Proposals for extra train services in North Tipperary...

[neoncircles]

Originally Posted by Inniskeen

Neocircles, you have probably explained why the 1340 doen't operate via the Nenagh - in the absence of SDO a six car set can not stop at branch stations.

Incidentally how does the 0900 from Limerick get back to Limerick at the moment ?

I think the 1525 operates as 2x3 cars at the moment, so thats where the 0900 comes from.

[dowlingm]

Originally Posted by brompton7

Can somebody wiser than I explain to me WHY there is no win/win situation here. Humans have transplanted hearts and put men on the moon; why can't we run a train up a track at a convenient time? (And cross them over someplace, conveniently).

If the speed of the train could be accelerated 15 minutes then perhaps it could but the reality is that this timetable is now slaved to the Dublin line just like the Waterford-Limerick Junction service is and all other considerations have become secondary.

[doherty jack]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

If the speed of the train could be accelerated 15 minutes then perhaps it could but the reality is that this timetable is now slaved to the Dublin line just like the Waterford-Limerick Junction service is and all other considerations have become secondary.

they have taken 4 minutes off jorney and an addional 10mins will be taking off times , and the normal unit which operates cant operate at a high spped due to the fact that they are light and if the hit a bump they will de-rail unlike the 22000 units which covers the line in a shorter time!

[ACustomer]

doherty jack: So the heavier the axle-load the faster you can travel in safety. Contracdicts everything every permanent way engineer in history seems to think.

[brompton7]

Originally Posted by doherty jack

they have taken 4 minutes off jorney and an addional 10mins will be taking off times , and the normal unit which operates cant operate at a high spped due to the fact that they are light and if the hit a bump they will de-rail unlike the 22000 units which covers the line in a shorter time!

Put a spoiler on it....(and maybe if it's faster extra passengers may use it and help weigh it down)

[brompton7]

Originally Posted by doherty jack

they have taken 4 minutes off jorney and an addional 10mins will be taking off times , and the normal unit which operates cant operate at a high spped due to the fact that they are light and if the hit a bump they will de-rail unlike the 22000 units which covers the line in a shorter time!

On a more serious note: So am I reading that considering a 10min travel time reduction, and an inordinate 15 min connection delay in B'Brophy, that a more sensible departure (e.g. 1620/1720) ex Colbert may be possible? Would this allow convenient times on the loop? And I don't really care if the set has go faster stripes and an Irish rail Stig at the controls, we just need it to work.

[brompton7]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

If the speed of the train could be accelerated 15 minutes then perhaps it could but the reality is that this timetable is now slaved to the Dublin line just like the Waterford-Limerick Junction service is and all other considerations have become secondary.

Upon inspection I would expect this to be an increase of 4 to 5 mph on the current average speed. I will record it with a GPS next week and see if its possible.

[dowlingm]

My understanding is that track condition north of Nenagh is poor since it didn't get the same works as done south of Nenagh. Find the money to do that... but then the numbers on the line costs go nuts - like when they CWR'ed the South Wexford.

[doherty jack]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

My understanding is that track condition north of Nenagh is poor since it didn't get the same works as done south of Nenagh. Find the money to do that... but then the numbers on the line costs go nuts - like when they CWR'ed the South Wexford.

mile by there are gradually relaying the line bally/nenagh section , 3 miles already down ! and another just south of nenagh is being currently relayed.....progress is unstoppable!!

[Destructix]

Minister of State Alan Kelly has described claims that new Nenagh-Dublin train services could cost €20,000 per day as “completely inaccurate”.
An article in last Monday’s Irish Independent claimed that Iarnród Éireann’s new spring/summer timetable on the Nenagh line, which is due to commence next Monday, would cost the company almost €20,000 per day to run.
The article pointed out that the loss-making route serves Minister Kelly’s home constituency. It said the Minister of State at the Dept of Transport was “sharply criticised” last year for “encouraging” Iarnród Éireann to provide an extra train to bring Tipp fans to the All-Ireland Final.
Only 73 people per day use the Limerick-Ballybrophy line, which serves Nenagh, and less than 50 of these use if for commuting. Two major reports have recommended that the route be closed due to its lack of use, and the fact that it is quicker to drive from Nenagh to Dublin, or Ballybrophy.
The Irish Independent article said the decision to provide extra trains contravenes these recommendations on the line and would cost Iarnród Éireann “hundreds of thousands of euro”.
Minister Kelly described these figures as “ridiculous”.
He said the actual daily cost of providing the extra trains would be “less than five per cent” of the amount claimed, and would relate mainly to extra fuel and maintenance costs, most of which he expected would be recouped by the volume of passengers using the services. The trains and staff are already in place and would not therefore prove a cost issue.
Minister Kelly agreed that the extra services would benefit people in his home constituency, but said the article neglected to point out that commuters in Limerick, Offaly, Laois and Kildare would also benefit.
Moreover, he said the article “did not acknowledge that the Nenagh Rail Partnership has been looking for this for many years. This shows a track record of agitation towards what people really believed was necessary, and I am delighted it has now been delivered.”
Minister Kelly added that he would “be in touch with the Independent to clarify this matter”.
Chairperson of Nenagh Rail Partnership and Nenagh Town Mayor Virginia O’Dowd said the article was “exceptionally wide of the mark and greatly misleads its readers”.
“The additional cost is less than five per cent of what is stated,” Mayor O’Dowd said. “There was no way Iarnród Éireann could spend the kind of money referred to.”
The mayor also defended her Labour party colleague’s role in securing the All-Ireland train for Tipp fans, saying the train was 98 per cent full and made a profit.
“People out there are jealous”, she concluded.
Mayor O’Dowd made her comments at last Monday night’s meeting of Nenagh Town Council, at which several councillors also defended Minister Kelly and welcomed the enhanced train services on the Nenagh line.
Cllr Hughie McGrath (Ind) said there would have to be some expenditure in order to make the new services work. The new timetable is only a trial, and he hoped it would prove successful.
Cllr Lalor McGee (Lab) said the route would benefit commuters and offer new travel options to students. The range of tickets is also reasonably priced, he added.
Cllr Conor Delaney (FG) wanted to know how long the trial period would last. He said people should be made aware that the line could still be closed if the new timetable is not availed of.
“If it doesn’t work, people have no one to blame but themselves”, he said.
Cllr Seamus Morris (SF) concurred, saying “people will be sorry” if the line is ever closed. He agreed with Mayor O’Dowd that Iarnród Éireann should consider using the line for freight again in future.

Jealous? Oh please don't make us laugh why would we be jealous of a crappy train line. The Bord Na Mona line in Littleton is in better nick. What people are sick of is politicians been heroes saving lines which should have been closed years ago. The profitable lines will only end up subsidizing services on these especially when subsidies from the state will be reduced more in the coming years. Clonmel a town of over 16,000 people and four times the patronage on the trains is in the exact same situation Nenagh was and deserves a improved train service even more. Fares have gone up in some cases over 100% since February. When will this political gombeenism in this country going to stop. Iarnród Éireann should be allowed to closed lines which are costing the state money to keep them open. A regular Limerick to Waterford Intercity service would have worked out cheaper than this without spending a single penny.

Maybe more people will use the service starting Monday but in another year or two this issue will only arise again.

[dowlingm]

Tippites should hope that the relaid line north of Nenagh doesn't have to wait an inordinate time to be stressed like the southern bit, or IE don't suddenly slap TSRs on bridges on the section just when the rails have been cleared for higher speeds...

[doherty jack]

the north tipperary line has been deprived for decades of a decent timetable ,closure of goods in 2002 (roscrea & nenagh)track conditions gradually deteriorate over many years being left with long sections of 25mph and 30mph running and stations being left with paint flaking off the buildings ,uncorfortable conditions and the need to change at ballybrophy the whole , being left with long connection peroids ,and finally the people of the towns and villages and their surrounding areas in north tipperary have been given decent service across their line , and the choice is theres "USE IT OR LOSE IT" locals are delighted with their new service ,hopefully this will reflect in patronage , in the coming months ....

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by doherty jack

the north tipperary line has been deprived for decades of a decent timetable ,closure of goods in 2002 (roscrea & nenagh)track conditions gradually deteriorate over many years being left with long sections of 25mph and 30mph running and stations being left with paint flaking off the buildings ,uncorfortable conditions and the need to change at ballybrophy the whole , being left with long connection peroids

Many people had such conditions.

Originally Posted by doherty jack

closure of goods

This is something that the railway has little control over.

[doherty jack]

This is something that the railway has little control over.

well they didnt encourage it ,instead of trees growing on the cement line in limerick ,trains should be on it!!

[dowlingm]

IE gets no money for rail freight. They have no mandate to use passenger subsidy or fares to haul freight. That's the reality.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

IE gets no money for rail freight. They have no mandate to use passenger subsidy or fares to haul freight. That's the reality.

Its illegal under EU law to do so anyway

[Destructix]

This is North Tipperary though Mark anything is possible. Casinos in fields, Cycle tracks. Unprofitable train services. Yet they can't roll out bus services in Thurles or Templemore or have a much needed rail connection to the towns of Tipperary, Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick .