Iarnrod Eireann's Plans to Save Ailing Lines

[SESRSF]

As some of you may have heard, Coras Iompair Eireann has set about considering the Parry People Mover as a possible saviour of the following; Waterford - Limerick, Limerick - Nenagh, and even Rosslare - Waterford.

Is this Irish Rail trying to appear to be for the poeple? Will the units survive 20 years of being thrashed up and down the lines? Will more of the infrastructure have to be ripped out to make it more viable? Views please.

[Mark Gleeson]

Irish Rail is actually engaging in a blocking strategy to prevent others with a real interest from coming forward. They have entertained all kinds of crazy proposals including a plan to electrify the route (not joking)

The NTA has confirmed that there is no subsidy for the route so Irish Rail is effectively locked out. Any restoration with subsidy would require a public tender

There are three international rail/transport companies interested in running a real service with real trains. I have personally spoken with managers in two in the last 10 days one involved flying to ******* to review one of there current operations.

Irish Rail is legally blocked from ripping the track up on Rosslare Waterford by both the actually lines owners and also by the NTA

The simplest problem with the Parry People mover lark is its not big enough to cope with demand, 50+ passengers were routine on the route before closure. I've seen it take 3 large mini buses to replace a Waterford Limerick Junction train (all seats taken on all buses)

[Thomas Ralph]

Maybe they should buy a few rakes of Pacers from over here :)

[SESRSF]

Well, I'd say no, the Pacers aren't DDA complant, and they're to be replaced with the older D78 Stock once they have left from the District Line. Lord only knows what their official designation will be.

I know that Tanya has been involved in the talks, as well as your good self Mark. But, what I am led to believe is that they will propose to have a prototype 2-car PPM100 built for the lines, with perhaps the PPM60 in use on the line to Nenagh.

I'd assume that perhaps Go-Ahead, or Arriva wold be interested in running rail services over that route. From experience, I'd say that Pacers are worse than the Parrys, and D78 stock probably better than both.

But then, D78 Stock is more Metro North than Tipperary North.

Any users of the Waterford - Limerick line on here? If so, do more than 100 people use the train any one time?

[Thomas Ralph]

Thankfully, the DDA is a UK law and does not apply in Ireland.

[SESRSF]

Oh OK, I thought it applied to all of Europe now.

[Mark Gleeson]

I'd assume that perhaps Go-Ahead, or Arriva wold be interested in running rail services over that route. From experience,

Neither Go-Ahead, or Arriva are currently interested in operating in Ireland and I have never spoken with them there are others

I have a unique view on pacers which the RUI committee will know but we will be spared this thankfully. Irish Rail is subject to requirement via the DoT and NTA to ensure all new trains meet the UK DDA/RVAR and EU TSI's on accessibility

The problem is that you can't have a lightweight tram/train on a mainline and the Rosslare-Waterford-Limerick Junction line still is a mainline with trains of up to 1000 tons at times at reasonable speeds. Unlike the UK trials where the line is isolated from the mainline there is shared running at all points on the route and the last thing we want is to block potential through passenger and freight

[SESRSF]

Yes there's a point, especially dangerous when you consider the crossing at Limerick Junction. Where small tram/trains are at risk of being sideswiped at 100MPH, in a worst-case scenario kind of incident.

Also, yes it will be of disruption to pretty much everyone else.

But, the Pacers are to go in favour of older, slower rolling stock in Britain, so any company would be very desperate indeed to get 80's rolling stock being replaced by 70's rolling stock.

Also, the regauging of Paces would much harder than doing it Sprinters for example, because of the affixed wheelsets on the pacers.

[Mark Gleeson]

Proper mainline trains are proposed by all interested parties currently, no importing of trains from the UK is proposed. In cost terms there is no point buying second hand junk when there is soon to be a glut of reasonably modern trains here.

Long term a direct service from Galway via Limerick to Rosslare is the goal and that requires a train capable of 75+mph to a reasonable standard which blows out of the water any kind of cheap tram tram solution

[Jamie2k9]

Any users of the Waterford - Limerick line on here? If so, do more than 100 people use the train any one time?

Use the service a little. The train couldn't hold 100 people. The most I have saw was about 30 ish people but would guess about 20 normally. 3 services a day doesn't work and the times are bad but they would have a very profitable service between Colonel - Waterford if they had a train ever 2 hours and an arrival in Waterford for 8.30 and a departure at 17.30.

A few weeks back the 6.40 had nobody on it leaving Waterford. Not a surprise as it should be running in the other direction.

[Traincustomer]

As some of you may have heard, Coras Iompair Eireann has set about considering the Parry People Mover as a possible saviour of the following; Waterford - Limerick, Limerick - Nenagh, and even Rosslare - Waterford.

Is this Irish Rail trying to appear to be for the poeple? Will the units survive 20 years of being thrashed up and down the lines? Will more of the infrastructure have to be ripped out to make it more viable? Views please.

Hi, have noticed that you only mention "Limerick-Nenagh" - I guess this means Nenagh-Roscrea-Ballybrophy would, even under such plans, be closed?

My main concern here (and this is no reflection in any way on the formidable work towards restoring/retaining services being done) is that prospective operators would be “put off” by this apparent blocking strategy. I’m confident that they are robust companies but over time things can wear even the best down. Like many others I’d like to see Rosslare-Waterford restored and Limerick Junction-Waterford and Ballybrophy-Limerick retained. My preference would be to see a new operator/s. It would be awful that this current strong potential to restore and retain services would dissipate to the point where, for instance two years down the line there would be “no hope whatsoever” of anything.

Another thought is if they really want to Irish Rail may well find enough money from somewhere to reinstate the service without subsidy.

[jacko]

Hi, have noticed that you only mention "Limerick-Nenagh" - I guess this means Nenagh-Roscrea-Ballybrophy would, even under such plans, be closed?

cant see it closing especially with local TD Alan Kelly now minister for public transport

[SESRSF]

That's the thing, IE may close that section because of many people having made alternative arrangments already, such as people going to Ballybrophy from Roscrea, instead of Roscrea itself.

You never know though, but the Colm McCarthy report is threatening that there's no hope whatever way you cut it.

Let's just maintain high hopes for now, I'm sure that with some kind of Community Rail Partnership, something can be worked out.

I will see to it that CIE get a full and frank e-mail - Don't wait with baited breath for a response though.

[Mark Gleeson]

The Nenagh line is the weakest link in the system currently as it is horrifically
uncompetitive in journey times.

I'd put money on it being next in the line for the axe

[comcor]

And unlike Limerick-Waterford, which could be seen as being of strategic importance because it links two largeish cities, the Limerick-Nenagh-Ballybrophy line links two towns to the network that are the same size as many others that got disconnected over the years - Youghal, New Ross, Bandon, Tuam, Macroom, Cavan, Monaghan etc.

Although I can't quite see it going while Kelly is the Minister in charge.

[Traincustomer]

That's interesting SESRSF about the northern section of the Nenagh line.

The Bord Snip report may well be very good from an economic perspective but feel it's fair comment to say that it displayed less than a complete mastery of understanding of rail services (e.g. by suggesting ceasing the Ballina line despite the freight flows). I think the railway needs to be guided by its general thrust rather its precise prescriptive measures.

Interestingly and slightly aside there are track works this coming Saturday between Birdhill and Roscrea. Wonder what the nature of these works are as Birdhill to Roscrea is quite a long stretch. (Bus substitution will apply-more details on website).

[SESRSF]

What I've heard on the Save The Rosslare-Waterford line page, one theory is that they're simply doing this to look like the line is costing more to run than it really is.

That is just a theory I have heard though, don't take it as gospel. In fact, I'm not even sure if I should take anything I've heard as gospel.

This is mainly theories and rumour, who knows, IE may have just forgotten to mention Ballybrophy. I think this because there was some article in a magazine some time back saying "Rosslare - Wellingtonbridge - Waterford, Waterford - Clonmel - Limerick Junction, and Limerick - Nenagh -"

Out of interest, would anyone like the latest news regarding PPMs? The Rosslare - Waterford is mentioned, along with two other unnamed lines which I'd assume are W-LJ and L-BallyB, mind you, it is from Parry, so might be a bit biased.

I do hope that the entirety of the line does survive.

[neoncircles]

Why bother with those silly PPM's when we already have 2 2751 single railcars, which, to my understanding, were acquired with the intention of using them on Waterford-Limk Jctn and Limk-Bphy? They have the same capacity as a road going coach I reckon...

[Thomas Ralph]

I don't think 2750s are allowed to operate in single units in case the engine in one unit breaks.

[ThomasJ]

Maybe they should buy a few rakes of Pacers from over here :)

They could do the job :D

(by the way little off topic side note hope all is okay out your way!)

[Thomas Ralph]

(by the way little off topic side note hope all is okay out your way!)

I'm fine; few local stations, bars, shops etc burnt out.

[ThomasJ]

Thats good!

Dont worry theyll soon get bored!

I feel for the people who have lost property etc.

[Mark Gleeson]

2751 and 2753 are allowed out on there own

53 seats, accessible toilet and bike rack

There was concern in the past that they would not trigger track circuits correctly so they now have a magic box under the floor to deal with that.

Cost wise there isn't much in savings really, in the case of Waterford Rosslare the allocation of costs was actually fair and did not allocate the train maintenance costs to the line

[Colm Moore]

The real costs in running Waterford-Limerick Junction (19? level crossings) and Killonan-Ballybrophy (27? level crossings) are staff costs and line maintenance.

Replacing the existing vehicles with a light(?) rail vehcile that could stop at every level crossing would remove those staff, but at the cost of new vehicles and infrastructure changes.

If these were to be light rail vehicles, you would still you'd have the problem of getting from Killonan to Limerick. While there are two tracks, using one exclusively for these vehicles could severly impact on Limerick-Limerick Junction-(Dublin) and Limerick-Galway services. Adding such vehicles on Limerick-Galway merely moves the problem to Athenry-Galway.

[dowlingm]

The amount of money spent on the Nenagh track (and still being spent) is going to cause a lot of disquiet if it is to be closed. Problem is, now it seems the bridges are in need of remedials too!