with reference to Irish Rail's passenger charter?

Quote:

We are committed to 90% of all our Intercity trains arriving at their final destination within 10 minutes of the published time.

Quote:

Morning: targets for peak hours
Between 07.00am and 09.00 hours (7.00am and 9.00am), 90% of all Maynooth and Drogheda line Commuter trains arriving in Dublin city centre will arrive within 10 minutes of the published time.
Evening: targets for peak hours
Between 16.00 and 19.00 hours (4.00pm and 7.00pm), 90% of all Maynooth and Drogheda line Commuter trains leaving Dublin city centre will arrive at their final destination within 10 minutes of the published time.

What does this mean in terms of what happens if they don't meet this figure over a monthly period? What would the best approach be towards making a formal complaint about the flagrant breach of these commitments over the last couple of months? Or would this just be a complete waste of time?

Longford trains are taken as Sligo so they are under a different target

90% to 10 minutes

There is no defined punishment and of course we have hard evidence that Irish Rail falisfied some of the numbers. We have made the NTA aware of consistent under reporting of cancellations.

We have a test case in with the NTA for cross border commuters with monthly/annual tickets which will set the benchmark for domestic journeys in the future. Irish Rail either accept the NTA's recommendation or the NTA has the power to seek effectively a court order to force compliance with the prescribed rules. It all hangs on EC 1371/2007 which will apply to domestic services eventually