Dunboyne line times up on journey planner

[ThomasJ]

The times for the new Meath line are now up on journey planner.

Didn't get a chance to look at it in depth but will post later

[Mark Gleeson]

Not quite up, everything either starts or terminates at Clonsilla, no mention of Dunboyne yet

Every 30 minutes all day till after 7pm

[ThomasJ]

strange....

apart from the first few inbound or last few outbound on weekdays it would seem according to that timetable most dunboyne trains will operate non-stop between clonsilla and the city

[Mark Gleeson]

Another classic Irish Rail mess

For reference as is the standard Irish Rail practice stations have to be renamed before opening just to confuse you

Pace has become M3 Parkway (very UK there on the name)

The timetable is great until you realise trains never stop in Broombridge, off peak run non stop Clonsilla Docklands and the last train home is before 10pm and requires a change at Clonsilla

[ThomasJ]

not the greatest of timetables is it?......

last train outbound on saturday 19.20 and no connections to maynooth line services offered after that

last train outbound on sunday 18.10 and no connections to maynooth line services offered after that

last connection on weekday is to the 20.59hrs pearse maynooth

[ThomasJ]

new longford-maynooth-m3 parkway-dublin timetable for september 3rd onwards up on irish rail website

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2010/Dublin%20Maynooth%2010-2.pdf

[ColmmacO]

They removed the 09.05 clonsilla to connolly.
Damn!

[Mickey H]

Is this line covered by short hop tickets including the all day ones?

If not can you buy a ticket for the bit not covered at Connolly?

[Mark Gleeson]

The line is within the short hop zone

[ThomasJ]

so will the m3 parkway trains operate via the midland line to connolly at weekends given that it will run non-stop from clonsilla to connolly and am wondering will they make extra stops when events on at croke park.

[Alan French]

I noticed the name "M3 Parkway" on the signs a few weeks ago. It's a rather boring name, but I suppose Pace isn't a very well-known name. Imagine "Pace station" or "Is this train going to Pace?" Is the car park "one giant Pace for mankind"?
The route will probably still be called the Dunboyne line.

[Colm Moore]

Is M3 Parkway a geographical location?

http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/3458/57/...

However, the renaming request was denied on the basis that Iarnród Éireann now restricts the naming of stations to their geographical location, a policy which was developed on the back of repeated requests to rename stations after celebrities and other well-known figures.

...

[ACustomer]

For once IE are on the ball with thier refusal to use anything other than geographical names for stations. Just think of Drumcondra.:D

[brendan]

strange....

apart from the first few inbound or last few outbound on weekdays it would seem according to that timetable most dunboyne trains will operate non-stop between clonsilla and the city

I think the biggest mistake in this timetable is that the Saturday and Sunday don't stop at all stations. The gap between trains at the moment is 60 mins on Sundays and typically 45-60 minutes on Saturday. This was a great opportunity to double the weekend frequency to Connolly - but for whatever reason Coolmine to Drumcondra is bypassed :mad:

[finnyus]

FROM 3rd SEPTEMBER: Dunboyne (M3) Commuter rail timetable details by Corporate Communications

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2010/Dublin%20Maynooth%2010-2.pdf



Timetable up.

[Alan French]

I wonder why they decided that most trains will run non-stop to Clonsilla. Perhaps they want to market a high-speed service. (They have been told off in other parts of the country for trains being too slow.)

Or perhaps, in striking the balance between speed and number of places served, they reckoned that it's easier to add stops later than to remove them. I think that on balance, more stops will be needed, even if not all stations by every train.

I wonder what the train movements will be like in Connolly at weekends. They typically have about 37 minutes layover, so each train will have to move out of the way before returning to its departure platform. If they use the lower line (via Newcomen Junction) they will have to use platform 7.

[ThomasJ]

well interestingly the weekend services do say platform 7 in connolly (under journey information)

Now..... how about a new dublin map? :D

and maybe a new name for the maynooth line, m3 maynooth line anyone? :D

[brendan]

I wonder what the train movements will be like in Connolly at weekends. They typically have about 37 minutes layover, so each train will have to move out of the way before returning to its departure platform. If they use the lower line (via Newcomen Junction) they will have to use platform 7.

But doesn't this begs the question, why is P7 Connolly the final stop? I thought that the purpose of terminating Maynooth trains at P7 was that the Connolly didn't have additional capacity at peak times, and P7 got over this problem and meant that conflicts with other trains/DARTs were avoided. This should not be an issue offpeak and at weekends.

Given that it seems there is idle time of over half an hour before the return journey starts, I think all stations from Dunboyne to Pearse should be served (without any extra trains or drivers needed). Serving Tara St and Pearse would make the service more attractive for many potential Dunboyne passengers. It could also get the frequency from Clonsilla to Drumcondra down to half an hour most of the time. Serving all stations would add only 7 mins to the journey to Connolly.

I'd argue that the Mon-Fri off peak trains should also go all stations to Connolly/Pearse for the same reasons. Very few people want to go to Docklands, apart for people commuting to/from work. When the station opened, the original timetable had trains to Clonsilla throughtout the day. In reality the demand for Docklands did not exist between 10am and 4pm, and the trains were dropped in the next timetable. While the demand maybe a bit higher from Dunboyne (because they don't have the alternative of services to Connolly!), I would have doubts about how busy it will be.


Overall, I think this timetable is a bit of a wasted opportunity. I think that going to Docklands off peak, not going to Pearse at weekends, and not serving Coolmine to Drumcondra will mean the usage will be much lower than it should be.

[ThomasJ]

I don't know, I reckon the reason for this express service is to introduce the people of Meath to the fast and efficent world of rail while utilising existing stock.

How better way to do this than to run nonstop Clonsilla to the city and run via newcomen overcoming the notorious bottleneck into Connolly. I reckon even weekend services will not use drumcondra but via midlands line upto Connolly platform seven.

I do agree it is not fair for the rest of Dublin 15 but I do think it will change due to things like gaa matches soccer matches at lansdowne and meath people wanting to go to castleknock etc time will tell!

[Colm Moore]

http://dublinobserver.com/2010/08/new-station-to-remain-closed-on-dunboyne-line/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterNew station to remain closed on Dunboyne line

A fully complete railway station is to remain closed when services start next week because developers have yet to build an access road.

Rail Users Ireland said it was unacceptable that Hansfield Station in Dublin 15 will not open when train services to Dunboyne start next Friday.

“It is unacceptable, many of the residents of Hansfield bought there homes based on the promise of a railway station and a direct service to Dublin. There needs to be clarity as to what is going on and as to whether Irish Rail or Fingal County Council will step in to build the road,” said Mark Gleeson of Rail Users Ireland.

The unfinished access route

A banner still lines the boundary of Barnwell Hansfield saying: “Looks what’s coming Summer 2010 … Hansfield’s very own Train Station,” with the text “choo… choo… choose Barnwell Hansfield.”

Irish Rail said that the station is “fully complete”, but the rail company said it has yet to be given a timescale for the completion of the access road.

“As the developer has not built the access road, the line will open with Dunboyne and M3 Parkway Stations operational, and Hansfield will open when the developer completes the road,” said Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny.

He said the line will be officially opened this Thursday, September 2, with the full schedule commencing on Friday, September 3.

Kenny added: “As the development and access road works have stalled, we do not currently have a timescale from the developer for when this will be delivered. However, we are working with Fingal County Council to ensure that the developer honours their contractual obligation to build the road.”

Fingal County Council said it was in ongoing discussion with Irish Rail to work towards the opening of Hansfield Station.

“It is the responsibility of the developer to ensure that the access road for Hansfield Station is completed satisfactorily, and you would need to speak directly to Menolly Homes and Irish Rail on this matter,” said Ann Murphy, assistant communications officer at Fingal County Council.

Irish Rail confirmed that Menolly Homes and Manor Park Homes are responsible for building the access road. However, the developers have not replied to emails requesting comment.

The “fully complete” Hansfield Station surrounded by fields and a construction sites

Commuter rail services on the 7.5km railway line which has cost €160 million will also serve Dunboyne and a park-and-ride station M3 Parkway near Pace, both in Co Meath. It is the phase one of project to restore a rail link from Dublin to Navan, Co Meath. No bus services to M3 Parkway have being announced.

The timetable for the new rail line was released this week (PDF), with a note that “Hansfield opening date will be advised at a later date.” Train times can also be viewed using Irish Rail’s online timetable by entering dates on and after next Friday.

Trains will run from M3 Parkway, stop at Dunboyne, pass Hansfield until it opens, stop at the current Clonsilla Station. At weekdays trains will run express from Clonsilla to the Docklands Station in Dublin. Only trains on Saturday and Sunday will go to Connolly Station.

Commuters wanting to get to Pearse, Tara Street, Connolly, Drumcondra, Broombridge, Ashtown, Castleknock, Coolmine, Maynooth, or Leixlip stations should switch trains at Clonsilla.

The Docklands Station is around 500m to Luas Red Line stops, just under 900m to the nearest Dublin Bikes station on Custom House Quay and 1km to Connolly Station.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=880 FROM 3rd SEPTEMBER: Dunboyne (M3) Commuter rail timetable details by Corporate Communications

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed the new Dunboyne (M3) to Dublin commuter rail service timetable details, which will commence on Friday 3rd September.

Please search the journey planner on www.irishrail.ie or download the pdf here. http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2010/Dublin%20Maynooth%2010-2.pdf

The new line will branch off the Maynooth line at Clonsilla and serve Dunboyne and M3 Parkway Station, a major park and ride station at the interchange with the M3 north of Dunboyne.

Service pattern upon opening will be at half hourly intervals, and the infrastructure will allow for greater frequency as demand increases.

Journey time from Dunboyne to Dublin will be as little as 27 minutes at peak, with a 31 minute journey time from M3 Parkway Station to Dublin.

The service will be operated by Commuter trains, and services will run to and from Docklands Station on weekdays, and Connolly Station at weekends. Docklands Station provides easy access to the entire Docklands area, including the southside via the Samuel Beckett Bridge, and also allows for easy connections with Route 151 on Dublin Bus and Luas Red Line services.

The new M3 Parkway station will feature a 1,200 space car park, the largest park and ride facility in the country. There will be 300 car park spaces at Dunboyne Station.

A third new station will be provided at Hansfield, a developer led station, providing infrastructure for the Hansfield strategic development zone (SDZ). This station will be subsequently opened when a new link road to allow access to the station is completed by the developer.

The Clonsilla to Navan line was closed in 1963. Dunboyne has not been served by rail since 1947 when the station closed.

[ThomasJ]

timetable booklets available from connolly

[chris]

No bus services to M3 Parkway have being announced.

This is pretty prescient. Surely there is a market for connecting buses from Navan, enabling passengers to bypass the tolls.

Heaven forbid, you could even sell through tickets.

Or did they not build anywhere for buses to stop in the car park?..

[Mark Gleeson]

Bus Eireann still haven't got back to us despite two requests

There are several bus bays provided for at Pace/M3

[chris]

Bus Eireann still haven't got back to us despite two requests

There are several bus bays provided for at Pace/M3

Thanks. If BE don't do anything, I hope a private operator does.

[comcor]

Where exactly is the M3 Parkway station.

I looked on Google Maps, but not only does it not have the station, it doesn't even have the M3.

[Mark Gleeson]

Its in Pace about 3 miles north of Dunboyne before the turnoff for Fairyhouse

Its in bing maps, well the sat image shows the station underconstruction

[Colm Moore]

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.43559&lon=-6.47075&zoom=16&layers=M

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=sx57hdgftpkn&scene=53119621&lvl=1&sty=b - these images are of various dates, so if you move about, you see different stages of construction.

http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,701723,743812,6 - access is off the medium sized roundabout to the west of the motorway interchange. If you look at the historic layer, you can see the original railway.

Meath County Council are meant to be working with Irish Rail in improving pedestrian access.

[Mark Gleeson]

Bus Eireann have confirmed that all route 111/112 buses will call at M3 Parkway from Sept 3rd onwards

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0902/breaking48.htmlDunboyne railway line reopens
TIM O'BRIEN

One of three new rail stations on the reopened Dunboyne railway line is to remain closed until a road is built linking it to the nearest town.

The €160 million, 7.5km service links to the existing Maynooth line at Clonsilla and new stations have been built at Hansfield, Dunboyne and the M3 Parkway, just north of Dunboyne.

The service will open to the public tomorrow morning.

However, Hansfield station will remain closed despite being completed. According to Irish Rail, a road linking the station – which is part of a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) ‑ has not been provided by the developers of Hansfield.

Irish Rail is also seeking amendments to the Hansfield zone to include a car park at the station for commuters. A car park was provided as part of the Adamstown development on the Kildare line, which was opened in 2007.

The new service will transform commuting for residents of Dunboyne and for commuters from across Co Meath, who will use the new M3 Parkway Station, a 1,200 space park and ride facility which allows direct access from the end of the M3.

The service will operate from the new M3 Parkway and Dunboyne stations to Docklands station from Monday to Friday and to Connolly at weekends.

The new service offers peak journey times of 31 minutes from M3 Parkway to Dublin and 27 minutes from Dunboyne, with services operating every half hour in each direction at peak times.

Some 300 pay-and-display car parking spaces are available at Dunboyne, with a further 1,200 spaces at M3 Parkway. The M3 Parkway will be the largest public transport park-and-ride site in Ireland.

Bus Éireann coaches on the Granard-Athboy-Trim-Dublin route will also serving M3 Parkway station

Dunboyne has not been served by rail since 1947 when the station closed. Trains to Navan ceased in 1963.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said people deserve reliable public transport options. "That’s what this new service will provide here in Meath. I have no doubt that it will be a very popular service."

He also reaffirmed his commitment to the reopening of the line as far as Navan, although this was not mentioned in the recent launch of the Government’s infrastructure investment priorities to 2016.

The Minister said planning permission for the line was due to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in May 2011. “The development and construction of the Navan rail line is a key part of the Government’s infrastructure investment programme,” he maintained.

[Traincustomer]

Bus Eireann have confirmed that all route 111/112 buses will call at M3 Parkway from Sept 3rd onwards

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1283360532-111.pdf

The PDF timetable for same is now available. Hard copy timetable leaflets, if not already available, should be available at Busáras soon.

111 is the Athboy/Trim-Dublin route and 112 the Granard - Athboy/Trim - Dublin route.

[Traincustomer]

And...
http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2010/M3ParkwayBuses.pdf

Good to see this integration but it's needed across the whole country.

[dowlingm]

Better would be IE running its own buses to Navan, Trim etc. with through fares. Nah, this is Ireland...

[James Howard]

I used to use the Granard bus years ago and back then it used to let passengers off on O'Connell street. If it still does, I can't imagine there would be much takers for the train transfer particularly if it costs more.

That being said, the journey time is pretty good if you were using this bus route and wanted to go to docklands. 15 minutes running time from Clonsilla to Docklands instead of 24 to Connolly is pretty impressive but I suppose it is a bit useless if you need to connect with the DART or go into town.

If only they could do the same express trick for the Longford trains but keep them going to Connolly. I've never understood why they can't make these just stop at Clonsilla and Dromcondra. If they did that, 4 cars would be plenty for the 6:15 from Longford which has tumbleweeds blowing through it before Maynooth. This same train goes down in the evening with less than 10% occupancy after Maynooth.

[CastaheaneyMan]

So how much is it from Dunboyne to Clonsilla one way - €2.30 as in Short Hop Zone?

[Mark Gleeson]

Should be 2.00 or 2.30 single

IE have not published the fares matrix for intermediate journeys yet

[ThomasJ]

And...
http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2010/M3ParkwayBuses.pdf

Good to see this integration but it's needed across the whole country.

and here are the bus connection details in the dublin city centre-docklands area
http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2010/DocklandsBuses.pdf

[ThomasJ]

Two things:

1. After the match tonight, people looking to head to dunboyne arrived in Clonsilla. Had to break the bad news to them!

2. Timetable notice at Clonsilla still showing the pre September 3rd timetable

[Mark Gleeson]

Another classic Irish Rail mess

For reference as is the standard Irish Rail practice stations have to be renamed before opening just to confuse you

Pace has become M3 Parkway (very UK there on the name)

Seems it was to be called Pace

[Colm Moore]

I think "Pace M3" or "M3 Pace" would have beeb a better name.

There is Little Pace a few km away, but I don't think people would confuse them.

[Freddy]

Does anyone know why the new trains arent stopping at Broombridge?

[MugsGame]

Does anyone know why the new trains arent stopping at Broombridge?

Because Irish Rail are abandoning Broombridge? I don't know what they are at.

Peak service frequency to Connolly reduced to 1/2 or 1/3 what it was since last Friday (depending on when you are travelling) and there are now no direct services to Docklands (online planner suggests "changing" at Clonsilla or Ashtown!). Weekend service is appalling (http://railusers.ie/forum/showpost.php?p=58060&postcount=14).

Even with the old timetable trains were often early or sometimes neglected to stop at Broombridge when they should have - can't really take that risk now when you could be waiting ages for the next one. So bus it is if I'm coming from Broombridge. With no machinery on site Irish Rail can't have accurate passenger numbers for Broombridge, but such a drastic reduction in frequency is only going to ensure a decline in demand.

I didn't see any advance notice of this severe reduction in service to Broombridge (and Drumcondra.). The cynic in me thinks this is a negotiating ploy for funding to increase service when the LUAS interconnector arrives, but I don't think Irish Rail are capable of that sort of planning. The Drumcondra reduction is probably to allow them use the alternative route into Connolly that doesn't pass Drumcondra station. But that excuse doesn't apply to Broombridge, maybe they are trying to reduce the scope for fare evaders claiming they boarded at Broombridge?

[Freddy]

Ive emailed a few Tds and councillors to see if they can find out from Irish rail why the trains are not stopping at Broombridge.
Irish Rail dont seem to know why - they gave me the press guys name to talk to.

[ThomasJ]

i presume its to save time, and to ensure that what resources are available are being used are being used to their maximum

bear in mind coolmine-ashtown are getting the same service as broombridge off-peak its peak that broombridge is losing out but maynooth and longford services are quiet frequent at that time

one major issue though..... only 1 platform is being used at Docklands STILL and as a result (i have noticed this on the 09:17 ex clonsilla) that the train has to sit outside docklands and wait for the train on the one platform to depart. The time being saved by skipping coolmine-brrombridge is being lost because of this wait and impacting on the journey ie broombridgev-glasnevin area

both platforms should be used at docklands to avoid this problem and speed up journies

[Freddy]

But surely they should be improving the service rather that cutting it. :)

You can no longer go direct from Broombridge to Docklands. This morning I got the train to Pearse and some people stayed on the platform waiting for the train to docklands - they were further up the platform or I would have told them the train no longer stops there. Surely they could have put up a sign informing that service was being cut.

I got through to someone else in Irish rail and they said there have been a good few callers and the matter is now being investigated with a view to getting the trains stopping at peak times but there is "no quick fix".

Its crazy that it was dropped at all from the schedule.

[MugsGame]

coolmine-ashtown are getting the same service as broombridge off-peak

I'm not sure this is true, Docklands trains serve the former even off-peak.

but maynooth and longford services are quiet frequent at that time

Perhaps, but some of the Maynooth-Connolly trains don't even stop at Broombridge e.g. 08:10, 09:36 from Maynooth. Though actually this is affecting Ashtown and Clonsilla too. The 9:36 appears to be a Sligo train so that's understandable, but not sure about the 8:10.

Surely they could have put up a sign informing that service was being cut.

Yes, the lack of notice is one of my major issues with this change. At the very least signs in Docklands, Pearse and Connolly, plus on board announcements on affected services last Thursday. A sign in Broombridge unfortunately might not survive very long, but it would have been nice to see an attempt.

Broombridge has been a problem station but it serves a huge catchment area who deserve better. Less frequent service risks making it a no-go area.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0921/1224279369240.htmlCall for rail services to be reinstated

Residents of Cabra and Finglas in Dublin are calling on IIarnród Éireann to reinstate services at Broombridge station which have been cut since the opening of the Dunboyne to Docklands rail line this month. Daily services at Broombridge station, Cabra, have been cut from 42 trains each way to 32 each way.

An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said omitting Broombridge from the new service was needed to ensure “strong journey times” from Dunboyne. It also reflected the usage of Broombridge.