31-Jul-07 & 1-Aug-07 17:10 Dub-Athlone
 

A frequent user on this service told me that this 'forgot' to stop at Monasterevan yesterday (31st July) and that when passengers overheard one gentlemen being offered a taxi back by the inspector, they all demanded one. I don't know if they got taxis or not.

Yesterday I got off work early, which always causes a train to be late just to thwart me. The horribly packed slam-door 17:10 didn't board until 17:00, lots of people standing (even up to Portarlington) and was delayed for 20 minutes in Kildare and briefly in Monasterevan, reaching Portarlington around 18:30.

No announcement on board at Kildare, an IE official in an orange vest (the behind the yellow line man :eek: ) was having conversations with all the smokers who hopped off and were standing on the platform in Kildare but I never heard anything about the delay.

Anyone know what's in the big heavy leather bag these guys haul around?

I always wonder why no passenger ever pulls the communication cord or infact that the guard does his job, if a train fails to stop as booked at a station the guard is meant to assume the train is out of control and pull the brake valve

1. Working timetable, green cover A4, about an inch thick
2. 1 Red flag
3. 1 Green flag
4. 1 hand lamp
5. Copy of the IE/NIR common rule book 2001 ed
6. At least 10 detonators
7. IE combined security/carraige key
8. A whistle (guards only)
9. All applicable notices

Its actually a lot of stuff

I have to ask.... :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detonator_(railway)

That's much less interesting. I had images of Irish Rail staff going to a derailed train, using their detonators to remove debris and rubble and running to the rescue of grateful passengers ;)

The union rules would prevent them performing such heroics. Health and safety issues and that.