Irish Rail will not run an extra Wicklow/Wexford train

[Traincustomer]

Irish Rail will not run an extra Wicklow/Wexford train at rush hour, according to its response to a request by the council.

The company's chief executive Jim Meade wrote to Wicklow County Council about the matter, according to Cllr Derek Mitchell in Greystones

'The N11 is jammed and the rail line virtually empty because of the poor service,' said Cllr Mitchell.

These would leave Greystones at either 7.22 a.m. or 8.22 a.m.

This would effectively double the capacity of the rail line from Kilcoole south but has now been refused. 'I think the real reason they refused is they want to give priority to County Dublin services over County Wicklow which they see as a nuisance

From source at: https://www.independent.ie/regionals...-36865917.html

Money or no money for additional services it is increasingly apparent that there is an overwhelming antipathy towards this line and others amongst the powers that be.

[Jamie2k9]

Money or no money for additional services it is increasingly apparent that there is an overwhelming antipathy towards this line and others amongst the powers that be.

While service levels are not great off peak, peak service is comparable with most of the network (South of Graystones). Commuter towns on Sligo and Waterford have up to 4 service by 10.00, Rosslare has 3 and if you were to add a service to fit in with other route schedules it would be departing at 06.00 and it wouldn't exactly be useful.

What most people forget is an extra service also requires a return service at a minimum and its costly.

Surly IE could squeeze in an extra DART from Graystones at peak hours is is the single track at capacity?

Its also very hard to buy the councils argument, if they did more research and provided evidence an extra service would free up the N11 they may have a case.

[Traincustomer]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

Its also very hard to buy the councils argument, if they did more research and provided evidence an extra service would free up the N11 they may have a case.

Ought it not to be IÉ and the NTA doing research of this nature?

[Mark Gleeson]

Its possible to get a 0815 arrival at Connolly, that would require a further train southwards in the evening

The reality is Bray Greystones is a huge risk and any delay has serious impacts.

Best option is to make the current trains longer, no extra staff costs

[Jamie2k9]

Originally Posted by Traincustomer

Ought it not to be IÉ and the NTA doing research of this nature?

Perhaps but I think the research would conclude another service wouldn't make a massive amount of difference to usage.

The council should work with the NTA to make the case as they will be funding any extra service.

So what service elsewhere on the network would you shorten/cancel to provide the rolling stock for such an additional service?

Not sure what increasingly apparent evidence there is of antipathy towards the line you think there is - the reality is that there’s no spare rolling stock to operate an extra peak hour service.

To be fair, IE don't exactly make an effort to improve the line and existing services.

Its possible to get a 0815 arrival at Connolly, that would require a further train southwards in the evening

The reality is Bray Greystones is a huge risk and any delay has serious impacts.

Best option is to make the current trains longer, no extra staff costs

Any idea what it can typically handle per hour in terms of movements?

[berneyarms]

Bray - Greystones can handle two DARTs in each direction per hour plus up to two additional services, which are normally used for the DSE Line services) - that’s the max operationally that you would deem possible.

[Mark Gleeson]

Its 2 DART + 1, actually as a DART would occupy a platform at Greystones

You could have 6 trains an hour in a single direction, probably even 8 but thats no help.

Extra trains are not happening, a few extra carriages on the current services, which already have very attractive timings.

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by Traincustomer

From source at: https://www.independent.ie/regionals...-36865917.html

Money or no money for additional services it is increasingly apparent that there is an overwhelming antipathy towards this line and others amongst the powers that be.

So what service elsewhere on the network would you shorten/cancel to provide the rolling stock for such an additional service?

Not sure what increasingly apparent evidence there is of antipathy towards the line you think there is - the reality is that there’s no spare rolling stock to operate an extra peak hour service.