Top Class Service!

[Jamie2k9]

So far coming up to 4 hours to move the 06.00 from Cork at Newbridge! They are fixing the train on the line instead of getting it joined up to another 22 or send an 071 to haul it.

It really is time the NTA start fining them for there pathetic service and they continuous refusal to haul failed DMUs. They have also slipped back to moving a number of trains past stations knownly. Departed Athy at 09.15 and still waiting outside Kildare 2.5 hours lather.

Rail operators in the UK would be fined over 30,000 and counting.....for each and every service delayed.

[Jamie2k9]

So 4 hours on and they got it repaired and moving.

[James Howard]

The 22Ks really don't seem to like being left out in the cold. The 0545 from Sligo failed this morning as well. They just gave up in Carrick. I don't know if they even bothered delaying the 0620ish from Longford to serve commuters.

It seems to be the usual complete lack of any kind of contingency planning. There isn't really any point in fining Irish Rail as they'll only put on the poor-mouth about not being able to pay the fine. Who'd have though that there might be an inch of snow during an Irish winter and that the temperatures might get down to to -3.

In the UK, for all its faults, rail company executives are accountable to their shareholders, so if they end up running up massive fines that affect the bottom line, they will eventually get fired.

[Jamie2k9]

The 22Ks really don't seem to like being left out in the cold. The 0545 from Sligo failed this morning as well. They just gave up in Carrick. I don't know if they even bothered delaying the 0620ish from Longford to serve commuters.

It seems to be the usual complete lack of any kind of contingency planning. There isn't really any point in fining Irish Rail as they'll only put on the poor-mouth about not being able to pay the fine. Who'd have though that there might be an inch of snow during an Irish winter and that the temperatures might get down to to -3.

In the UK, for all its faults, rail company executives are accountable to their shareholders, so if they end up running up massive fines that affect the bottom line, they will eventually get fired.

I agree about the 22's however IE knew full well about the cold weather and 22s were left running on reduced power 24/7 during the last cold spell.

According to news a frozen pipe caused air pressure damage to the 22 at Newbridge. They better have a solution to apply across the 22 fleet immediately to address the problem as I suspect this isn't a new problem but more a case of IE felt sure everything would be grand.

It's a bit like IE's surprise of frozen points at Athlone to name one place on the Galway route. They shouldn't of being allowed to freeze. In the US they literally set the tracks on Fire to stop it!

[James Howard]

If it was lack of brake pressure, surely it would be quite difficult to get it moving with a tow. That being said, there is no excuse for pretty much every long-distance train service being 2 hours late this morning. It wasn't even that cold - the minimums overnight barely got lower than -2 degrees. In a normal winter, we can expect those temperatures at least a dozen times.

[Inniskeen]

I thought the 0600 had reverted to Mk4 operation some time ago ?

[Mark Gleeson]

The trains are actually fitted with a piece of equipment to ensure that air is dried to remove any moisture content. I've seen a 29k start from cold in -15C.

This is clearly a maintenance issue and the weather is quite innocent

[Jamie2k9]

I thought the 0600 had reverted to Mk4 operation some time ago ?

It lasted a very short time, the 06.00 and 21.00 experience changes frequently however the other two services 13.00 and 16.20 remain Mark IV so four set are in regular service.

If it was lack of brake pressure, surely it would be quite difficult to get it moving with a tow. That being said, there is no excuse for pretty much every long-distance train service being 2 hours late this morning. It wasn't even that cold - the minimums overnight barely got lower than -2 degrees. In a normal winter, we can expect those temperatures at least a dozen times.

I'm sure it may be complex however I do believe it would of being possible at very low speed. If it was a 201 it would be a very different story.

[ACustomer]

This evening the IE website has a news and service update item warning people to "be Winter ready". A pity they don't take their own advice!

[berneyarms]

If it was lack of brake pressure, surely it would be quite difficult to get it moving with a tow. That being said, there is no excuse for pretty much every long-distance train service being 2 hours late this morning. It wasn't even that cold - the minimums overnight barely got lower than -2 degrees. In a normal winter, we can expect those temperatures at least a dozen times.

Presumably pilot working had to be introduced on the other line to get all of the trains blocked behind the Cork-Dublin train around it. That's never a quick procedure.

Sounds like a day from Hell on the railways.

[James Howard]

Today isn't shaping up to be much better but this can't be helped really. 50mph maximum sounds sensible with trees and trampolines likely to be flying about. On the 0545 from Sligo which was about 20 minutes late at Edgeworthstown.

[dowlingm]

Hopefully the air dryers on the 22s are up to the task and properly maintained. We have about 10% of the Toronto streetcar fleet gone sick this week because of moisture in air lines (the new ones are all-electric so don't have that issue)

[Jamie2k9]

Today isn't shaping up to be much better but this can't be helped really. 50mph maximum sounds sensible with trees and trampolines likely to be flying about. On the 0545 from Sligo which was about 20 minutes late at Edgeworthstown.

Indeed but they also advised this last night which was good and apart from the NW it was only the first departure on most routes.

Hopefully the air dryers on the 22s are up to the task and properly maintained. We have about 10% of the Toronto streetcar fleet gone sick this week because of moisture in air lines (the new ones are all-electric so don't have that issue)

They should be as they did reasonably well before, however all should be checked as soon as possible.

Presumably pilot working had to be introduced on the other line to get all of the trains blocked behind the Cork-Dublin train around it. That's never a quick procedure.

Sounds like a day from Hell on the railways.

Not quick at all however in they process they increased delays from 75 to 175 minutes within an hour.

The 06.40 (Limerick), 07.10 (Waterford) arrived 75 minutes late which is acceptable as they would of being close enough to the failed train at the time however it's what happened next which is questionable.

The 09.00 to Cork was held at Nass for over 90 minutes yet the 08.10 (Portlaosie), 07.40 (Limerick) and 07.50 (Waterfrod) were all severely delayed when there was noting blacking the single line (from what I could tell service wise). What then happened was they allowed a load of ex Heuston services proceed outbound while still holding the peak services (09.00, 09.25, 10.00, 10.15) before they then cleared the 07.40 and 07.50 Heuston bound services however when these were being cleared they managed to get the 06.00 moving. What happened in that 90 (close estimate) minutes needs to be found out.

All very badly handled and even if they couldn't haul the failed service (bet wasn't even considered anyway) outbound services should of being fully suspended between 08.30 and 11.00 all priority given to all peak inbound services which would be significantly busier.

Just on the frozen pipe could it realistically happen on route or was it a case run the service until it stops itself?

[James Howard]

There certainly seems to be something amiss with the 22Ks in the cold. According to @IrishRail, there have been two cancellations this morning and the 0545 from Sligo is a 29K.

The icy blast from the doors certainly keeps you alert on the journey. The only thing more annoying than seeing a 29K pull up in the morning is passing a 22K doing a run to Maynooth.

[Jamie2k9]

06.05 ex Waterford cancelled, 07.10 delayed departure by 20 minutes due to mechanical faults as was the 07.20 ex Portlaoise cancelled to.

[Kilocharlie]

06.05 ex Waterford cancelled, 07.10 delayed departure by 20 minutes due to mechanical faults as was the 07.20 ex Portlaoise cancelled to.

The Real Time showed both the 0605 and the 0720 as being on-time. Appears the system reverts to timetable if a train is cancelled.

[Mark Gleeson]

06:05 ex Waterford cancelled
07:10 ex Waterford delayed (appears they tried to couple up to part of the 06:05)
07:20 ex Portlaoise cancelled

Signal fault north of Malahide caused significant delays in both directions through the rush hour

[James Howard]

Don't know anything at all about other lines, but the last I heard, real-time doesn't work at all beyond Maynooth on the Sligo line.

[ACustomer]

There is still an item on the IE Homepage advising us to be winter-ready. LOL.

[Jamie2k9]

Don't know anything at all about other lines, but the last I heard, real-time doesn't work at all beyond Maynooth on the Sligo line.

Outside Dublin-Cork/Athlone its not overly reliable. Waterford line only picks data from services towards Dublin but not back down.

06:05 ex Waterford cancelled
07:10 ex Waterford delayed (appears they tried to couple up to part of the 06:05)
07:20 ex Portlaoise cancelled

Signal fault north of Malahide caused significant delays in both directions through the rush hour

Shouldn't of had to change units around unless they had more than one problem.

2 6 coach sets should of being together and then the lone 3 and 5 coach sets. One of the 6 coach sets wouldnt of being operating since Saturday evening could have a lot to do with the problem if something froze!

Limerick J service should of being cancelled and 06.05 operate with reduced capacity. Cant see it being to busy.

[James Howard]

So for this morning according to Irish Rail's twitter feed, we've had two Sligo services - one each way - terminate at Mullingar and one Rosslare service running 50 minute late.

[berneyarms]

So for this morning according to Irish Rail's twitter feed, we've had two Sligo services - one each way - terminate at Mullingar and one Rosslare service running 50 minute late.

Well they've terminated the 08:00 Connolly/Sligo service at Mullingar to provide an onward train for the 07:00 Sligo/Connolly to Dublin.

The train with the least passengers (08:00 Connolly/Sligo) is now operating as bus transfers.

[Inniskeen]

Well they've terminated the 08:00 Connolly/Sligo service at Mullingar to provide an onward train for the 07:00 Sligo/Connolly to Dublin.

The train with the least passengers (08:00 Connolly/Sligo) is now operating as bus transfers.

Can't really argue with the logic in respect of Sligo services this morning although there seems to have been a litany of failures this week affecting Cork, Waterford, Sligo, Rosslare and Portlaoise sevices. When the inevitable signal failures are added, it hasn't been a great week although not as bad as last week !