Enterprise today

[EnterpriseUser]

I took the 1030 Enterprise this morning. Very busy from Belfast with many more passengers at intermediate stations including an unscheduled stop at Malahide where we added another 80+ passengers. Despite this; wrong line working into Newry station and delays between Newry and Dundalk due to engineering works the train was only ten minutes late into Connolly. Full catering service available throughout the journey. Train well staffed and supervised. A credit to all concerned!

[Thomas Ralph]

I was on the 2010 Belfast Central - Connolly, which was almost deserted. Catering was trolley only. Also came into the wrong platform at Newry; I think this has to do with the platform works there.

[Mark Gleeson]

I wouldn't be giving out much praise, enterprise performance is woeful most of the time

Last Wednesday the 16:50 Dublin Belfast was a 3 coach 3CK, given the queue stretched the whole way from platform 2 across the concourse and out the front door into the rain, I somewhat doubt anyone in the queue will be quick to celebrate the enterprise service

This mornings 8:00 Belfast Dublin is currently 20 minutes late

[Mark Hennessy]

Did a day trip to Belfast on Saturday, morning train was quite busy but punctual and afternoon return was pretty quiet and arrived bang on time in Connolly.

Most importantly, the seat reservations were there in the morning in Connolly, except almost everybody was ignoring them, "I can sit where I want" being the dominent attitude :(

[Thomas Ralph]

Yeah, they really need someone policing the reservations there.

[Jferb]

Travelled with Bus Éireann to Belfast last Friday evening. 24-hour hourly clock-face timetable. Zipped through the Port Tunnel, only stopping in Newry and Sprucefield, making it to Belfast in 2 hour 20 minutes. €15 single at Bus Áras.

I had briefly considered getting the Enterprise but I'm glad I quickly dismissed that idea..

[irishsaint]

I wouldn't be giving out much praise, enterprise performance is woeful most of the time

Last Wednesday the 16:50 Dublin Belfast was a 3 coach 3CK, given the queue stretched the whole way from platform 2 across the concourse and out the front door into the rain, I somewhat doubt anyone in the queue will be quick to celebrate the enterprise service

This mornings 8:00 Belfast Dublin is currently 20 minutes late

Being a well seasoned Belfast - Dublin commuter, I agree with Mark here in general. Amazing thing is their published results (think the call it on time performance or something like that) is supposedly independently monitored. Anything that falls outside of either the punctuallity or reliability targets should entitle us to 10% of our next monthly season ticket. However, I have seen recently a 100% reliability service for a period (its something like the 15th -15th of a next month) and I specifically remember being stuck on a 3 carriage CAF train from belfast to dublin. On top of this, there was a trolly at the front of the train where we could get tea/coffee - which they had no problem serving if you went up to them (funny how on the enterprise for "Health and Safety" reasons they cant serve you unless your seated)!!
Anyway, Ken McKnight is the issue to such a poor service, he doesnt give a s**t about complaints. Not once has he ever responded to a complaint of mine or anyone I know who has complained with a solution, appology or even aknowledgement of poor service. Instead he replies on the offensive, attacking your comlpaint by trying to prove Translink were not at fault. What ever happened to Customer Service?

On the plus Side of things, Attn: anyone from Newry / Portadown / Belfast:

I discovered recently that the enterprise Conductors ticket machines issue tickets at a different (market) exchange rate to the ticket offices. So, it is actually cheaper to buy a weekly / Monthly ticket from the conductors on the train, paying in euro than it is to get a tax saver commuter ticket from Irish Rail!! Just a little tip if this credit crunch is hurting. (applies to NI - ROI routes only as far as I am aware they wont issue monthly tickets on the train from an ROI to ROI station)

[Mark Gleeson]

Last two days have been 'fun'

http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=10062
http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=10055

[Mark Gleeson]

Day 3 of problems, 8:00 from Belfast is 15 minutes late

[Mark Gleeson]

Repeat performance again today, 14 minutes late

[Mark Gleeson]

12 minutes late today

[Mark Gleeson]

8:00 Belfast Dublin 16 minutes late this morning

[Mark Gleeson]

14:10 Belfast Dublin 20 minutes late arriving Dublin, could impact the 16:50 service

[Mark Gleeson]

12:30 Belfast Dublin - 15 minutes late
14:10 Belfast Dublin - 15 minutes late
20:10 Belfast Dublin - 15 minutes late

[Mark Gleeson]

Ex Belfast
6:50 - on time
8:00 - 14 minutes late
10:30 - 12 minutes late
12:30 - 8 minutes late
14:10 - 6 minutes late
16:10 - 8 minutes late
18:10 - 3 minutes late
20:10 - 5 minutes late

[Mark Gleeson]

Ex Belfast
6:50 - 7 minutes early
8:00 - 14 minutes late
10:30 - 18 minutes late
12:30 - 9 minutes late
14:10 - 14 minutes late
16:10 - on time
18:10 - 7 minutes late
20:10 -

[Mark Gleeson]

Ex Belfast
6:50 - 2 minutes early
8:00 - 20 minutes late
10:30 - 17 minutes late
12:30 - 7 minutes late
14:10 - 13 minutes late
16:10 - 6 minutes late
18:10 - 4 minutes late
20:10 - 6 minutes late

[Mark Gleeson]

Ex Belfast
6:50 - 6 minutes early
8:00 - 19 minutes late
10:30 - 8 minutes late
12:30 - on time
14:10 - 16 minutes late
16:10 - 3 minutes late
18:10 - 8 minutes late
20:10 - on time

[Colm Moore]

6:50 - 6 minutes early\o/

[Mark Gleeson]

Ex Belfast
6:50 - 5 minutes early
8:00 - 21 minutes late
10:30 - 7 minutes late
12:30 - 8 minutes late
14:10 - 11 minutes late
16:10 - 2 minutes late
18:10 -
20:10 -

[Colm Moore]

Ex Belfast
6:50 - 5 minutes early
8:00 - 21 minutes late
10:30 - 7 minutes late
12:30 - 8 minutes late
14:10 - 11 minutes late
16:10 - 2 minutes late
18:10 -
20:10 -Well, hmm, the 18:10 never made it.

[Mark Gleeson]

Enterprise - 1520 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 31-Aug-2009 16:52
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide the 1520 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 32 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1610 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 31-Aug-2009 16:47
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide the 1610 service from Belfast to Dublin will be delayed by 33 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1320 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 31-Aug-2009 16:03
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide the 1320 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 67 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1410 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 31-Aug-2009 14:45
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide the 1410 service from Belfast to Dublin will be delayed by 32 minutes.

This is why they need a third train, the 9:35 Connolly Belfast was 25 minutes late this morning as well

[seamus kilcock]

This is why people ought to use the Bus.

[Mark Gleeson]

And again

ENTERPRISE NEWS
Enterprise - 1520 Dublin Connolly to Belfast central 1-Sep-2009 16:51
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1520 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 25 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1610 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 1-Sep-2009 16:40
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1610 service from Belfast to Dublin will be delayed by 19 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1410 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 1-Sep-2009 14:32
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1410 service from Belfast to Dublin will be delayed by 13 minutes.


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[Mark Gleeson]

More
Enterprise - 1650 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 1-Sep-2009 19:09
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1650 sevice from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 58 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1810 Belfast central to Dublin Connolly 1-Sep-2009 19:08
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1810 service from Belfast to Dublin will be delayed by 15 minutes.

[Mark Gleeson]

And again

Enterprise - 1100 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 2-Sep-2009 13:15
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1100 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 70 minutes.


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[Mark Gleeson]

And again
Enterprise - 1520 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 2-Sep-2009 15:28
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution betwen Dublin/Drogheda the 1520 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 47 minutes.


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Enterprise - 1410 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 2-Sep-2009 14:48
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 1410 service from Belfast to Dublin will be delayed by 21 minutes.


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[irishsaint]

The Good news is that from Monday, a new emergency timetable will come into effect. The Department for Regional Transport (Conor Murphy) had to pass the new emergency timetable which was agreed over the weekend with IE and NIR. The Dept for Regional Transport passed this yesterday. I have been told that instead of 8, there will be 6 enterprise services in both directions. From dublin the 20:45 is being cancelled. I dont know the other service nor do I know which 2 from belfast are being cancelled. The 16:50 from dublin will be timetabled to leave drogheda at 18:25 and the 19:00 from dublin will be timetabled to leave drogheda at 20:25. As for the other amendments, I do not know. All refuelling, water checks and toilet drainage will be done in belfast.

[Mark Gleeson]

It keeps getting worse

Enterprise - 1320 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 2-Sep-2009 15:28
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution betwen Dublin/Drogheda the 1320 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 47 minutes.

[James Shields]

The Good news is that from Monday, a new emergency timetable will come into effect....... I have been told that instead of 8, there will be 6 enterprise services in both directions.

Not sure I agree that less trains is good news. Especially when there is stock available that could be pressed into service.

[Mark Gleeson]

And it continues

Enterprise - 0735 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 3-Sep-2009 9:12
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 0735 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 25 minutes.


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Enterprise - 0800 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 3-Sep-2009 7:57
Due to operational reasons the 0800 service from Belfast to Dublin will call additionally at Lisburn and Lurgan this morning only, Thursday 3rd September.


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[irishsaint]

Not sure I agree that less trains is good news. Especially when there is stock available that could be pressed into service.

Well it should enable me to get home before 11:00pm (if that means cutting 2 trains a day, then i'd glady accept)....

Also, I was miss informed about the Departement for Regional development passing the emergency timetable. this is not the case, apparently Conor Murphy does not want to cut services.... so we have to wait and see but an Irish Rail official said that they expect the new emergency enterprise timetable to be published on their web site today

Oh and the second train service that will be cancelled, is both the 1:20 and 3:20 which will be merged. Dont know its dept. time though as of yet.

[Mark Gleeson]

There is no reason to cut services, if they do it will cause chaos within Northern Ireland as all the connections will go crazy and Newry suffers quite badly. For Dundalk commuters it means an even worse off peak service

They need 1 extra train set to make the service work, there are 3 available and it is Irish Rail's responsibility to to provide a train set, NIR are meeting their obligation of 2

[Mark Gleeson]

yet more

Enetrprise - 0935 Dublin Connolly to Belfast central 3-Sep-2009 11:12
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 0935 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 25 minutes.

[irishsaint]

There is no reason to cut services, if they do it will cause chaos within Northern Ireland as all the connections will go crazy and Newry suffers quite badly. For Dundalk commuters it means an even worse off peak service

They need 1 extra train set to make the service work, there are 3 available and it is Irish Rail's responsibility to to provide a train set, NIR are meeting their obligation of 2

Newry gets 12 trains to Belfast a day, all they are talking about is getting rid of the 22:00 and amalgamiting the 14:30 and 16:30 into one service and dundalk has additional services it never had now with the ie emergency timetable. I have no problem for the temporary timetable to exist as planned.

On the train front, nir are not meeting responsability. both ie and nir have train sets available and equipped exactly for scenarios like this, the IE trains (except for 2 loco's in belfast by chance which were at sume rail event - these are not equipped with NI rail signal equipment) are all south of the viaduct so its up to nir to kick into contingency mode (they havn't).....

as i said before, leaving central at 06:50 every monring and not having a clue what time you will get home at, be it 22:00 or 23:00 is just not sustainable and it seems very unlikly that nir or ie will provide extra trains for the service to make it work, so then the alternative is to chop it temporarily. As a temporary messaure, I endorse it.

[Mickey H]

The two locomotives that were in Belfast were there to be fitted with NIR signal equipment and at least one of them has been used on the Enterprise. Translink have recently withdrawn their only mk2 set and only have one or two 3 coach CAF trains spare Monday to Friday which would be used in the first instance to maintian their local timetable

[Mark Gleeson]

The ball is in IE's court to provide the 3rd set

[Charlie Hungerford]

The ball is in IE's court to provide the 3rd set

I'm afraid that they've actually just cut services instead. This is the new timetable:

0735 0930 1255 1515 1720 1935 from Dublin

0650 0800 1105 1410 1615 1840 from Belfast

Once again, Dick Fearn and IE have gone for the easiest route out: screw the passengers. They have two perfectly good MK3 sets in Dundalk and enough locos to run the 3rd set. But that would have been too much effort.

[irishsaint]

The ball is in IE's court to provide the 3rd set

maybe i am unaware of a 3rd set north of the viaduct?

The contingency between ie and nir is one of ie's new intercity fleet or one of nir's c3k's...... the latter is the obvious considering the circumstances.

if one of the loco's then, that is in belfast is being fitted with nir signalling, that could be used to pull one of those orange buckets of rust parked in dundalk? potentially a temporary 3rd set? probably more reliable than the enterprise too!

[irishsaint]

Enterprise News

Enterprise - Interim Timetable Valid 6th September 3-Sep-2009 13:04
Due to the bridge collapse and subsequent engineering works at Malahide, an interim Enterprise timetable has been introduced with effect from Sunday 6th September.

Bus substitutions are still in place between Drogheda and Dublin and all intending passengers are advised to allow an extra 30 minutes for their journey. Translink apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Details of the new timetable can be obtained by contacting the Translink Call Centre on 02890 666630.

[irishsaint]

Drogheda 0840 1033 1357 1617 1810 2025

[Charlie Hungerford]

if one of the loco's then, that is in belfast is being fitted with nir signalling, that could be used to pull one of those orange buckets of rust parked in dundalk? potentially a temporary 3rd set?

Those rust buckets are actually two full MK3 sets with Citygold coaches and dining cars. IE have multiple options regarding motive power with which to haul them, including:

* Either of the 201s being fitted in Belfast with the UK signalling gear;
* Borrowing 112 from NIR, which has both signalling systems fitted.

The first option probably involves a slight delay but they could easily get going on recommissioning the coaches by using the 071 trapped in Drogheda to haul them to Drogheda depot.

They have spare locos, spare carraiges, spare manpower, spare facilities and still Irish Rail prove that they really should be called Irish Fail.

[Mark Gleeson]

IE have 2 sets of intercity coaches in Dundalk, both are in need of some minor repairs but out of the 18 coaches a 7 coach set would be no problem. There is a full first class coach there as well

NIR have 3 non enterprise locomotives

The long standing service arrangement is 2 sets from NIR and 1 from IE. IE have no back up plan bar a replacement locomotive

[irishsaint]

The long standing service arrangement is 2 sets from NIR and 1 from IE. IE have no back up plan bar a replacement locomotive

This may not be accurate but i was told that the new ie intercity trains and the nir c3ks had signalling fitted to some of them (dont know how many) and that as contingency to an enterprise fail, to maintane service they would use either a c3k or the ie intercity train.... obviously all the new intercity trains are south of the viaduct which would only leave nir's c3ks..... if they do not have availabilty to service the route with a c3k, then it should never have been contingency.

as for the two orange things in dundalk, or even those ancient "hand out the window to open the door" trains nir had would do the trick for now

[Mark Gleeson]

22k units don't have NI certification yet, since IE didn't bother to sort it out, there are 6 of them, to match NIR 6 3CK's. Sure if things gets really sticky there is a steam locomotive with the necessary equipment

Thankfully the coaches in Dundalk have power operated doors and full clearance to large portion of Northern Ireland

The last two weeks have been crazy, with delays of up to 60 minutes occurring at random. It is shameful that the obvious solution is ignored.

[irishsaint]

The last two weeks have been crazy, with delays of up to 60 minutes occurring at random. It is shameful that the obvious solution is ignored.

Its been an absolute nightmare and the new timetable changes absolutely nothing despite the assurances of Ken McKnight and Mal McGreevy at portadown yesterday morning....... they said that there would be a suitable time in and around the 18:30 mark.... 18:10 is too early for me so the 20:25 it is. Thats central at 22:00 for me for the next 3months at least.....

[Thomas Ralph]

I don't like the chances of shunting a 201 class loco from one end of the train to the other at Belfast Central. Or, for that matter, at Drogheda.

[Mark Gleeson]

I don't like the chances of shunting a 201 class loco from one end of the train to the other at Belfast Central. Or, for that matter, at Drogheda.

But if you are not under time pressure its easy. Or with a little bit of thought you could lash a 071 or 201 front and back of the Mk3 set

The breakdown in Dundalk is
2 gen vans
5 push pull coaches
6 stds
1 buffet
1 comp
1 first

[Mark Gleeson]

And more

Enterprise - 1650 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 3-Sep-2009 18:49
Due to the bridge collapse the 1650 service from Dublin to Belfast Central is delayed by 53 minutes.

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Enterprise - 1610 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 3-Sep-2009 16:33
Due to the bridge collapse at Malahide the 1610 service from Belfast Central to Dublin is delayed by 13 minutes.

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[Mark Gleeson]

Yet more
Enterprise - 0935 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central 4-Sep-2009 11:15
Due to the partial line closure at Malahide and the bus substitution between Dublin/Drogheda the 0935 service from Dublin to Belfast will be delayed by 30 minutes


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[Mark Gleeson]

Enterprise - 1520 Dublin Connolly to Belfast 4-Sep-2009 17:00
Due to the bus substitution the 1520 service from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central is delayed by 24 minutes.

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Enterprise - 1610 Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly 4-Sep-2009 16:56
As a knock on affect to the bridge collapse at Malahide the 1610 service from Belfast to Dublin is delayed by 42 minutes.

and again

[tigger1962]

Currently the enterprise is delayed by 17 mins from Drogheda. We told the reason due to the delay of an incoming bus from Connolly!

[tigger1962]

enterprise left at 16.39

[tigger1962]

Currently delayed 10 minutes at Drogheda.

[EnterpriseUser]

I travelled on the 2025 ex Drogheda this evening; we were ten minutes early into Belfast Central and the service was fine; staff pleasant and helpful. The passenger load very low so a major marketing task ahead when the Malahide estuary bridge reopens. Its a shame as all through the eighties and nineties the Enterprise remained strongly supported despite all the obstacles placed in the way. We should hope for the beat when the line reopens and imaginative marketing from NIR and IE.