Wicklow Train Overcrowding Today 23/09/08

[ErnestGoodheart]

Originally Posted by Laois Commuter

No commuter service in the world provides, or even attempts to provide 100% seating at all times
LC

It would be nice if the could even manage to provide more than 55%/60% thought wouldn't it.

At the end of the day, I spent enough bloody money on that service to be entitled to a seat for an 80 minute journey.

The fact that IE can send out DARTS with 90% of the seats available several times during the day yet cannot manage 1 or two trains coming from the south show their lack of respect for the customer and operational know how for their business.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by ErnestGoodheart

1 or two trains coming from the south show their lack of respect

I wouldnt say lack of respect behond Greystones to Wicklow/Rosslare, I have seen a good improvment on this line with the new signalling etc.. etc.. If the Maynooth line needs 2extra coaches I think Iarnrod Eireann should take all of the 6coach 2800 sets and replace them with a 29000 4coach sets. It is quiet on this line I think the Maynooth line should have 6coach set and simply replace with 29000 sets. These trains are I think better with acceleration and PA etc.. etc..

Hopefully this years timetable(2009) will see changes on this route

[ErnestGoodheart]

Originally Posted by KSW

I wouldnt say lack of respect behond Greystones to Wicklow/Rosslare, I have seen a good improvment on this line with the new signalling

But it's no where near the standard that it should be. I know we all have our gripes for our individual trains but the Wicklow just isn't good enough or any where near value for money.

[Laois Commuter]

Originally Posted by ErnestGoodheart

It would be nice if the could even manage to provide more than 55%/60% thought wouldn't it.

At the end of the day, I spent enough bloody money on that service to be entitled to a seat for an 80 minute journey.

The fact that IE can send out DARTS with 90% of the seats available several times during the day yet cannot manage 1 or two trains coming from the south show their lack of respect for the customer and operational know how for their business.

With respect, you got where you were going. Breakdowns will always occur. Operators do not have fleets of spare trains sitting there to cover every possible eventuality.



DART is a very different operation - an order of magnitude greater. The logisitics of joining and dividing trains on every other trip to match demand exactly is doomed to failure, creating unreliability and additional costs. In the UK, South West Trains bit that bullet in (I think) 2004, running full length trains across the whole of the day, together with reviewing the timetable; there operational performance went up dramatically.

Finally, what "operational know how" do you have? Which would you prefer - to stand, or the train be cancelled altogether? Your post hints that something may have gone wrong elsewhere. It happens. Decisions have to be made in the interests of the majority of travellers - and as Mark G said in his post, the least worst effect is on the Rosslare line. One occasion where I agree with him!

LC

[ErnestGoodheart]

Originally Posted by Laois Commuter

With respect, you got where you were going. Breakdowns will always occur. Operators do not have fleets of spare trains sitting there to cover every possible eventuality.

Finally, what "operational know how" do you have? Which would you prefer - to stand, or the train be cancelled altogether?

LC

I got where I was going? Is that not what I am paying all this money for? It's the level of service at the moment that is as ridiculous as that comment.

They have reduced the amount of carraiges on this train from 6 to 4. So before you have little cheap jibes about my knowledge, maybe you should go figure out how they cannot manage to keep up the level of 'service' that they used to provide.

Guessing you work for IE Laois Commuter, you are starting to sound like Mr Fearn, CEO of IE, trying to defend himself in the Metro.

[sublimity]

Originally Posted by ErnestGoodheart

I got where I was going? Is that not what I am paying all this money for? It's the level of service at the moment that is as ridiculous as that comment.

They have reduced the amount of carraiges on this train from 6 to 4. So before you have little cheap jibes about my knowledge, maybe you should go figure out how they cannot manage to keep up the level of 'service' that they used to provide.

Guessing you work for IE Laois Commuter, you are starting to sound like Mr Fearn, CEO of IE, trying to defend himself in the Metro.

The 22000 trains will be on the rosslare line by january- only 3 months to go! No more maynooth - rosslare crap. A nice 6 car evening service from dublin CONNOLLY to Rosslare Europort to look forward to

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by sublimity

The 22000 trains will be on the rosslare line by january- only 3 months to go! No more maynooth - rosslare crap. A nice 6 car evening service from dublin CONNOLLY to Rosslare Europort to look forward to

All Dublin Gorey services will remain commuter trains. An entire 8 coach railcar is being relocated to Cork as part of the WRC shakeup so the net gain is very little really in the face of the continuous growth.

No one south of Greystones should have to stand, its just not on really, once in a blue moon fine, but we are now on the second week of this rubbish

[sublimity]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

All Dublin Gorey services will remain commuter trains. An entire 8 coach railcar is being relocated to Cork as part of the WRC shakeup so the net gain is very little really in the face of the continuous growth.

No one south of Greystones should have to stand, its just not on really, once in a blue moon fine, but we are now on the second week of this rubbish

I don't mind commuter trains dublin gorey so much. At least we'll have proper intercity trains for the full distance very soon.

Will you be on the radio anytime soon voicing your displeasure with IE?

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by sublimity

I don't mind commuter trains dublin gorey so much. At least we'll have proper intercity trains for the full distance very soon.

Will you be on the radio anytime soon voicing your displeasure with IE?

Every chance possible.

Wicklow annual tickets going up 15% in the last 11 months, not on really

[ErnestGoodheart]

Originally Posted by sublimity

The 22000 trains will be on the rosslare line by january- only 3 months to go! No more maynooth - rosslare crap. A nice 6 car evening service from dublin CONNOLLY to Rosslare Europort to look forward to

That'd be just fantastic! Now, onto my next gripe. I want table service and an a la carte menu in the evenings! (With a vegetarian option every day.)

[Laois Commuter]

Originally Posted by ErnestGoodheart

I got where I was going? Is that not what I am paying all this money for? It's the level of service at the moment that is as ridiculous as that comment.

They have reduced the amount of carraiges on this train from 6 to 4. So before you have little cheap jibes about my knowledge, maybe you should go figure out how they cannot manage to keep up the level of 'service' that they used to provide.

Guessing you work for IE Laois Commuter, you are starting to sound like Mr Fearn, CEO of IE, trying to defend himself in the Metro.

Yes, you are paying to get there. You are not necessarily paying for a seat!

There are a number of reasons why a shortage of carriages can occur; unplanned maintenance (eg accident damage, vandalism), breakdown, industrial relations issues. These issues can arise at any time, and can have significant effects. Unlike cars, trains generally have very definite service intervals, beyond which they cannot operate without the necessary checks. These also occur far more frequently than those for cars. Therefore, if two units are out due to vandalism, and a third becomes due for a service (or "exam"), there are no spares. Which would you prefer - train runs but with fewer coaches, or train doesn't run and you make your own way?

This is neither a defence or an attack on IE - it is an explanation as to why problems can occur.

You guessed wrong. I do not work for IE, or any other transport company these days, and never have worked in the public transport industry in Ireland. I do however have 35+ years of such experience in the UK, public and private sector, rail and road, operational and customer facing. It was not a cheap jibe - like many, you made a comment on competence of others which you have failed to back up with any indication of your experience, on the basis that you could apparently do better, with no knowledge of the constraints which operators - not just IE - have to work under.

Now, what was your operational experience again?

LC

[ErnestGoodheart]

Originally Posted by Laois Commuter

Yes, you are paying to get there. You are not necessarily paying for a seat!

You guessed wrong. I do not work for IE, or any other transport company these days, and never have worked in the public transport industry in Ireland. I do however have 35+ years of such experience in the UK, public and private sector, rail and road, operational and customer facing. It was not a cheap jibe - like many, you made a comment on competence of others which you have failed to back up with any indication of your experience, on the basis that you could apparently do better, with no knowledge of the constraints which operators - not just IE - have to work under.

Now, what was your operational experience again?

LC

First off, you stated 'you got where you were going'. As if it was a privelge and I should be in debt to Irish Rail for getting the train from A-B. As Mark says, a travel time of 07:25 - 08:50, 1hr 25Min (Connolly - Wicklow), it is not being unreasonable to expect a seat when it is costing €1,500 a year!

Secondly, my operational experience is irrelevant in this. It is Irish rail's. Fair play to you, you have 35+ experience (Blue Peter badge in the Post). Granted I may not be the same vintage as you, but I have enough experience to know that this is down to poor management of the trains and carraiges.

I don't know what it was like over in the UK, but this is Ireland. And at the end of the day, it is not about thinking I can to better, it is about expecting they do better for the money I am paying.

To much to ask?

[Thomas Ralph]

There was a letter in the Metro this morning complaining about the lack of capacity on the early morning southeastern services.

[ErnestGoodheart]

Originally Posted by tralph

There was a letter in the Metro this morning complaining about the lack of capacity on the early morning southeastern services.

Saw that. I would be very surprised if there is a response. I would be equally surprised if Mr Fearns decides to use the Metro for future Media Communications as he has this week.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by tralph

There was a letter in the Metro this morning complaining about the lack of capacity on the early morning southeastern services.

IM NO EXPERT, MAYBE THE TRAINS TRAVEL TO SLOW WICKLOW-BRAY-CONNOLLY. IT SHOULD ROUGHLY TAKE 52-55MINS TO EXACTLY AN HOUR CONNOLLY TO WICKLOW