New 22K trains

[sean]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

The only difference between first class and standard class on 2200 is the tables and chairs are different colour and there is a shop at the end of the car. Take away the shop and the carriages are the same.

Exactly, from what I've seen of the "Premier" seats when those sets come on the Sligo line, the service is a joke, it's clearly "Premier" in name only.

Incidentally, I saw a 22k set going down the Midland line heading for the M3 Parkway, while when I had to take the Sligo train to Longford on Sunday it was a 29k ...

[James Howard]

Quite a lot of Sligo services are still operated by 29k. The 0905 down train is always a 29k and when I have had occasion to take the 1505 down a couple of times recently, it was a 29k as well.

Yet on a regular basis, the 0545 up train crosses with a 22k heading for Clonsilla around Broombridge. The 29K is perfectly adequate for a trip as far as Mullingar and reasonable for Longford, but it is a bit out of order to be using them for Sligo.

Irish Rail's recent attitude to facilities on trains has always struck me as a bit odd. They removed first class from Sligo somewhere between 10 and 15 years ago and I can understand why because almost nobody paid for it and if you did pay for it you had to find a staff member to shift some smelly student out of your seat (the smelly student usually being me at the time). In fairness, the standard of accommodation on the 22k is good enough that first class would only really be for snob value. It isn't necessary for any practical purpose.

But the bar car used to do a roaring trade on the old trains and the omission of some sort of shop from a 3 hour journey is a bit odd. I guess Irish Rail worked out that they can make more money from the combination of a trolley and another 20 seats than they can from the shop - particularly when the catering is outsourced. It just seems to me that the ability to purchase some sort of a hot meal - even if it were just a toastie - would give people more reason to travel by rail at a time when road journey times are as good if not better.

[Mark Gleeson]

That ICR set is meant to be on the 5:55 Gorey Dublin service but due a rostering change due engineering works it finds itself in the wrong place. Some of the first of the new ICR's are destined for Sligo and Rosslare

The ICR catering offering is not great but equally demand is not great either the current trolley offering does offer full bar service as well which previously was not the case. Even on trains with full catering take up is low.

For the record I have been served hot food on a Sligo standard class 3 coach ICR, so it is possible.

And the price of hot food goes down on the train tomorrow two weeks late but any reduction is welcome

[Ron Burgundy]

Originally Posted by sean

Exactly, from what I've seen of the "Premier" seats when those sets come on the Sligo line, the service is a joke, it's clearly "Premier" in name only.
Incidentally, I saw a 22k set going down the Midland line heading for the M3 Parkway, while when I had to take the Sligo train to Longford on Sunday it was a 29k ...

Your seat if further away from the table as well

[sean]

Originally Posted by Ron Burgundy

Your seat if further away from the table as well

Yes, to give the impression of 'more space' at the seats ...

like I said, a joke.

[KSW]

first class on the 22k are a joke. what i would call first call would be the enterprise service even its standard class is comfortable,has that dark lightening effect rather than the bright display on the 22k trains.
IE should upgrade their 22k 1st sets to a more higher standard.

[sean]

Originally Posted by KSW

first class on the 22k are a joke. what i would call first call would be the enterprise service even its standard class is comfortable,has that dark lightening effect rather than the bright display on the 22k trains.
IE should upgrade their 22k 1st sets to a more higher standard.

Either that or abandon the 1st class label and just make the seats available to everyone under all circumstances. (i.e. not just the trains that have the sets but are not timetabled for first class).

The few times I've been on Sligo trains (no first class timetabled) that had them, I would only ever take the "1st class" seats for one reason - noone else had bothered with them.

FWIW I think a proper 1st class carriage would have 2+1 seating with super-wide individual seats, this at an absolute minimum. At seat catering and free wifi would not go astray either, ideally.

[Jamie2k9]

How often do IE carry out maintence/service the 2200 trains. Would of thaught at least once a week, does anybody know.

[Mark Gleeson]

Basic exam should be every 48 hours, but thats basic check of all main systems and top up for fluids

It can be done in siding if needs be, but if its not done, train is not allowed to move.

[Colm Moore]

There is a cycle of maintenance. Certain things will be checked after X time and/or Y distance. Different things will be checked after every 3X or 3Y, 10X or 10Y and so on for higher order issues. Then there will be more serious depot level inspections in a monthly / quarterly / annual / 5-annual cycle. Incidents or particularly harsh operating conditions may see those time periods speeded up, e.g. the cold weather the last two years say toilet systems freezing. It would have been prudent to check those systems more regularly during and after that weather.0

I imagine drivers are meant to check certain basic things everytime the loco / train is started.

I imagine sets will get a walk through once a day, with fueling and possibly lubricant added, but they can generally survive a few days before gettting back to base before issues start happening.

[Mark Gleeson]

Set 37 is still on test, it needs to make a few round trips to Cork as part of the shakedown trials as a result of being in several pieces due to the accident and also to bed in the various modifications made.

[Jamie2k9]

It was number 35 but no need to worry about it now. Operated 19.05 Heuston - Tralee and failed at Cherryville last night. They got it pulled back to Kildare to clear the line and it was still there at Kildare at 20.10.

[Mark Gleeson]

I very much doubt that as it managed to get to Mallow and beyond at that point 30 minutes late, so either there is something else going on or Irish Rail executed a tow and recover and passenger swap in the time it normally takes them to realise they need to do that

The 19:25 to Limerick ran on-time and did not overtake the 19:05 to Tralee

[joey]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/translinkni/

http://www.translink.co.uk/NI-Railwa...Trains-Images/

Quality, time to take the blinkers off IR.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by joey

http://www.flickr.com/photos/translinkni/

http://www.translink.co.uk/NI-Railwa...Trains-Images/

Quality, time to take the blinkers off IR.

Interesting the way they are squashing seats in around the toilet.

[Jamie2k9]

Is 22033 in service and has the carrage that went of fire. Have yet to see it operateing as a 5 peice.

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by sean

Exactly, from what I've seen of the "Premier" seats when those sets come on the Sligo line, the service is a joke, it's clearly "Premier" in name only.

Incidentally, I saw a 22k set going down the Midland line heading for the M3 Parkway, while when I had to take the Sligo train to Longford on Sunday it was a 29k ...

Thats a fair point and I dont understand why they use 22ks on m3 line services but if you saw the m3 train using the midland line it had to be during the week and during the week all sligo trains are 22k operated aren't they?

[James Howard]

During the week not all Sligo line services are 22k. The 0905 from Connolly is always a 29k and the last two times I took the 1600 down, it was a 29k.

[dowlingm]

Presumably the reason a 22 set is used on some M3 services is that they are needed elsewhere before a set can go out to Sligo and back.