Decrease in journey time - Connolly /Rosslare

[eain]

I'm on a roll with getting questions answered so i may as well make the most of it.

I have been reading around many of the threads in the various forums over the last few few weeks. I am a novice when it comes to rail but have an interest, especially given that i am spending about 20 hours a week stuck on them.

My question - Is it possible that any further reductions in travel time will/can be made on the Connolly/Rosslare route in the next 12/18 months? How often is a review of the timetable undertake?

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by eain

Is it possible that any further reductions in travel time will/can be made on the Connolly/Rosslare route in the next 12/18 months?

Radical changes, I doubt. Tweaks are possible.

How often is a review of the timetable undertake?

Typically annually, but that can vary, depending on developments in the meantime or are expected in the next while. So while normally timetables are changed in December, In 2010 they were held over until May 2011, but there were lots of interim changes done in the meantime. Given the delay in the previous changes, there were no major changes in December 2011.

The recent/current deliveries of 2200 class trains may see some changes as the come on-stream. This will however depend on everything going to plan and any deep maintenance plans for the rest of the fleet.

If you have any suggestions, let us know, but realise that radical changes are unlikely and that any changes implemented will likely have to be cost neutral or better. Therefore, the most likely changes will be altered stopping patterns or services moved a few minutes earlier or later.

[Inniskeen]

Irish Rail have choosen to prioritise a half hourly DART service between Bray and Greystones over services to and from Wexford and Rosslare. This has resulted in extraordinarily slow journey times between Connolly and Greystones with Wexford/Rosslare passengers having their journey time extended by about 20 minutes as a consequence.

Incidentally off-peak DART sevices between Bray and Greystones typically carry about 15 to 20 passengers.

There is some scope also for tightening schedules south of Greystones and given the significant amount of money spent on track, signalling and rolling stock, it should be possible to raise speed limits at varios locations, particularly Wicklow/Rathdrum and Arklow/Enniscorthy.

Don't hold your breadth though as Irish Rail have almost zero interest in the route.

[James Howard]

Don't know much about specifics on the Rosslare line but I can't imagine much prospect of dramatic improvements. I've been commuting from Longford for 8 years and over that period there has been new rolling stock, new signalling and most of the level crossings have been automated.

Despite all of that most journeys are three or four minutes longer than when I started. The only improvement is that the 7 o'clock ish morning train now gets into Connolly about 10 minutes earlier than it used to as they made it express between Maynooth and Drumcondra.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by Colm Moore

If you have any suggestions, let us know.

This has been talked to death before on other threads but I'm glad someone yet again is noticing the slow speeds and bringing the topic back up.

I have a few you may or may not like.
From Gorey you have three morning trains 05.55 / 06.45 & 08.24, Then a massive 5 and half hour gap for the next 14.01 Then another Five hour gap for the 19.01 to Dublin. Why on earth would I travel on the 06.45 and arrives into Dublin 08.45 Two hours,When the bus takes 1hr15mins(Wexford Bus). Times to the City from Gorey take 1hr41mins to 2hrs

Trains from Dublin 09.40 / 13.36 / 16.37 / 17.36 & 18.38 They do suit alot of people bar the last service. Times from the City to Gorey at best range from 1hr40 to 1hr53.

Anyway getting way of point, I would really like to see speed increases and more services to Wexford and vice-a-versa and all trains are InterCity operated 22k. 06.00 / 07.00 / 09.00 / 11.30 / 13.30 / 16.00 / 19.00 would do fine Gorey to Dublin. Really need a late morning service in and around 11am ish to get into Dublin by Lunch.
09.00 / 11.00 / 13.00 / 15.30 / 17.00 / 18.00 / 19.30 would be great Dublin to Wexford/Rosslare.

Rosslare Hbr to Gorey will take 1hr.
Gorey to Bray should take 1hr serving the main stations ex Kilcoole.
Bray to Connolly really should take at best 30mins. Bray to Dun Laoghaire 13-16mins and Dun Laoghaire to Pearse 10mins,Extra 5+ mins to reach Connolly. 1hr+1hr+30=2hr30. Rosslare from Bray should be 2hrs.
The section between Bray and Connolly because of the DART frequency's is the main time set back. Have the Rosslare trains kriss-cross tracks and kriss-cross back onto the northbound right direction track passing out the DART train, vice-a-versa Connolly to Bray...

[dowlingm]

KSW

why don't you write to Wexford Town Council and ask them to erect fixed barriers along the Quay such that it is no longer a tramway and the 5mph limit is removed? That should save a minute or two on every service in each direction to Rosslare Harbour. It might cost them a few bob in car park revenue though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t0Q1PkVbI8

[Mark Gleeson]

Lets stop living in fantasy land

1) There is no money for improvements
2) The studies done rate the return on any investment to be very very low
3) The train is faster by a good margin than the bus between Rosslare and Dublin, normal bus schedule is 3:40.
4) Best time today is 30 minutes faster than the 1973 reference year

Any improvements are likely to come from the continued elimination of level crossings

As the DART carries 40% of all Irish Rail passengers the 15 minute interval service will remain unchanged

[Thomas Ralph]

Can we put the Crayolas away please lads.

[DangerM]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Lets stop living in fantasy land

3) The train is faster by a good margin than the bus between Rosslare and Dublin, normal bus schedule is 3:40.

Selective comparison there, compare times from Gorey or Arklow where most commuters travel from!