New 17.10 Heuston-Westport on Fridays

[Jamie2k9]

The 17.10 Heuston-Athlone will be extended to Westport from Friday 22 March until Friday 17 May. No connection to Ballina and no online reservations. Mostly aimed at students to ease crowds on the 18.15.

Only problem is that it will be stopped in Roscommon for 25 minutes waiting for the 18.15 to cross. Something will need to be done to cut that if people are expected to use it.

[dowlingm]

Is the problem that the crossing trains are 6-car, ruling out a Castlerea crossing?

Ideally an N60 bypass or even a relief road might allow closure of the level crossing and extension of the loop platform to 176m which would add some flex to the timetable but clearly that's not on the cards for a LONG time.

[Jamie2k9]

Yes thats the reason. They should drop that stop as 25 minute stop isnt on. Would.it be a busy stop.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Is the problem that the crossing trains are 6-car, ruling out a Castlerea crossing?

If that is the problem, either fit selective door opening (costs money and time), skip Castlerea (possibly unpopular) or only run three cars beyond Athlone (a different set might have to be rostered and again, possibly unpopular). Extra capacity is extra capacity - nobody will be losing anything, lots of people will gain. Alternatively make sure the train **from** Mayo is only 3-car and have it use the loop

Ideally an N60 bypass or even a relief road might allow closure of the level crossing and extension of the loop platform to 176m which would add some flex to the timetable but clearly that's not on the cards for a LONG time.

Assuming it is signalled, the loop length doesn't seem to be the problem, just the platform and access - traditional style bridge.

[Jamie2k9]

If that is the problem, either fit selective door opening (costs money and time), skip Castlerea (possibly unpopular) or only run three cars beyond Athlone (a different set might have to be rostered and again, possibly unpopular). Extra capacity is extra capacity - nobody will be losing anything, lots of people will gain. Alternatively make sure the train **from** Mayo is only 3-car and have it use the loop

Castlerea is the problem they said on twitter.

The 18.15 up is always a 3 car but because its a Friday the 14.45 down is a 6 and the stock is required back in Dublin. Skipping the stop is best if there is to many passengers to split in Athlone. Some people won't be happy but a far higher number who are traveling further will be. Its rostered as a 2 3 pieces.

I would like to know what way they worked it on the 15 March. This 25 minute stop wasn't scheduled so either it did stop for that long or they tried both at Castlerea but of course Health and Safety comes into it.

Hopefully they monitor loads over the first week or two and make a decision best all round. Delaying the 18.15 by 15 or 20 minutes if possible but that could have further knock on affects.

[Inniskeen]

The FO problem on the 1815 arises because of the significantly reduced evening capacity ex Dublin to the Mayo line in recent years. Traditionally there were two trains on Friday evenings, one for Westport and one for Ballina. Now there is only one train. While the 1445 service is very welcome, it is not an evening service and does not relieve the 1815 to any great extent - hence the requirement for the 1710 being extended to Westport on Fridays.

As it stands the 1815 from Westport and 1710 from Heuston at at either end of the same single line section - either you delay one or the other for at least 20 minutes. If you bring the 1710 forward to Castlerea, there is oodles of time for the 1815 to serve the longer platform and then shunt to the loop to await the arrival of the 1710. Not sure that the case for delaying the 1815 is compelling unless the schedule change is properly advertised and loaded into the journey planner.

As regards extending the 2nd platform at Castlerea, there is no impediment other than money in extending the platform - the level crossing is not an obstacle. Whether it is a good investment for one train a week is debateable !

[Jamie2k9]

Traditionally there were two trains on Friday evenings, one for Westport and one for Ballina. Now there is only one train. While the 1445 service is very welcome, it is not an evening service and does not relieve the 1815 to any great extent - hence the requirement for the 1710 being extended to Westport on Fridays.

There was no problems before the new timetable because there was a 15.30 and 18.30 before the new timetable changed. Moving the 15.30 to 14.45 is where the problem lies. The majority of students finish collage around 14.00 and getting from the likes of DCU or UCD to Heuston in 45 minutes is cutting it tight. The 15.30 used to operate direct on a Friday to Westport and Galway passengers got a bus from Athlone for a while before a train was started.

Overall the 14.45 should be move to 15.45 if possible as 12.45 and 14.45 are to close and 14.45 and 18.15 are to far apart.

[dowlingm]

In some respects I sympathise with the IE timetabling folks. Were they to advance the 1710 to Castlerea even as a non-calling service it imposes a 14 minute or more delay on the Westport-Heuston service coming the other way. Some of that could be made up by getting the 1710 there faster but only by dropping stops on the existing service which will have to be made up elsewhere. The solution which causes least havoc to the timetable overall is the one they chose. As long as the KRP remains unfinished and InterCity trains are doing double duty as Commuter then that's how it going to stay I think.

Of course, if the 1710 does decent business to Roscommon and there is no longer room for some of Newbridge/Kildare/Monasterevin trade on Fridays then IE will have to deal with the issue anyway.

That said, if pointing out the inability to raise capacity on the Westport line due to the lack of SDO for Castlerea and Ballyhaunis would help get 29000s off the Wicklow line...

[Jamie2k9]

Were they to advance the 1710 to Castlerea even as a non-calling service it imposes a 14 minute or more delay on the Westport-Heuston service coming the other way

That delay would be nothing new, it happens most days at Knockcroghery loop (think that's where the loop is)

That said, if pointing out the inability to raise capacity on the Westport line due to the lack of SDO for Castlerea and Ballyhaunis would help get 29000s off the Wicklow line...

Consider the time delay. 70 v 100mph to Athlone.