[05/03/2013] Delays at Monasterevan for Heuston-bound services
 

Services back moving, average delays 50-70 minutes but should clear quick. Some outbound services may have minor delays due to late arrivals.

In the UK for every minute a train is late the company is fined £150
This really needs to be brought in here. 50-70 minute delays in 2013 are a disgrace

As of end March 2013 Irish Rail operations will be subject to penalties for not sticking to the timetable paths provided by Irish Rail infrastructure

In principal it is good but hope it won't be an excuse to increase journey times to allow for some delays.

In this case the delay was caused by a track machine or inspection car breaking down (responsibility of Irish Rail Infrastructure), which was rescued by a locomotive on a freight train operated on a scheduled path.

So who should pay whom?

And if a big delay occurs because some clown strikes a bridge, who will pay? I can see endless disputes about responsibility to pay.

If that is the case, infrastructure should pay operations.

The truck operator or their insurer pays.

There will be some cases of unassignable blame.

Mark: you mentioned "penalties for not sticking to the timetable paths". Well, suppose there is a delay for some reason, e.g bridge strike, and as a result trains are out of place. The optimal solution might well be to improvise, use a bit of initiative and run some trains out of the timetabled sequence. The dumb thin might be to stick rigidly to the timetabled pathing sequence. Could the creative option be penalised?

I hope they are aware of the law of unintended consequences.

Does it really matter who is paying who if it is Irish Rail operations paying Irish Rail infrastructure or some regulator? It is only the left-hand paying the right-hand and the money can be made flow back if it needs to.

The only worthwhile penalty is a passenger refund.

The UK is not a good example.
Fining the train companies in the UK has just led to padded timetables, trains not being held for late connecting services and er, the tax payer ultimately plays the fine.