[article] Phoenix Park Tunnel

[ThomasJ]

So, has the north strand- entrance into Connolly been resolved?

At the moment we can have waits into Connolly because the track used to enter Connolly has to he shared with northbound services , has this / will this be sorted when this happens?

The last thing you want is maynooth trains stuck at glasnevin junction waiting on inbound Kildare trains, then stuck again at north strand!

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

The last thing you want is maynooth trains stuck at glasnevin junction waiting on inbound Kildare trains, then stuck again at north strand!

Not really as you have parallel movement when you have a Maynooth line Docklands service and a Park Tunnel train

[ThomasJ]

Ah okay.

But what about the stretch of track from drumcondra into Connolly? Will that be sorted?

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

Ah okay.

But what about the stretch of track from drumcondra into Connolly? Will that be sorted?

It will be sorted by a timetable recast and the resignalling at Connolly.

There is plenty of space to operate 4 extra trains during the peak - really this is a non-issue.

[Jamie2k9]

Just out of general interest, could Glassnavan junction be reconfigured to allow Drumcondra bypass access to the tunnel. Long term surly something like this would be required as service levels will increase long term. While DART underground will happen at some point, this could be needed at some stage or will both lines feeding into Connolly restrict.

I don't know the junction really well but couldn't the embankment between Sligo and tunnel line be knocked and crossovers moved West to connect both lines.

Operationally I think it could be an impotent part for Heuston services as while not overly common services get suspended through Drumcondra for various reasons so I don't think suspending Heuston services is acceptable while it may not be often.

Perhaps could benefit Heuston bypass Drumcondra and Maynooth/Sligo left as they are but Connolly could be the problem.

[Jack O'Neill]

Is there any talk of running Croke Park specials at least direct to Connolly?

Drumcondra would be unsuitable due to narrow platforms?

Match day extra trains to Maynooth shouldn't be affected if they could synchronise South bound specials?

[ThomasJ]

Yep completely agree, croke park match and concert days in drumcondra is bad enough with just maynooth passengers, imagine the chaos if Kildare passengers were thrown into the equation!

[Kilocharlie]

Buried deep within NTA Business case http://nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DART_Expansion_Programme_Revised_Business_Case_201 5.pdffor the DART Underground (or not) is a proposed service level for Kildare-GCD services in the Do Minimum Section page 121-123

In Summary for the Morning peak:
To GCD
Peak: 2 trains per hour, all stops Kildare-GCD
Peak : 1 train from Newbridge and 1 from Portlaoise to GCD
The 8-9am period would have 4 services
To Heuston Commuter
Portlaoise- Heuston - Hourly as at present
Newbrige/Kildare - Heuston - one service each
To Heuston - Intercity serving commuter stops
1 Galway- Heuston (2 trains each service different stations)
1 Waterford - Heuston
0 Limerick
1 Westport
1 Carlow and 1 Athlone as at present.

Rolling stock:
The proposal shows most of the GCD traffic as 8xDMU (I presume would be 2x29000) and the Heuston traffic as 3XICR or 6xICR. There is an oddity with one Waterford-Hueston also being 8xDMU. Question here is where are they going to get all the 8xDMU's? Maybe this depends on electrifying the Maynooth line first?

Overall a big switch from IC to Commuter and GCD taking most of the traffic.

[Jamie2k9]

29000 will never return to Heusotn especially with 100mph coming towards end of year between Portlaoise-Heuston.

Another doc full of rubbish from NTA, it's not as if they do much enforcement as it is what's going to change in the next few years!

I really worry about the "cursh capacity" calculations.