Irish Rail and the financial crisis

[Mickey H]

A friend who is a manager in a UK rail operator predicted dire consequences for IE in the forthcoming budget, predicting massive fare increases, possibly service reductions if not closures and cancellation of the next batch of 22K

I would think that these predictions are a bit over the top but are there any indications on how the situation will affect rail transport in the Irish Republic in the coming years?

Will DART Underground, Metro and LUAS extensions be more likely casualties?

[comcor]

Metro North seems to be under severe pressure.

If I was in the IMF's shoes, I would postpone all non-started projects (rail, road or other infrastructure) for a year and reopen the business case. Too many seem to involve some level of ministerial pork.

Given the relatively low level of subsidies paid to Irish Rail, current services might get away with it somewhat. However, there will need to be more focus on yield management on services and maximising other revenue streams (for example Irish Rail don't seem to have any tie up with a hotel reservation company).

[Mark Gleeson]

Its very easy sit on the fence from afar and predict

There will be no fare increases as these are state controlled, a huge block of savings is about to hit as the redundancy payments are once off. Closing Waterford Rosslare save over 1 million per annum. The works at Limerick Junction will save over 500k in a year. The new social services card will eliminate fraud on social welfare travel, I've been told the kind of savings expected and they are large multi million. Given the massive infrastructure spend over the last 10 years running costs are low

The 51 ICR coaches are committed

I've seen the plan b which highlights 3 routes to chop

We have been invited to discuss a number of issues with Irish Rail which are focused on revenue generation and not cut backs.

[Mickey H]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The 51 ICR coaches are committed

Is it not 57 counting the two sets that had to be sent back following damage?

[Mark Gleeson]

51 is the third contract option, 6 are from the first contract and will be numbered in the original sequence.

120+30+33+51

Neither have been paid for as payment is contingent on passing commissioning tests. Irish Rail have probably collected a considerable sum in penalties from Rotem due the issues with the 2 defective sets

[eugene]

If it really comes down to it, build the DART Interconnector before Metro North, like we always argued..

[Mickey H]

"Further targeted investment in public transport has the potential to unlock productive capacity in the economy and enhance national competitiveness. Such investment will also offer alternatives to car transport, thereby reducing emissions and enabling the transport sector to cater for the demands associated with longer term population and employment growth in a sustainable manner. Key objectives of public transport investment will be to advance public transport projects like Metro North and Dart Underground, as well as rail safety and traffic management programmes and continued planning of future priorities."

(Goverment pdf via RTE website)

This seems to me to give the impression that the projects will go ahead when there is no specific promise to do so

[Mark Gleeson]

Irish Rail will be down 5 million or so in 2011 years PSO grant which is not going to lead to serious problems.

The regional airport PSO routes are all to have funding withdrawn in 2011, this will inject a considerable number of passengers into the public transport arena and comply with EU regulations.

The change in the tax bands and rates will actually drive the taxsaver annual ticket sales as the level of savings becomes more attractive

[bg07]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The new social services card will eliminate fraud on social welfare travel, I've been told the kind of savings expected and they are large multi million.

How advanced are these cards going to be in relation to the travel pass. Will it for instance interact with scanners at stations and buses or will it just mean that someone will have a pass with their picture on it? They're are supposed to have a CIE photo ID for dublin bus at the moment even though you rarely see travel pass users with one.

[Mark Gleeson]

Its a fully fledged smartcard with a photo and an expiry date

If cancelled or invalid it will be rejected by the gates or the on bus reader

[bg07]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Its a fully fledged smartcard with a photo and an expiry date

If cancelled or invalid it will be rejected by the gates or the on bus reader

I know that a contract was awarded to design and produce them but will they be like integrated ticketing and take forever to roll out or is their launch within the next month as announced at the start of the year?

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

If cancelled or invalid it will be rejected by the gates or the on bus reader

Which going on current form will be absolutely useless as the driver or gate attendant will assume that the system's faulty and wave the passenger through.

[Mark Gleeson]

Steps are being taken to deal with the wave through operation and the tailgating

The new pass will initially be a flash pass, but since it has an expiry date and photo on it, it will be considerably better than currently

Once the full smartcard rollout occurs it will be smartcard enabled

In the stroke of a pen every existing pass will be cancelled and everyone will have to apply for the new one, so in the space of a year all existing passes will be gone. Smartcard passes can be cancelled as well.

New rules concerning DSFA passes should hit booking offices soon and these will enforce a much stricter regime which will require the clerk to actually physically hold the pass.