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Unread 10-05-2010, 18:31   #1
James Howard
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Default [10/05/2010] Shambolic response to signal failure

Was on the slow Longford train which has just kicked everyone off. Nobody has a clue of what is going on. Now at Clonsilla an hour late with nothing going anywhere and no idea if I am getting home to Edgeworthstown night.

I believe this is the second signal failure in a week here.
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Unread 10-05-2010, 20:35   #2
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Now arriving into Maynooth 3 hours and 20 minutes after leaving Pearse. Even if we have no further delays, this will be my second worse delay in 6 years of commuting.

The worst thing about this was the level of information which consisted of the following
1. Driver of Bray-Longford train telling us there was a problem but not given any details
2. Informed that we had to get off at Clonsilla
3. Some announcements were made at Clonsilla. All but one were inaudible over the noise of idling trains. That was just an apology. Numerous pushes of info button at platform were not answered. There was also a visually impaired man waiting on the platform with no assurance that there was actually going to be a train. He was dependent on assistance from passengers as there was no staff or operating info system.
4. A work colleague was on a bus to Lucan and an Irish Rail staff member got onto the bus to tell everyone that the next train was going to Maynooth. He eventually got to Maynooth 2 hours later. This is worse than no information - actual disinformation.
5. We were informed of a 25 minute delay at Maynooth that ended up being almost 60 minutes.

Now we have just left Maynooth so there is lots more to happen yet although seemingly the signals are working beyond Enfield.

At least in the old days with Network Catering, they would give you a free cup of coffee. The trolley service seems to have quit - probably because the poor girl was sick of getting an earful from people expecting free tea.

Last edited by James Howard : 10-05-2010 at 20:39. Reason: Missing info
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Unread 11-05-2010, 10:14   #3
Ballymore
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Angry 3 hours to Mullingar 10/5/10

Nightmare trip last night with the 19.05 to Sligo arriving in Mullingar around 10pm. Apparently there was severe signal failure in Clonsilla and we ended up sitting for lenghty periods at Connolly, Clonsilla and again at Maynooth.

In fairness our driver regularly updated us with information whenever he had it. Sometimes too much so but you cant please everyone!

I heard a lot of people talking about claiming a refund on their tickets but as I have an annual ticket am I entitled to any refund or compensation?

Particularly for having to sit 3 hours listening to some people advising everyone in the whole county of Longford that they were stuck on the train and repeating over and over and over the minute details of our predicament.
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Unread 11-05-2010, 10:18   #4
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Also while I'm at it wouldnt it be a good idea (on severely delayed services) for IR to turn off the cheery voice announcements welcoming us on board the 19:05 etc etc when it is only adding to the frustration of a 'treble time' journey.
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Unread 11-05-2010, 11:11   #5
Mark Gleeson
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Refunds are available to all passengers except those holding DSFA passes

For annual holders delayed by more than 2 hours, value of ticket / 420 = refund. For a Longford based ticket holder that is equal to 8 euro.
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Unread 11-05-2010, 11:15   #6
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In fairness, the drivers were all pretty good - in particular the guy on the 19:05. I ended up on that train after taking the earlier Bray - Longford train.

It is just that the driver can't tell you much if he's not being told anything. All we needed was somebody to come on an announcement and say that we would get home that night.

It is also pretty serious that nobody is answering the info buttons at Clonsilla. Surely responding to this is part of allowing stations to be unmanned. I was considering giving the SOS button a whirl after we had been standing on the platform for an hour but thought the better of it.

I am really looking forward to my 8 euro. That makes me feel better about taking 4 hours 55 minutes door-to-door on my commute. I generally claim these anyway more to cause them hassle as the vouchers are pretty useless to me.
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Unread 11-05-2010, 11:36   #7
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The trolley on the 19:05 could in no way cope with everyone on board looking for a drink. The trolley would have to stop several times to reheat the boiler, they carry a power lead for the purpose. But they would run out of cups fairly quickly.

Under no circumstances is alcohol to be released for free, you would be hard pushed to serve more than 20 from the supply carried anyway. Incidentally the driver has to track down a manager by phone to release the catering. Needless to say that isn't easy after 6pm.

We don't know what happened yet but the SSI system in Maynooth died again, as the Sligo line is effectively saturated with trains in the evening peak even an instant reversion to manual would result in serious delays as there are more trains going out than heading towards Dublin
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Unread 11-05-2010, 22:25   #8
Mark Hennessy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by James Howard View Post

It is also pretty serious that nobody is answering the info buttons at Clonsilla. Surely responding to this is part of allowing stations to be unmanned. I was considering giving the SOS button a whirl after we had been standing on the platform for an hour but thought the better of it.
Typical IE, I'm sure the first week they were in place someone was being monitored as they answered them and like most customer facing things in IE, they get quickly abandoned so that they are useless for the customers who may need to use them.

I was stuck in Coolmine before on a Sunday when the train was announced as canceled. I pressed the info button and someone answered.

They actually hung up once I mentioned canceled train and refused to answer any more repeated buzzes.

I wonder how much IE paid to put those systems in?
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Unread 11-05-2010, 11:17   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
Refunds are available to all passengers except those holding DSFA passes

For annual holders delayed by more than 2 hours, value of ticket / 420 = refund. For a Longford based ticket holder that is equal to 8 euro.
So does this mean as a Mullingar commuter my refund entitlement is about €6?
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Unread 11-05-2010, 11:22   #10
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It would be 6 euro
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Unread 11-05-2010, 11:14   #11
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On the 19:05 (allegedly) we did have a trolley service but there were no suggestion of freebies at any point. I did see someone buy a mouthful of wine for €6 and I was so disgusted at the 'highway robbery' I had just witnessed I changed my mind about buying a packet of Tayto.

After sitting idle for more than 2 hours of the 3 hours we were on board it was getting quite hot in the carriage.

I have just completed my 'compensation' form for the crack anyway. If they offer me 'discounted' tickets they can shove them in a very very dark place as I pay the guts of €3k for an annual ticket and never ever ever use the train for non work journeys.
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