Kildare Route Project

[Kilkea]

anyone know when the new tracks will actually open? Can't see what the delay is to be honest, as it looks like they have just stopped work on it completely even though they still have to connect both ends. There looks to be quite a lot of plant hire sitting idol which I assume IE is paying for??

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Kilkea

anyone know when the new tracks will actually open?

It will be quite a few months yet.

Can't see what the delay is to be honest, as it looks like they have just stopped work on it completely even though they still have to connect both ends.

Its quite possible that the small bits of work required to let everything else join up are still being done.

There looks to be quite a lot of plant hire sitting idol which I assume IE is paying for??

Earthworks tend to be done by contractors, so it will be between the contractor and the plant hirer. many plant companies won't charge you if you declare the equipment "off hire".

There are more closures this weekend on Heuston-Portarlington, so maybe they will be doing work.

[Kilkea]

This morning's 06.10 Waterford-Dublin train ran on the new tracks, although we were still inot Heuston late!

[Kilocharlie]

From www.facebook.com/iarnrodeireann

Question posted on facebook

Just got the new time table for Kildare commuter line REALLY disappointed not one extra train stopping at Adamstown. Earliest train to Heuston Mon-Fri leaves Adamstown 07-04 hopeless. Sunday last train leaving Heuston for Adamstown 18.30 WTF........I thought when we had 4 tracking we would have more frequent services. .....Response please

Response by Irish Rail

The completion of the Kildare Route Project delivers capacity which enables Iarnród Éireann to cater for growth into the future on Commuter and Intercity services. Currently, due to the national economic situation, demand levels have reduced, and development at areas along the line, including Adamstown, have not advanced to expected levels. However, current service levels are being maintained, and we will be able to respond with increased frequency swiftly when demand increases. In the meantime, upon completion of the two new lines, we are taking the opportunity to renew the track on the two existing lines on this intensively used section of the network. This work will be completed in 2010.

[TGV]

Per Irish Rail Website...

The Kildare Route project will cost in excess of €350 million.

The new timetable has managed to reduce the number of trains. I wouldn't mind that if the remaining ones go faster.

Today I got the 5:10 to Athlone. It took one hour and 5 minutes to reach Kildare Town which is a full 30 minutes late on a supposedly 35 minute journey.

In these hard times, surely spending €350 million should lead to some improvement for customers, and if not then why spend the money in the first place?

[Mark Gleeson]

Kildare route project isn't finished yet, until all 4 tracks are commissioned things are as they where. But when it is then the journey time reductions will come as will the end of delays due to all stop trains as you will glide by at 100mph on the fast track.

Current and final phase is relaying the old two tracks to modern standard, without significant impact on services, this would be impossible without the new tracks being in place

Good news if there is such is that EU law will mandate refunds for failure to achieve punctuality and reliability targets as of December 3rd 2009

[Oisin88]

I was told at the interconnector information session in Kilmainham last night that the 4 tracks would be open on 12th December.......

The bottleneck will move to the old Cherry Orchard then when 4 tracks have to go into 2 and the next section is apparently still only at the back of an envelope stage.

[Mark Gleeson]

4 track is now live as of about 10am this morning

However due track relaying there may only be 1 outbound track from time to time

[Kilocharlie]

While some overtaking is taking place, for example the 0610 from Waterford regularly overtakes the 0720 from Portlaoise.

However the current ex-Heuston timetable does not take much advantage of the four tracking - perhaps they are waiting until the final down track relay is finished.

Example - the 0930 Galway is delayed by the 0915 to Portlaoise as it stops at Sallins and Newbridge; if the gap was reduced to 10 minutes, then the 0930 would have a clear run. The 1725 Limerick (non-stop Kildare) can get caught behind the 1715 to Newbridge.

In general if stopping trains were sent out 5-10 mins ahead of expresses then the expresses should have no problem overtaking.

So while there may be few new services in the near future until the recession is well and truly ended, there is scope for smoother operations in and out of Heuston with some journey time improvements.

[Mark Gleeson]

The timetable currently assumes that only a single track each way is available which is the case as the old tracks are to be relaid.

Slow trains would leave Heuston 5 minutes before a fast train to be overtaken at Adamstown

[Kilocharlie]

Noticed today that the down-fast track is now closed. Probably the beginning of the new track relay.

[Mark Gleeson]

That figures it will be down to a single track outbound for the next 6 months or so.

Inbound retains both tracks

[Kilocharlie]

We now have the situation where the 0610 from Waterford regularly overtakes the 0720 from Portlaoise around Adamstown only to be held at Parkwest to allow the 0720 to enter Heuston first.

Today the 0610 stopped for nearly 10 minutes just outside Heuston while the 0720 slipped by....

Perhaps IE have decided trains will arrive in the sequece in the timetable?

So much for the benefits of the 4-tracking.

[Kilkea]

It looks like the new outbound fast track is nearly done, does this mean that they are going to replace the outbound stopping line next, or did they just need to relay the fast track?

[Kilocharlie]

Both tracks are due to replacement. New rails for the down-slow have been dropped alongside. All trains will use the down-fast for several months.