Chap at Portlaoise

[laoisfan]

Hi

Have to rant

I commute from Ballybrophy to Park West on a daily basis.

I usually get the 07:44 (06:40 Limerick) and according to the timetable this is what I am meant to do.

07:44 Dep Ballybrophy
08:33 Arr Sallins
08:50 Dep Sallins (this is the 08:10 from Portlaoise)
09:11 Arr Park West

What I typically do for many months now is as follows:

07:44 Dep Ballybrophy
08:00 Arr Portlaoise
08:10 Dep Portlaoise
09:11 Arr Park West

Get my drift?

And this works...well except for the this morning. The 07:44 was running 15-20 minutes. The guys at Portlaoise let the 08:10 depart on time.

I asked the chap (don't know his name) why did he let the 08:10 depart when it was a connection train for Park West - I explained to him that according to the on-line timetable Sallins was a valid connection point (even though I typically change immediately at Portlaoise). Even the station master at Ballybrophy told me the 08:10 would not be allowed to leave until the 06:40 Limerick (07:44 Ballybrophy) left Portlaoise.

The chap at Portlaoise sneered at me and said I was wrong. The train driver (of the 06:40 Limerick) told him that I was actually right and that he would now have to do an extra stop to allow me to get to work.

The chap at Portlaoise said it wasn't his problem. Even the train driver could not believe his attitude.

Fair play to the train driver...he rang ahead and explained the situation and he did the unscheduled stop at Park West. I got to work about 5 minutes earlier than normal

Ok...rant over....deep breaths

[Jamie2k9]

The 07:44 was running 15-20 minutes.

Usually if a delay is over 10 minutes they will allow commuter services ahead and rightly so. You can't expect them to delay a train for up to 400 passengers for one or two to make a connection.

I don't think the driver of the 06.40 actually had to stop in Park West, there was other options available to make the connection (delayed) of course and all IE have to do is get you there at some point.

Did the 06.40 manage to pass out the 08.10 service at Kildare?

Also as the JP stated the change was at Sallins, you wouldn't be covered by changing in Portlaose delayed or not.

[haddockman]

Also as the JP stated the change was at Sallins, you wouldn't be covered by changing in Portlaose delayed or not.

Is the JP law? Or merely a suggestion?

I have seen some very bizarre options in the JP which no sane person would do.

[Jamie2k9]

IE have no obligation to get you from a to b if the route is not on the JP.

[Kilocharlie]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

Did the 06.40 manage to pass out the 08.10 service at Kildare?

No. Adamstown.

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

Usually if a delay is over 10 minutes they will allow commuter services ahead and rightly so. You can't expect them to delay a train for up to 400 passengers for one or two to make a connection.

I don't think the driver of the 06.40 actually had to stop in Park West, there was other options available to make the connection (delayed) of course and all IE have to do is get you there at some point.

Did the 06.40 manage to pass out the 08.10 service at Kildare?

Also as the JP stated the change was at Sallins, you wouldn't be covered by changing in Portlaose delayed or not.

No the 06:40 did not pass the 08:10 service at Kildare.

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

IE have no obligation to get you from a to b if the route is not on the JP.

The route is on the JP, change at Sallins.

Changing at Portlaoise is not on the JP for that route, I simply do it because time allows me to do it, no other reason.

My issue is more so the sneering attitude of the chap at Portlaoise.

Thanks for your input Jamie2k9 :shake:

[berneyarms]

The decision to let the train to go from Portlaoise first would be one made at CTC level, not by station staff.

Ultimately there is only so long a train can be delayed - far greater numbers would be affected by delaying both trains.

There has to be a balance struck.

The solution would be to add an extra stop to the Limerick train as required.

[Inniskeen]

The 0640 from Limerick was also late (12 minutes) this morning (Thursday) but went ahead of the 0810 Portlaoise local on this occasion. As on Wednesday the Portlaoise local was on time at Heuston despite departing 8 minutes late.

The 0810 from Portlaoise is one of so many Irish Rail services which run to such undemanding schedules that a delay of 10 to 15 minutes in starting is of little consequence in terms of a punctual arrival. Allowing the Limerick service ahead today meant that train arrived 9 minutes earlier than Wednesday without impacting on the arrival time of the Portlaoise train at Heuston.

Another relevant factor is the relative loads of the two trains. On this basis the Limerick train is the undoubted winner with an expected load of about 200 passengers at Heuston. The 0810 from Portlaoise loads nothing like 400 passengers, about 60 to 80 at Heuston might be expected.

[laoisfan]

The 06:40 Limerick (departs 07:44 Ballybrophy) was on time this morning so I changed at Portlaoise (08:00) and was able to get the 08:10 to Park West.

[Jamie2k9]

The 0810 from Portlaoise loads nothing like 400 passengers, about 60 to 80 at Heuston might be expected.

Would of just assumed given the time of day it would of being a 6 coach but clearly not!

[Kilocharlie]

Originally Posted by laoisfan

No the 06:40 did not pass the 08:10 service at Kildare.

It would impossible as both trains have to stop at Kildare and there is only 1 platform available.

That service was 25mins late. Stopping at Citywest was probably the best option.

On another note, the 0640 was run as a 3 car Mon-Wed; normally it is a 4-car.

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

Would of just assumed given the time of day it would of being a 6 coach but clearly not!

Majority of the time it is a 4 coach but sometimes a 3 coach. Perhaps once, on a rare occasion it was a 6 coach but I assumed they were merely moving stock back up to Dublin.