DART is 25

Mark Gleeson · 10-06-2009, 10:19

It be the DART's 25 birthday on July 23rd

The curious folks in Irish Rail seem to want to cash in on this, coaches 8122 and 8322 have been repainted and carry a modified DART logo with 25 in a somewhat appropriate silver colour.

For those of us who can remember the late 1980's the DART was a thing of amazement, clean, punctual, frequent, no huge gaps in the timetable, all stations staffed. It even made a profit!

Irish Rail could do well to look at how it used to be, there is nothing really to celebrate

KSW · 10-06-2009, 12:31

Seen DART No.8603

http://railsceneireland.fotopic.net/p58730563.html

weehamster · 10-06-2009, 12:59

Oh I just love this picture where just new logo is clean and the rest isn't

The DART 25 years old and still only 1 line.... yep well done indeed to all involved, especially those politicians in creating our city wide metro network

zag · 10-06-2009, 13:24

I saw a couple of them at Clontarf Road in the last few days. I agree that it looks poor to have gone to the trouble of getting the logo done up and applied to the cars but not to go the whole hog and actually clean the rest of the vehicle.

Having the 25 all claen and shiney only points out how dirty hte rest fo the train is. I know trains operate in a not-clean environment and we can't expect them to be shiney all the time but at least some of the time would be good.

It's 'sad' seeing trains coming through the wash in Clontarf Road & Connolly and the roof and under-body are are dirty as when they went in.

z

ThomasJ · 10-06-2009, 13:25

I have to agree with you weehamster, we irish have a real haphazard way of organising things. the slight enhancements to the DART network at Malahide and Greystones have not helped much to make a proper Dublin Rail network

I was in holland over the last couple of days and took an intercity service from tiel to amsterdam (change at utrecht central). My first time ever taking a double-decker electric train and the speed of the service, the organisation (ie platform displays etc) and other things making it an enjoyable experience coupled with the success of park and ride and the large number of peak hour passengers travelling out of amsterdam. The trains were either single decker or carriages were decoupled like wales at off-peak times meaining resources weren't wasted. Most if not all of their rail network is electrified.

I have some great experiences of the DART over the years, the problem is that as their prime resource they have treated it shabby. Catering for the commuter passengers while failing to update the DART system to reflect this. Many people I have spoke to have always complemented the DART system but find that its getting more and more trimmed to the result that it is becoming noticable by the passengers how infrequent at times it is becoming.

Lets hope the clockface timetable (if ever introduced) will fix this!

Mark Gleeson · 10-06-2009, 14:09

Its classic Irish Rail mess, go for the PR but not to bother sorting out the problems with the system

The bulk of the fleet still carry the pre 2003 flat logo, some in horribly faded condition some carry the post 2003 swish logo. What was wrong with the original 1984 logo, simple logo with the Dublin Area Rapid Transit and CIE wheel, simple.

Timetable is rubbish - yes I have fewer morning peak hour trains than 10 years ago and I'm on the southside!
Journey times have increased
Stations are unstaffed as a matter of routine
The promised accessibility upgrade didn't really deliver

zag · 10-06-2009, 16:31

I find the peak times very strange. Going North in the AM, I know that (except for some gap around 0900) there will be a train along in 3-7 minutes. Coming South in the PM there are pretty regular 15 minute gaps. This seems crazy for a peak hour timetable.

10-06-2009, 10:19	#1
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	DART is 25 It be the DART's 25 birthday on July 23rd The curious folks in Irish Rail seem to want to cash in on this, coaches 8122 and 8322 have been repainted and carry a modified DART logo with 25 in a somewhat appropriate silver colour. For those of us who can remember the late 1980's the DART was a thing of amazement, clean, punctual, frequent, no huge gaps in the timetable, all stations staffed. It even made a profit! Irish Rail could do well to look at how it used to be, there is nothing really to celebrate __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

10-06-2009, 12:59	#3
weehamster Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cathair Bhaile Átha Cliath Posts: 199	Oh I just love this picture where just new logo is clean and the rest isn't The DART 25 years old and still only 1 line.... yep well done indeed to all involved, especially those politicians in creating our city wide metro network __________________ R.I.P. T21 Eradicate Fianna Fáil (Totally)

10-06-2009, 13:25	#5
ThomasJ Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Clonsilla Posts: 2,812	I have to agree with you weehamster, we irish have a real haphazard way of organising things. the slight enhancements to the DART network at Malahide and Greystones have not helped much to make a proper Dublin Rail network I was in holland over the last couple of days and took an intercity service from tiel to amsterdam (change at utrecht central). My first time ever taking a double-decker electric train and the speed of the service, the organisation (ie platform displays etc) and other things making it an enjoyable experience coupled with the success of park and ride and the large number of peak hour passengers travelling out of amsterdam. The trains were either single decker or carriages were decoupled like wales at off-peak times meaining resources weren't wasted. Most if not all of their rail network is electrified. I have some great experiences of the DART over the years, the problem is that as their prime resource they have treated it shabby. Catering for the commuter passengers while failing to update the DART system to reflect this. Many people I have spoke to have always complemented the DART system but find that its getting more and more trimmed to the result that it is becoming noticable by the passengers how infrequent at times it is becoming. Lets hope the clockface timetable (if ever introduced) will fix this! Last edited by ThomasJ : 10-06-2009 at 13:30.

10-06-2009, 14:09	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Its classic Irish Rail mess, go for the PR but not to bother sorting out the problems with the system The bulk of the fleet still carry the pre 2003 flat logo, some in horribly faded condition some carry the post 2003 swish logo. What was wrong with the original 1984 logo, simple logo with the Dublin Area Rapid Transit and CIE wheel, simple. Timetable is rubbish - yes I have fewer morning peak hour trains than 10 years ago and I'm on the southside! Journey times have increased Stations are unstaffed as a matter of routine The promised accessibility upgrade didn't really deliver __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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10-06-2009, 12:31	#2
KSW Really Regular Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rosslare Line Posts: 600	Seen DART No.8603 http://railsceneireland.fotopic.net/p58730563.html

10-06-2009, 13:24	#4
zag Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 199	I saw a couple of them at Clontarf Road in the last few days. I agree that it looks poor to have gone to the trouble of getting the logo done up and applied to the cars but not to go the whole hog and actually clean the rest of the vehicle. Having the 25 all claen and shiney only points out how dirty hte rest fo the train is. I know trains operate in a not-clean environment and we can't expect them to be shiney all the time but at least some of the time would be good. It's 'sad' seeing trains coming through the wash in Clontarf Road & Connolly and the roof and under-body are are dirty as when they went in. z

10-06-2009, 16:31	#7
zag Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 199	I find the peak times very strange. Going North in the AM, I know that (except for some gap around 0900) there will be a train along in 3-7 minutes. Coming South in the PM there are pretty regular 15 minute gaps. This seems crazy for a peak hour timetable.