[25/10/2010] Fun and games on the Sligo line yesterday.

[sean]

Got the Sligo-Dublin train in and out of Dublin yesterday, leaving Edgeworthstown at 2:35PM and returning at 7:05.

First of all, props to IE for actually managing to organise a Midland line/Connolly P7 replacement service at all - not a big deal but impressive by the standards I expect of CIE/Irish Rail.

The train in was a 29000, as was a (I think?) Sligo bound train waiting on the other platform. As was yet another Sligo bound train an hour later at Maynooth. What gives? I have seen a number of Sligo/Dublin trains run as 29ks recently but usually am lucky enough to avoid them.

Additionally, the train sat for 20 minutes at a Green (feather aspect unlit, indicating the train was cleared to go on the Midland line) signal at Glasnevin Junction. To the drivers credit, he/she did make announcements, but this being Irish Rail, they were inaudible and the only thing I heard was something about 10 minutes and what sounded like a handset being hung up. 3 times for the latter. Finally a "Sligo" 22k train came from the Midland line and our driver and theirs switched trains. We then carried on to Connolly P7.

I finally figured that our original driver must not have been passed to run on the Midland railway.