Tall Ships Waterford June/July

[Mark Gleeson]

In a surprise move Irish Rail will be running extra trains in conjunction with this event

No details yet but Clonmel is likely to see a very good service to Waterford over the 4 days of the event, even more surprising late evening trains!

Sadly no train service Waterford-Rosslare though

[Inniskeen]

There was really massive overcrowding on these services on the last occasion this event were in Waterford. Is it proposed to operate any services from Limerick ?

[Mark Gleeson]

Information I have is limited but a shuttle service from Clonmel to Waterford is planned.

Some limited extra trains Waterford Kilkenny as well, but there is massive unused capacity on the Kilkenny Waterford leg of Dublin services.

Talk of evening services as well and given Waterford has several 6 coach ICR's overnight there is capacity there to move a large number

Waterford Rosslare or even Campile is out not due infrastructure but a lack of trains. Clonmel is the largest inland town in Ireland so it does deserve priority

Its only 21 days away and Irish Rail have made no statement or uploaded it into the timetable

[ACustomer]

Looking at the traffic arrangements for the Tall Ships festival, there are huge restrictions on road access. Rail access therefore will have an equally huge advantage, and let's see if IE management are up to the task of exploiting it. If the don't come up with something big, then all my suspicions about their utter incompetence will be justified.

They might even offer a series of short out-and-back riverside cruises by train down to Bellview to coincide with the arrival and departude of the ships.

Alas, I'm not optimistic, but I hope I'm wrong.

[Traincustomer]

Even with train shortages it wouldn't be impossible to operate some sort of basic service east of Waterford but I've very little confidence in this happening. Sadly the powers that be largely appear to be entrenched in the sort of railway "can't do" culture where every reason not to do so will likely be found/extrapolated to ensure it doesn't happen.

[Jamie2k9]

Even with train shortages it wouldn't be impossible to operate some sort of basic service

Did 19 3car sets arrive in a few weeks ago. I know IE do something like 9000km testing before they accept them into passenger service but surely they could of a few ready by the end of June.

[Mark Gleeson]

Looking at 2 months minimum to commission a unit. The tests require a block of running without fault and every time a fault is encountered the clock starts again

Obviously one needs drivers to drive a train

Irish Rail haven't announced the timetable yet so we can only make a statement when it has been released

[dowlingm]

Clonmel-Waterford? That's highly dangerous. People might get the idea to agitate for trains to be stabled there for Waterford commuter service and the first Limerick Junction run as opposed to the useless Waterford-LJ run which doesn't run on to Limerick.

Please reassure me that normal practice will be followed (the trains will run but no-one will be told they are running). :rolleyes:

@jamie2k9 only 4 x 3 car sets have yet arrived, plus the return of the 22x39 cars from Scotland. We're a ways from seeing them carrying passengers yet.

[Jamie2k9]

Thur 30 June - Sat 2 July:
Heuston - Waterford
07:20 - 09:45
09:10 - 11:36
10:10 - 12:50 - all stops from Newbridge - Waterford
11:10 - 13:36
13:10 - 15:25
15:10 - 17:30
16:35 - 19:00
17:35 - 20:00
18:35 - 20:55

Waterford - Heuston
06:10 - 08:20
07:10 - 09:10
07:40 - 10:00
11:00 - 13:25
13:00 - 15:28
13:37 - 15:47 - Muine Beag & Carlow only
14:50 - 17:18
16:50 - 19:25
18:20 - 20:50
20:15 - 22:50 - all stops to Cherry Orchard/Park West

Sun 3 July:
Heuston - Waterford:
09:10 - 11:30
14:10 - 16:30
17:40 - 20:05
18:40 - 21:00

Waterford - Heuston
09:05 - 11:25
12:30 - 14:45 - all stops to Newbridge
13:05 - 15:30
15:05 - 17:25
18:05 - 20:30

No extra clonmel services added to timetable.

[Inniskeen]

My understanding is that there will be up to 6 additional services each way between Clonmel and Waterford. Something similar between Kulkenny and Waterford. Last trains to both locations after 2300 on each of the 3 days of the festival.

[Mark Gleeson]

A train every 2 hours Clonmel - Waterford (its 45 minutes each way so a single set can deliver that) is what I've been told which aligns with 6 extra. On those hours where there is a normally scheduled Waterford Limerick Junc train the set can get out and back to Killkenny with ease

Some freight services will be reschedule/cancelled to provide capacity

Given its is now less than 2 weeks to go lack of public notice of this is starting to be a concern

[Jamie2k9]

My understanding is that there will be up to 6 additional services each way between Clonmel and Waterford. Something similar between Kulkenny and Waterford. Last trains to both locations after 2300 on each of the 3 days of the festival.

If they added a 21:15, 22:15 and 23:15 service to kilkenny. It's possible to do it.

There needs to be more services to Dublin on the Sunday. Most people will come down on Friday and go back on Sunday.

[Kilocharlie]

Full timetable is here!

http://www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie/wp-content/files/2011/05/Train_Timetable_for_Website.doc

[neoncircles]

Where are they getting the trains for all this?

[Mark Gleeson]

Some of the extra services from Dublin are off peak so they are using trains available otherwise, they are simply using two 2700 units, one is already spare from the Rosslare-Waterford closure and another since the WRC isn't as busy as planned.

Evening services are likely to use the ICR sets which overnight in Waterford so lots of seats available

People said it would never happen...

[Jamie2k9]

I see that timetable is for Thursday, Friday and Saturday only. No Sunday service to Clonmel and very few services to Kilkenny and Dublin. Why can't Irish Rail provide a proper service, they always do a half job with everything.