[25/10/2011] Connolly, DART, Luas - disruption potential

[Colm Moore]

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/

Fog will clear on Tuesday morning, then occasional showers will affect southern and western counties. However, elsewhere will be mainly dry with sunny intervals. Winds will be light to moderate, south to southwest and temperatures will rise to between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius.

Tides: http://www.sailing.ie/LinkClick.aspx...=211 &mid=666

Based on Monday's floods, there are specific risks to the following areas.

• Entire Dublin area (not Heuston-side services) may have signalling issues.
• Enterprise / Northern Line - Killester-Clontarf Road and possibly other locations.
• Sligo / Maynooth Line - Broombridge
• DART - Killester-Clontarf Road, Seapoint, Sandycove-Dun Laoghaire
• Luas Red Line - from Blackhorse to The Point (especially at high tide 11:00 and 23:00) and from Saggart to Belgard.
• Luas Green Line - from Beechwood to St. Stephen's Green

[James Howard]

Luckily enough, I'm not on the train today but a summary of Irish Rail's twitter feed is pretty typical of Irish Rail. In 20 minutes, delays have gone from 20-30 minutes to 30-60 minutes.

Delays now 30-60 mins on DART, Maynooth, Northern, apologies, and thank you for your patience
5 minutes ago

IrishRail IrishRail
Delays worsening on DART, Commuter & Sligo/Belfast services - approx 30-45 mins delays. Trains now suspended thru Lansdowne Rd, tree down
11 minutes ago

IrishRail IrishRail
Very slow through Connolly in particular, signalling equipment damage means one route through Connolly for all trains, apologies for delays
22 minutes ago

IrishRail IrishRail
Delays now 20-30 mins approx on DART, Northern/Maynooth Commuter, Belfast, Sligo, Rosslare flood damage to signalling equipment Dublin area
24 minutes ago

[Inniskeen]

Looks as if Irish Rail need to urgently revise their contingency plans during periods of significant signalling disruption. It is clear that DART operations are not compatible with other than minor signal failures as typically such failures render coded signals inoperative resulting in DART movements being restricted to a maximum running speed of about 10 mph.

While such working over short sections (say between two signals) may be practical, DARTs crawling along at 10 mph over lengthy sections of line simply collapses the DART service and massively delays other services. Yet another operational disaster for Irish Rail with attendant misery for their customers.

[Mark Gleeson]

Given the scale of difficulties two stations closed due flooding major flooding near Glenageary and the odd tree falling to provide any service is something

Given Dart carries way more people it is entitled to priority. There was probably a lot of pass signal xx at danger this morning. Given the slow speeds at Connolly a coded circuit failure is not going to be that bad. Having to run single line due to equipment damage is the real problem

[Inniskeen]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Given the scale of difficulties two stations closed due flooding major flooding near Glenageary and the odd tree falling to provide any service is something

Given Dart carries way more people it is entitled to priority. There was probably a lot of pass signal xx at danger this morning. Given the slow speeds at Connolly a coded circuit failure is not going to be that bad. Having to run single line due to equipment damage is the real problem

Advice from Irish Rail this morning was as follows
"Reduced speed primarily at Serpentine crossing near Sandymount; Harmonstown; Broombridge. DART/Commuter will operate with 5-10 min delay"

In reality the delays were catastrophic. This is not to criticise train crews, signal maintainers and others who were faced with horrific conditions in getting to work. I am criticising the fact that Irish Rail do not appear to be able to reliably evaluate the likely effect on services of operating constraints. This is a recurrent theme especially in respect of DART operations which are especially sensitive to disruptions to the signalling system.

As regards DART being entitled to priority based on numbers carried - this is a dubious argument given that 1) average DART journeys are very short (around 9km, I believe), 2) DART usage is similar or less than combined northern and western commuter service usage and 3) average peak loading per DART path is less than average northern or western commuter usage.

DART is now so slow that even on a good day the service is essentially incompatible with even modestly competitive longer distance commuter and intercity services on the northern line beyond Howth Junction - this issue is one of the major reasons for the flight away from the railway along the northern corridor and the deep scepticism about future investment, particularly the ill conceived Clongriffin to Dublin Airport scheme.

[Mark Gleeson]

DART carries 17 million per annum which is more than twice the sum of Northern and Maynooth usage

There is flooding (Serpentine Ave is a known problem location). All routes are running

Compare to Luas which has just given up between Balally and City because they have no redundancy in there power supply

[Colm Moore]

http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=1225

Dublin area floods: services operating with severe delays by Corporate Communications
Tuesday 25th October - UPDATE 08.55hrs

Following yesterday's flooding, services have resumed this morning on all routes.

There are significant delays however.

On DART, Northern Commuter and Maynooth/M3 services, customers should expect serious delays (approx 30-60 mins) as there are speed restrictions in some areas, as well as flood damage to signalling equipment.

A tree had fallen earlier at Lansdowne Road, but this has now been cleared.

Bayside Station is closed due to a flooded station building, customers should use Sutton or Howth Junction Stations.

Drumcondra Station is also closed.

Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare services will also operate, with some delays of 30-50 minutes approximately.

All Heuston services are operating.


We will update this website and our twitter account http://twitter.com/irishrail with the latest service information.

We apologise for the disruption, and thank customers for their patience and understanding.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.luas.ie/travel-updates/

9.45pm ---- Tuesday October 25 2011

The Luas Green Line is operating between Brides Glen and Balally stop only.

There is no service between Balally and St Stephen' s Green

This is due to flooding in a sub station on the Balally - St Stephen's Green Section of the Green Line

Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus

Luas Red Line services are operating as normal. Saggart to Connolly and Tallaght to The Point.

Kind regards,

Luas Customer Care

Freephone Customer Care: 1800 300 604
Web: www.luas.ie
Email: info@luas.ie
Follow us on Twitter: @Luas

[Colm Moore]

http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=1225

Dublin area floods: Dun Laoghaire to Bray suspended, severe delays to DART/Commuter by Corporate Communications

Tuesday 25th October - UPDATE 10.15hrs

There are significant delays to services this morning due to the effects of flooding.

UPDATE: Services are currently suspended between Dun Laoghaire and Bray due to flooding on the line. Dublin Bus will accept rail tickets.

On DART, Northern Commuter and Maynooth/M3 services, customers should expect serious delays (approx 30-60 mins) as there are speed restrictions in some areas, as well as flood damage to signalling equipment.

A tree had fallen earlier at Lansdowne Road, but this has now been cleared.

Bayside Station is closed due to a flooded station building, customers should use Sutton or Howth Junction Stations.

Drumcondra Station is also closed.

Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare services will also operate, with some delays of 30-50 minutes approximately.

All Heuston services are operating.


We will update this website and our twitter account http://twitter.com/irishrail with the latest service information.

We apologise for the disruption, and thank customers for their patience and understanding.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/

25 October 2011 05:22

Today

Mist and fog in many areas at first, clearing gradually. Many areas dry this morning, but outbreaks of rain in south Leinster and east Munster will move northwards during the morning and early afternoon to affect the rest of Leinster and parts of Ulster, with a risk of some heavy, thundery bursts, but it will be followed by mainly dry weather during the day. West Munster and much of Connacht will be brighter, with sunny spells and scattered showers, some of the showers heavy in coastal areas. Maximum temperatures 10 to 13 Celsius, in a light to moderate southwest breeze, backing southerly.


Tonight

Tonight, most areas will be dry, with clear spells, but thee will be further scattered showers, mainly in coastal areas, some of them heavy. Misty in places, with fog patches. Cold. Minimum temperatures 2 to 5 Celsius, in a light southerly breeze.

[Colm Moore]

http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=1225

Dublin area floods: Dun Laoghaire to Bray suspended, severe delays to DART/Commuter by Corporate Communications

Tuesday 25th October - UPDATE 10.25hrs

There are significant delays to services this morning due to the effects of flooding.

UPDATE: Services have resumed between Dun Laoghaire and Bray following flooding on the line. However, there will be delays due to reduced speed through flooded area.

On DART, Northern Commuter and Maynooth/M3 services, customers should expect serious delays (approx 30-60 mins) as there are speed restrictions in some areas, as well as flood damage to signalling equipment.

UPDATE: All Maynooth / M3 Parkway trains now operating to/from Docklands, to ease congestion at Connolly.


Bayside Station is closed due to a flooded station building, customers should use Sutton or Howth Junction Stations.

Drumcondra Station is also closed.

Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare services will also operate, with some delays of 30-50 minutes approximately.

All Heuston services are operating.


We will update this website and our twitter account http://twitter.com/irishrail with the latest service information.

We apologise for the disruption, and thank customers for their patience and understanding.

[ThomasJ]

Major disruption due to major signalling fault as a result of flooding at howth junction

Dublin area floods:Major disruption to Northbound DART and Commuter services by Corporate Communications

Tuesday 25th October - UPDATE 18:45hrs

MAJOR SIGNAL FAULT AT HOWTH JUNCTION DUE TO FLOODING

No DART services currently operating North of Connolly. DART services operating between Connolly and Bray/Greystones only

Northern Commuter Services are cancelled until further notice

Dublin Bus are honouring all rail tickets

Maynooth services are operating subject to minor delays. Drumcondra Station has reopened.

UPDATE: Belfast services 19:00hrs Connolly Belfast is cancelled. Every effort is being made to source bus transfers

Sligo services are operating subject to minor delays

Rosslare services are operating subject to minor delays



All Heuston services are operating.

We will update this website and our twitter account http://twitter.com/irishrail with the latest service information.

We apologise for the disruption, and thank customers for their patience and understanding

[ThomasJ]

update

Dublin area floods:Major disruption to Northbound DART and Commuter services by Corporate Communications

Tuesday 25th October - UPDATE 18:50hrs

MAJOR SIGNAL FAULT AT HOWTH JUNCTION DUE TO FLOODING

No DART services currently operating North of Connolly. DART services operating between Connolly and Bray/Greystones only

Northern Commuter Services are cancelled until further notice

Trains currently between Howth Junction and Connolly will return to Connolly.

Southbound Drogheda Commuter services will terminate at Connolly

Every effort is being made to source buses

Dublin Bus are honouring all rail tickets

Maynooth services are operating subject to minor delays. Drumcondra Station has reopened.

UPDATE: Belfast services 19:00hrs Connolly Belfast is cancelled. Every effort is being made to source bus transfers

Sligo services are operating subject to minor delays

Rosslare services are operating subject to minor delays

[Rashers]

Any idea's what time this started impacting services? Seemingly large number of passengers to be sent back into Connolly. As someone who got what I believe was the last northbound Drogheda train last night (18.40), and was delayed by 1 hour between Howth Junction and Donabate, my heart goes out to them.
Must be very serious to impact so many travellers.

[ThomasJ]

i'm not sure, a guy i work with was notified of this at 18:30. apparently his partner was stuck on a train for an hour and a half and were then told to get off the train.

[Rashers]

Just had an unconfirmed report from someone who got a Northern suburban train at 17.00 approx. that they still are stuck north of Connolly(19.30), and have yet to make it back to Connolly - 2 and 1/2 hours later. I'd have to question if that is correct, as that seems extreme.

[Colm Moore]

http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=1225

Dublin area floods: All routes have resumed service. Bayside Station closed by Corporate Communications

Tuesday 25th October - UPDATE 20:15hrs

ALL ROUTES HAVE RESUMED FOLLOWING MAJOR SIGNAL FAULT AT HOWTH JUNCTION, CAUSED BY FLOODING

All Malahide and Howth DART, and Northern Commuter Services have resumed following major disruption earlier. This was caused by a signalling fault due to damage to signalling equipment arising from yesterday's flooding. Bayside Station is closed however, due to flooding of the station building.

Maynooth services are operating subject to minor delays. Drumcondra Station has reopened.

UPDATE: Belfast services 19:00hrs Connolly Belfast is cancelled. Every effort is being made to source bus transfers. 20.50hrs will operate, but with bus transfers between Newry and Belfast, due to flooding and subsidence between Newry and Portadown.

Sligo services are operating subject to minor delays

Rosslare services are operating subject to minor delays

All Heuston services are operating.


Wednesday 26th October

It is expected that all routes will operate on Wednesday - however we will update service details as soon as they become available. Bayside Station may remain closed however.

We will update this website and our twitter account http://twitter.com/irishrail with the latest service information.

We apologise for the disruption, and thank customers for their patience and understanding.

[Colm Moore]

Green Line closed. Limited bus replacement service.

http://www.luas.ie/travel-updates/

21.00 pm ---- Tuesday October 25 2011

NB : Please be advised Luas status will change throughout the night if there are any changes to tomorrow's service. Luas Customer Care will open as of 630am tomorrow morning.

The Luas Green Line is not operating between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen

Passengers - please note the service is unable to run between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen due to severe flooding in a Dundrum Luas power station. Maintenance teams are draining the station and it must be assessed post this. At this hour we do not forsee service being restored for this evening.

Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus, Finnegans Coaches and Dualway Coaches. Coaches leaving from bottom of Harcourt St are running approx every 40 mins and will serve all stops except Beechwood, Milltown, Cowper, Laughanstown and Brides Glen.

Luas Red Line services are operating as normal. Saggart to Connolly and Tallaght to The Point.

Kind regards,

Luas Customer Care

Freephone Customer Care: 1800 300 604
Web: www.luas.ie
Email: info@luas.ie
Follow us on Twitter: @Luas

[Colm Moore]

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Cent...us-Diversions/

Dublin Bus Diversions
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Operating as normal.

Updated 21:00

Dublin Bus wishes to advise its customers that all services are back to normal, except route 17a, please check table below. It would be advisable to consult the website for the rest of the week for diversions due to road repairs etc.


Routes Diversion
...

17a Not serving Santry Ave. Operating via Northwood in both directions.

...

Customers can also visit www.transport.ie for service updates from all major public transport operators and the National Roads Authority.

Dublin Bus would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused.

[Colm Moore]

Green Line closed. Substitute bus service.

http://www.luas.ie/travel-updates/

NB : Please be advised this site will be updated at 6am on Wednesday October 26 2011

22 45 pm ---- Tuesday October 25 2011

The Luas Green Line will not operate between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen tonight.

Passengers - please note the reason why the service is unable to run between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen is due to the severe flooding last night in Dundrum Luas power station.

Maintenance teams drained the station today and are now working to reconnect power to the line to allow a resumption of tram services.

Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus. A Luas bus service operated by Finnegans Coaches and Dualway Coaches is also in operation. Coaches leave from the bottom of Harcourt St and are running approx every 40 mins serving all stops except Beechwood, Milltown, Cowper, Laughanstown and Brides Glen.

Luas Red Line services are operating as normal. Saggart to Connolly and Tallaght to The Point.

Kind regards,

Luas Customer Care

Freephone Customer Care: 1800 300 604
Web: www.luas.ie
Email: info@luas.ie
Follow us on Twitter: @Luas