[article] Railway works delay hurling fans

[Mark Gleeson]

Railway works delay hurling fans

Sunday September 07 2008
Work on the Rosslare to Dublin railway caused havoc for Waterford and Kilkenny fans making their way to the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final at Croke Park in Dublin today.

Passengers had to get off the train at Greystones because work on the line has overrun.

Iarnród Eireann has provided a bus service to Croke Park and has assured fans they will make it there before throw-in at 3.30pm this afternoon.
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/railway-works-delay-hurling-fans-1471298.html

Of course we can find no notice of any engineering works, or is it one of those made up excuses

It appears Bray Greystones is closed currently, but no notice on the Irish Rail website to that effect, well thats no surprise really is it?

[Thomas Ralph]

Well, there was a message on the PIS at Sandymount earlier saying that Greystones-Bray was out until noon.

[Colm R]

Anyone know how this went yesterday. I heard on RTE that they were going to run the delayed train on to Drumcondra.

[Mark Gleeson]

There was no notice on the Irish Rail website, no notice at Pearse station on Saturday evening and the online timetable showed full service running. First I knew of engineering works was the breaking news piece

They got a bus the rest of the way, Greystones is very well used on big GAA days by fans from the south, including Kilkenny thanks to its large and free car park

[Colm Moore]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fans-fury-as-rail-delay-forces-them-to-miss-first-match-1471384.htmlFans' fury as rail delay forces them to miss first match
By Patricia McDonagh
Monday September 08 2008

HURLING fans were left fuming yesterday after rail works forced many to miss yesterday's minor final curtain-raiser at Croke Park.

Work on the Rosslare to Dublin railway delayed many Kilkenny fans who were on their way to GAA headquarters for the double-header in Dublin yesterday.

The 9.25am service -- which had 250 passengers on board -- was forced to stop in Wicklow because work in Greystones station overran.

Rail staff were doing scheduled maintenance throughout the night and were forced to continue because of delays.

Passengers experienced delays of up to two hours in Wicklow and were finally provided with a bus at 1.15pm. The bus travelled directly to Croke Park to facilitate those going to the match. Fans arrived at 2.10pm, with many missing the All-Ireland minor final between Kilkenny and Galway.

- Patricia McDonagh

[sean]

Just curious, why would Waterford and Kilkenny fans be travelling on the Rosslare line instead of the (presumably more appropriate) Waterford line in the firstplace?

[Colm R]

Just curious, why would Waterford and Kilkenny fans be travelling on the Rosslare line instead of the (presumably more appropriate) Waterford line in the firstplace?

Mostly due to demand. Kilkenny and Waterford are the same line and would have been completely sold out. And a lot of people just don't want to drive to Dublin.

Parts of East Waterford and Kilkenny are not too far away from the Rosslare line an could be easier to get to.

The Rosslare line goes to Connolly which is nice and handy.

When I lived in Cork, some of the match specials would go to Connolly which actually made the day so much better. Generally for Semi Finals they don't and there is nothing worse than:

1. Celebrating or Commiserating for about 30 seconds.

2. Rushing out of the stadium and running, walking fast, getting shin spins. Is there a bus, oh s**t, no 90 bus, right walk. Walk faster, run, oh dear, we made it. Oh darn we have to stand all the way home. This was before Luas by the way.

I know people who turn down Hogan stand tickets on the basis that it adds an extra 10 minutes to the journey back to Heuston.

Some of friends from counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare say they find it comical they way people from counties on the West and South Coast "leg it" after the match.

[ACustomer]

Historical note: the previous All-Ireland involving Waterford and Kilkenny (1963) saw 6 specials run Waterford-Amiens St (as it was) via New Ross, leaving the Kilkenny line for Kilkenny fans. The New Ross line had closed a few months previously but was specially re-opened for the day. Think of what the safety police would make of that!

[ThomasJ]

Mostly due to demand. Kilkenny and Waterford are the same line and would have been completely sold out. And a lot of people just don't want to drive to Dublin.

Parts of East Waterford and Kilkenny are not too far away from the Rosslare line an could be easier to get to.

The Rosslare line goes to Connolly which is nice and handy.

When I lived in Cork, some of the match specials would go to Connolly which actually made the day so much better. Generally for Semi Finals they don't and there is nothing worse than:

1. Celebrating or Commiserating for about 30 seconds.

2. Rushing out of the stadium and running, walking fast, getting shin spins. Is there a bus, oh s**t, no 90 bus, right walk. Walk faster, run, oh dear, we made it. Oh darn we have to stand all the way home. This was before Luas by the way.

I know people who turn down Hogan stand tickets on the basis that it adds an extra 10 minutes to the journey back to Heuston.

Some of friends from counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare say they find it comical they way people from counties on the West and South Coast "leg it" after the match.

The same way as the fact that a large number of kerry fans used the Maynooth line for their match. Drumcondra being only 5 minutes from croker. Plus the last train from Drumcondra on a Sunday being 20:53

Again Rosslare/Gorey trains on match days should use Drumcondra!

[Jack O'Neill]

Station at Croke Park anyone?

[essoII]

i live very near the line in greystones and they sent us a letter explaining they were replacing the junction just before the station in the small between sat and sunday last. saw them working on the line around 2am...didnt know they'd not finished on time!