Proposals for extra train services in North Tipperary...

[dowlingm]

I've only passed through Birdhill once on a Limerick-Ballybrophy service and that was more years than I care to remember so I don't know if this would even work - is it legal to open a second entrance to a station to a remote platform, stick a TVM on it, and deem that platform legal without a bridge or tunnel to the other platform?

[Mark Gleeson]

Any footbridge installed has to be accessible under the regulations in force

[Mark Gleeson]

Well the truth is Irish Rail have made NO request as this time to apply for a timetable change

[doherty jack]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Well the truth is Irish Rail have made NO request as this time to apply for a timetable change

an application has been the timetable is drawen up and the services are coming in on the 5th march!

[dowlingm]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Any footbridge installed has to be accessible under the regulations in force

Right, but what if you had two platforms with two separate entrances, i.e. no bridge? Are IE required to connect both platforms together? I realise it is a ridiculous way to run a railroad where you essentially have two halts across the track from each other but the alternative is spending a six figure sum...

[Mark Gleeson]

A separate entrance is acceptable provided it is accessible.

When we drew up a plan for the line years ago, we managed to get away without needing a second platform at any station, the Kilmastulla headhunt could be cheaply turned into a loop thus avoiding the hassle

The UK solution is for a long platform with the loop half way down so two trains use the same platform

[dowlingm]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

When we drew up a plan for the line years ago, we managed to get away without needing a second platform at any station, the Kilmastulla headhunt could be cheaply turned into a loop thus avoiding the hassle

The UK solution is for a long platform with the loop half way down so two trains use the same platform

Interesting! I wonder how much extra capacity could be generated on congested single track sections like Maynooth-Longford, Athlone-Portarlington or Waterford-Athy with that sort of ingenuity, maybe Sixmilebridge too. It's unfortunate how many stations are compromised from platform extensions by overbridges nearby and the like.