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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ar an traein
Posts: 602
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![]() It never ceases to amaze me how the stereotypical lines regarding lesser used lines (for want of a better term) are rolled out and the Bord Snip Report is no exception. Most bureaucrats have probably never even travelled on the line. No vision, no analysis, just negativity.
While recognising the need for cost savings and effective practise it is not in order for lines to be closed when they haven't been really given a fair chance in the first instance. Various excellent posts in this forum have already identified the need for raising line speeds and marketing so I won't repeat this need. And now to a vision which is both realistic and has potential. Operate a Rosslare (Europort) to Galway through train. Ideally with a 22000 railcar set, but in the interim a commuter set may have to be deployed (I appreciate other lines might have priority for the 22000s and am unsure if these railcars are cleared for all sections of the route?). Such an operation has a myriad of benefits thus: (a) Through service - much more attractive for passengers and much more likely to entice people. Catering service too. (b) Optimum use of resources (rolling stock). (c) Serves numerous roles - integration with ferry at Rosslare, commuter traffic into Waterford, cross-country traffic, traffic between the major centres of Waterford, Limerick and Galway. In this vision the 22000 would depart from Rosslare Europort as per present timetable (0705) and continue through to Galway to arrive there circa 1230. After a layover of 45 minutes to one hour at Ceannt Station it would depart say at 1320 and assume the existing timetable at Limerick Junction (1546 hrs.). A minimum of dwell time at key stations. For instance four minutes maximum at both Limerick Junction and Limerick (Colbert). In fact there is scope for the majority if not all Galway to Limerick trains to run through to Waterford, with perhaps a second train in each direction onwards to Rosslare Europort and possibly Wexford. I know some will say there's not a massive amount of traffic but there is potential to grow traffic on all sections of the line. Starting at the Rosslare end we have the ferry. Ok, not hundreds of people but from my observations a few day in day out. And Rosslare now offers the only overnight connection from Éire to the UK since the abolition of the early-hours train ex Holyhead. Many are tiring of the airlines and the relentless need for doing everything online and all the charges and restrictions. As a nation we took the boat in hard times long ago and it amazes me there is a certain snobbery out there against using it nowadays; granted it doesn't suit all purposes and trips. Secondly is the commuter flow into Waterford from the South Wexford stations - ok, not giant figures but a large catchment area and the rail route (across the Barrow Estuary) offers a much more direct route into Waterford that the circuitous road route. Increase line speed to 60mph or more and rail becomes much more attractive and will be economically sustainable. Under the present set up a Waterford to Galway journey is going to involve three trains - not remotely attractive. With one train and onboard catering and faster point to point timings things will pick up much more. Our railways need to be given a chance to prosper, some people may have had so many bad experiences on them that they perhaps can't see the potential they have. Last edited by Traincustomer : 17-07-2009 at 16:14. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Clonsilla
Posts: 2,812
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![]() Excuse my lack of education on this but would it be possible for a waterford intercity service to continue on its journey from waterford to rosslare without the need of reversing because if it is why not just extend the waterford service to rosslare europort
Last edited by ThomasJ : 17-07-2009 at 10:06. |
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#3 | |
Really Regular Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rosslare Line
Posts: 600
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I think Rosslare to Galway would be a good idea but it needs to beat the car if travelling Rosslare to Galway. Not just a Galway service but also Rosslare to Sligo direct service. |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ar an traein
Posts: 602
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![]() ThomasJ, no not at all, quite the opposite in fact - that would be another perfectly valid way of improving the service. At the moment trains from Heuston arriving in Waterford wouldn't have enough time to run to Rosslare and back but that is something that could be changed I guess. It would be attractive for people to say hop on the train in Athy, Carlow or Kilkenny etc... and have a direct run to Rosslare Strand, Wexford or the Europort.
The reason I suggested going through to Limerick and Galway was because this (Limerick/Limerick Junction) has been the ultimate destination of trains heading west from Rosslare in recent decades (and probably since the line opened?) and will allow the optimum number of through journeys opportunities. On reflection I guess another possibility would be for certain Connolly to Rosslare Europort trains to extend to Waterford. Interestingly earlier this year whilst in Waterford I noticed the station display showed the 1734 Enniscorthy as being a service to Dublin Connolly which in a manner of speaking it is (bar the change at Enniscorthy). In this vein I wonder could the bay platform (5) at Waterford be used for the arriving 1505 ex Heuston (arrives Waterford 1740) and the 1734 to Rosslare/Enniscorthy depart a little later (from Platform 4 (main platform)) at say 1745/1750. This would facilitate through journeys to South Wexford locations. Again not hundreds of people but a few day in day out, something worth doing for the sake of just six minutes. I was trying to estimate (by looking) if the bay platform 5 could fit an Inter City railcar set and think it would. I fully agree with you KSW - (I didn't mention Sligo - the Bord Snip report must have hit my subconscious!) but Sligo should be the ultimate destination. (I added this to the thread title, hope this is ok with you). Line speeds really need to be pushed beyond the sedate 40/50mph which no longer has a place on the modern railway to 75mph/80mph and I would say ideally to 100mph. Certainly 75mph between Rosslare Europort and Waterford is ok, bearing in mind distances between stations. I haven't analysed the line in detail but where longer distances occur between stations and on sections where only select trains will serve all stations (the rest being non-stop) we really do need to push the limit too the psychological 100mph. I realise this represents a sea change in thinking but it is the only way that a decent shift to rail will be achieved. Last edited by Traincustomer : 17-07-2009 at 16:20. Reason: minor addition and spelling correction |
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#5 | |
Regular Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 176
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As for the trains, it is an outrage, that major towns in this country have no rail service. There should be a line connecting Cork to Derry via Limerick-Galway-Sligo-Donegal. Sadly, I can't see any major rail development or improvements for another 20 years. What we have now, we hold. If the Western rail corridor is abandoned, it will devastate the West of Ireland. And we in Dublin, think that losing the Metro is an inconvenience? ![]()
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#6 | ||
Local Liaison Officer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,442
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Quote:
You have to realise that few Cork people go to Derry and vice versa.
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#7 | |
Really Really Regluar Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,371
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It would be interesting to see a situation where An Bord Snip's demands (sell expressway, close low performing routes) were met as follows:
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#8 | |
Regular Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 146
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#9 |
IT Officer
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Greenwich, London
Posts: 1,860
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![]() CIÉ would serve the public infinitely better if its components didn't spend so much time and resources competing with each other. There is absolutely no need for a Bus Éireann service (for example) from Dublin to Cork or Limerick; the Iarnród Éireann services cover both routes admirably well. Price-sensitive customers are accommodated by the new graded pricing (€10/€20/€36 for Cork, €10/€15/€29 for Limerick). Equally, the motivation for the train service from Limerick to Waterford is questionable given Bus Éireann route 55. And then there's Dublin Bus running six routes that run parallel to the DART.
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