[ThomasJ]

Iarnród Éireann has outlined a range of service changes to take effect later this month.

The highlight of the changes, which will be introduced from November 29th, will be a new joint service in each direction between Dublin and Galway / Westport.

The new Intercity railcar fleet which now operates these routes give the flexibility to introduce European-style “split and join” services.

Two new early bird Monday to Friday services, an 05.15 Westport to Dublin and 06.05 Galway to Dublin will leave Westport and Galway as two three-carriage trains, and will join together at Athlone to complete the journey as one service.

Similarly, a new 15.30 service from Dublin to Galway/Westport will operate from Dublin to Athlone as one train, and split at Athlone, with the front 3 carriages operating to Galway, and the rear 3 carriages to Westport. This will increase the number of trains on these route from three to four each way daily for Westport, and from seven to eight each way daily for Galway.

The new Intercity railcar fleet allows the company to expand services on both routes in an economical way, meaning that even in this difficult economic environment, we can bring service improvements to these routes in a cost-effective manner. This has been the focus of our service review, to ensure we maintain strong services while controlling costs.



OTHER MAJOR SERVICE CHANGES FROM 29TH NOVEMBER

Note: Customers on all routes should check departure times from 29th November for all services, as there may be minor changes, including some earlier departure times.

Waterford-Dublin

A new express 07.10 Waterford to Heuston service (Monday to Saturday) will be introduced, with one intermediate stop only, at Carlow. This service will deliver a journey time of two hours from Waterford to Dublin, ideal for customers with business and other appointments in the capital. In addition, it offers an express commuter service from Carlow, serving Carlow at 8.06, and arriving in Dublin in 64 minutes.

Journey time savings of up to 15 minutes will be delivered on many services on the Dublin/Waterford route due to the operational improvements delivered by the new fleet. Most journey times will be between 2 hours 15 and 2 hours 30 minutes on the route.

Westport – Dublin & Galway - Dublin

As well as the new “split and join” services detailed above, journey time improvements will be delivered on most services, with journey time savings of up to 17 minutes.

The first morning weekday service from Dublin to Westport and Galway will also be an amalgamated service at 07.30hrs, splitting at Athlone.

The 6.05 service from Galway to Dublin will also operate on Saturdays.

Cork – Dublin & Tralee - Dublin

The 06.30 Cork to Dublin service will serve Mallow only en route, to deliver an express service with a journey time of 2 hours 30 minutes.

This will also deliver, through a connection from the 05.20 Tralee to Mallow/Cork service, a journey time of 3 hours 40 minutes from Tralee to Dublin, and 3 hours 15 minutes from Killarney to Dublin.

One service in each direction will be removed (19.30 Cork to Heuston and 20.00 Heuston to Cork), with the last services remaining as the 20.30 Cork to Heuston and 21.00 Heuston to Cork, and a total of 14 services each way daily.

Limerick – Dublin

The number of services each way daily will increase from 15 to 16, with an increase in the number of connecting services at Limerick Junction, and a decrease in direct services.

Rosslare Europort/Wexford – Dublin

The number of direct services for Wexford increase to five, with the extension of the 16.30 Connolly to Wexford (previously terminated at Gorey), and 17.30 Connolly to Wexford (previously terminated at Enniscorthy.

There will also be an additional evening direct service from Wexford to Dublin at 19.30. In addition, there will be increased use of the new Intercity railcar fleet on the route.

Sligo – Dublin (incl. Longford / Mullingar commuter)

A new early morning 5.45 service from Longford to Pearse will be introduced, offering an additional commuting option for customers from Longford, Edgesworthtown, and Mullingar. In addition, the 17.05 Connolly to Sligo service will have an additional stop at Maynooth, offering an express evening commute option for Maynooth commuters.

DART services

In a major review of DART schedules, a new regular 15-minute interval service is to be introduced across the full day (Monday to Saturday), with additional services operating at peak times (Monday to Friday) to match demand.

This will result in Greystones seeing a major increase in services with every second DART serving the Co Wicklow town, resulting in a service every 30 minutes (Monday to Friday).

This, together with Rosslare and Wexford/Arklow services, will see the service frequency from Greystones to Dublin go up from 33 trains daily to 42.

The regular interval service will eliminate occasional significant gaps in service at off-peak times, and give an easily understandable pattern of services through the day for customers.

Waterford to Limerick Junction

Service frequency will be revised from four trains each way daily to three.

Other routes and intermediate stations

Customers are again reminded to check times of travel for all journeys from 29th November onwards, on all routes and for intermediate stations.

Full details for the new schedules are now available on www.irishrail.ie via the timetable, and downloadable route specific pdfs will be available very shortly.

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=551