Mk3 future?

[Mark Gleeson]

Locomotive failures are now quite rare since IE took over total responsibility for maintenance, the current overhaul program in Inchicore is making a difference. Its of the order 4 to 5 times improvement as a result of this

Coach problems are serious
Parking brakes are a serious problem. Originally the Enterprise brakes where a single disk per axle, about 5 years ago a program began to add a second brake disk, this obviously doubled the number of sensors

Sensors of course are troublesome and result in some fun experiences where the brakes won't release, they release but stay locked on, on one coach (real fun) or they lock on at speed. Now NIR is taking its time to fit a new pressure sensor to fix the problem, this explains the missing coach

The suspension is utterly crap, the Mk4 suspension was bad in its early days but IE managers where very happy to say it was still so much better than enterprise. It lacks any serious lateral resistance so when it takes a corner of which there are many on the Belfast line it sways around, a Mk3 doesn't nor does a Mk4

At only 28 coaches its a small fleet, non standard parts are a problem. In comparison Mk3 parts are plentiful

The Mk3 might be 25 years older in design terms but it just works, its lighter, goes faster than anything else IE have, only serious problem is the interior which needs a total replacement at this stage