New Timetable Hazelhatch/Celbridge

[grainne whale]

I notice that there will be no Feeder Bus serving Hazelhatch/Celbridge station, to pick up passengers from the 17.20pm train from Heuston Station. Many passengers will be inconvenienced by this, including myself. I've just renewed my Annual Rail Ticket, does anyone know if it's possible to cancel the Annual Rail Ticket (as the train service no longer suits) and get an Annual Dublin Bus Ticket instead.

[Mark Gleeson]

Sure contact Taxsaver and they can either refund or swap

Timetable is notorious for errors so check if its really the case

[grainne whale]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Sure contact Taxsaver and they can either refund or swap

Timetable is notorious for errors so check if its really the case

What! The timetable will be in operation next week and it's not correct at this stage. Now we really have the worst (Rail) Transport System in Europe.

[laoisfan]

For Ballybrophy to Park West the online timetable has me down as follows:

06:50 Ballybrophy
07:30 Kildare
07:44 Kildare ( this train originates from Portlaoise 07:20 )
08:23 Park West

However, why isn't the following showing up?

06:50 Ballybrophy
07:04 Portlaoise
07:20 Portlaoise
08:23 Park West

Mark - any ideas?

[Mark Gleeson]

Must change platform at Portlaoise, same platform at Kildare

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Must change platform at Portlaoise, same platform at Kildare

hmmmm seriously ? Doubt that.

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by laoisfan

hmmmm seriously ? Doubt that.

Changed at Portlaoise this morning, 15 mins waiting time, no platform change at Portlaoise or Kildare.

Only reason I can think of why it is not offered as an option on Irish Rail Online Timetable is because the train from Limerick (stopping at Ballybrophy) is Intercity whereas the 7:20 from Portlaoise is Commuter. Still makes no sense.

[Kilocharlie]

How about 14min stopover at Kildare vs 16mins at Portlaoise?

The real question is which station is better equipped for a stopover. Kildare P2 is quite poor; don't know about Portlaoise.

[hoopsheff]

both the trains I usually get have been wiped off the timetable

7.40 from HHztch is gone as is 18.05 from heuston.
Feeder bus only goes now for the earlier train in both the morning and evening (neither suit me)


how many other trains have been removed?

Seriously p*ss poor from IR.

I'm with grainne whale...i'm better off on a bus now

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Kilocharlie

How about 14min stopover at Kildare vs 16mins at Portlaoise?

The real question is which station is better equipped for a stopover. Kildare P2 is quite poor; don't know about Portlaoise.

14 mins or 16 mins would not be a consideration for me. 2 min difference would not be a deal braker to be honest.

However, the train actually starts from Portlaoise ( so it leaves the depot there ). So to me it would be more logical to change at Portlaoise rather than Kildare in terms of seating. It stops at every station from Portlaoise to Dublin. So better get a seat at Portlaoise I would think.

As for which is better equipped? Hmmmm don't really know to be honest. There is a nice waiting room on platform 2 side at Portlaoise, albeit small. But it has heating.

Intercity-v-Commuter....but I do not know how Irish Rail have implemented their online timetable.

[Colm Moore]

An argument to do the change later is the risk of an incident between the first and second train.

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Colm Moore

An argument to do the change later is the risk of an incident between the first and second train.

hmmm maybe but seeing as the 7:20 departs from Portlaoise depot I guess they could say hold on..........OR the intercity overtakes it further up the line?

[Mark Gleeson]

The journey planner is designed to offer the best way from A to B.

Kildare clearly is the best change point as its
1. Least gap between trains
2. The connection will always be at the same platform
3. In the event of a service problem, the onwards options from Kildare are better than Portlaoise

[laoisfan]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The journey planner is designed to offer the best way from A to B.

Kildare clearly is the best change point as its

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

1. Least gap between trains

In general perhaps but not in this specific case, 16 mins versus 14 mins, 2 minute gap? Don' think so, no difference imo.

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

2. The connection will always be at the same platform

It's at the same platform in Portlaoise too, who'd have thought?

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

3. In the event of a service problem, the onwards options from Kildare are better than Portlaoise

Again, in general, you are correct but not in this specific case. From looking at the timetable for Portlaoise to Park West, majority if not all trains stop in Kildare.

[Mark Gleeson]

The engineering behind the journey planner is very very clever and it can and does make intelligent choices. Ask it nicely and it can plan a journey the whole way to Eastern Europe, but Irish Rail have disabled that feature... It can work out re routings in the event of missed connections and so on

The connection is 14 in Kildare, 16 in Portlaoise so it will by default favour the fastest connection

The timetable does not list a platform for the 07:20 off Portlaoise, as it can use either.

[ThomasJ]

Guys has anyone seen any of updated timetable boards this morning?

Tara street is still displaying ithe 2011 timetable.

Edit:they have at Clonsilla station complete with new Irish rail logos?!

[grainne whale]

How come a journey that used to take 22mins from Heuston to Hazelhatch/Celbridge now takes 30mins. The 17.15pm train (old timetable) used to take 22mins, this train now departs at 17.20pm, it reached Celbridge / Hazelhatch yesterday at 17.50pm - 30mins later. This is hardly progress. This service has been extended to Portlaoise but the train itself still just has 3 carriages, which resulted in many passengers standing - surely provision could be made to add a few extra carriages, or is it back to the 'old days again' - overcrowded trains and bad planning.

[Jamie2k9]

17.25 Limerick, 17.30 Galway, 17.35 Waterford all overtake it.

[grainne whale]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

17.25 Limerick, 17.30 Galway, 17.35 Waterford all overtake it.

That's what I noticed - why change the departure time so. Those trains also serve many of the intermediate stations that are served by the 17.20. Hardly joined up thinking. Also that does not account for not putting on extra carriages.

[Jamie2k9]

If it left at 17.15 it woild have a longer wait until the other services pass it.

Extra carrages not the only service that needs them. Im sure they realise it soon.