View Full Version : On train information and the lack thereof, post your experience
The last two or three times I've taken the Sligo train from Connolly there's been no onboard indication of the destination until moments before the train pulled out, and shortly after departure the automated system helpfully informed us that all passengers not intending to travel should disembark as the train would be leaving in two minutes :rolleyes:
Not sure what service it was as on train going the other way but it was at 15.55 in Pearse and heading southbound and it had Athy on the front.
Today's 1340 Pearse to Maynooth was displaying Rosslare Harbour/Calafort Ros Lair on the front and the internal displays were off and no announcements.
Thomas Ralph
02-12-2009, 19:59
Today's 1340 Pearse to Maynooth was displaying Rosslare Harbour/Calafort Ros Lair on the front and the internal displays were off and no announcements.
To make up for the imbalance, the 1730 Connolly-Wexford was marked Maynooth/Maigh Nuad.
Colm Moore
02-12-2009, 20:21
You know what? Dublin Bus displays are also suffering. I'm seeing at least one bus a week that has a blank front display.
This would be among the 6-8 buses I get per week, I don't watch the ones I'm not getting. :)
7.15 Maynooth to Connolly had Campille on the front.
4 piece 29k
Destination showing as rosslare harbour
Destination display showing as
castleconnell - c ui chonaill
This train actually ran yesterday, but it was operated by a 22000. As a result, no internal or external visual or audio PIS working. Driver made an announcement at beginning of the journey and one more as pulling into Clonsilla.
drumcondra commuter
14-12-2009, 09:58
This morning's late 8.33 from Drumcondra to Maynooth had station announcements but the speakers were not working properly which meant that they were largely inaudible.
14.35 Arklow - Maynooth had Drogheda at the front.
Driver told us in Connolly that drive is for Maynooth no matter what it said at the front and he was trying to fix it but couldn't
We were told this at least 6 times as we sat in Connolly for about 5 mins.
We left Connolly at the same time as the Drogheda train and ran side by side.
Maybe this was in case somebody want to jump trains ;)
Mark Gleeson
14-12-2009, 20:52
Its really gone mad recently
Ballymote instead of Bray
Castleconnel instead of Connolly
Odds on its because someone added Clongriffin and Gort into the system but forgot to add the Irish version
drumcondra commuter
15-12-2009, 09:24
...Odds on its because someone added Clongriffin and Gort into the system but forgot to add the Irish version
Ah now Mark, surely you're not accusing someone of gross incompetence in their job? ;)
Ah now Mark, surely you're not accusing someone of gross incompetence in their job? ;)
nah we couldn't be doing that
but in all honesty this is ongoing problem. The 20:45 pearse maynooth sunday service has been showing mosney nearly every sunday for the last year. This problem also crops up every so often
Mark Gleeson
15-12-2009, 14:29
If Irish Rail is listening, I'll fix your software
I'm sure we can negotiate a price which will be much less than the fines and court costs due to breaches of the Disability Act which will start rolling in. Looks easy fix, bit of change control and the like. The hard part is done the software works its just got some data entry bugs
If Irish Rail is listening, I'll fix your software
....
I would gladly help you Mark!
including adding basic passenger information at stations, like an up-to-date timetable!!
Well, I'm a third year CS student in the same college Mark works in, if he wants to set up a group to help IE I'm sure volunteers could be found :D
Well, I'm a third year CS student in the same college Mark works in,
So i'm not the only one here other than mark in the college of question :cool:
A few more to add to the bizarre collection :
21:05 longford connolly passed clonsilla destination showing as Cahir
saw a eight coach 29k approaching pearse before 20:00 displaying Mallow jct
not 100% about this one but 19:59 pearse maynooth looked like the destination was showing as Rosslare Harbour
On this evening's 16:30 Connolly to Wexford the train was showing on the front Ceann Poill (Campile). Didn't see the english as I just caught a glimpse of it as I was passing on a northbound train. Saw the return service at Greystones and as I was arriving on a Dart I saw the internal display of the return service showing 'Next Station Athy'.
Destination showing as docklands.
16:30 from Connolly to Wexford has Campile as the destination on the tickers over each door and says it's serving Dalkey, Sandymount, Mosney, Tullamore and Campile - random!
Random is an understatement :eek:
Audio and visual systems not on but well done to the driver who made the manual announcements asking customers to take care when getting off the train due to the icy conditions.
A sign of thinking of the customer for a change !
A sligo has just passed clonsilla station inbound at around 19.40 [as an eight coach 29k ]
destination showing castleconnell
Got on this train at phoenix park heading inbound.
The audio details were correct
the front destination display was malahide.
According to the visual onboard system this train was calling at ashtown, broombridge, coolmine, castleconnell, rush and lusk and malahide
Just pulled into pearse a few minutes ago displaying :
leixlip louisa bridge / mullach ide
carlowgirl
06-01-2010, 20:23
The 15.10 train from dublin to waterford today 06/01/2010 was stoped in kildare for at least 25 minutes before we were given any information at that we were told the delay was due to lack of signal at (blank blank blank....?) and we will give you more information as soon as possible. Then the limerick train floats past us. We were then left sitting for another 40 min before we were told we would be stopped for another 40 minutes. With no tea /coffee all that was left in the shop was kitkat well maybe thats what the driver was having whilst we were stoped ( have a kitkat ..have a break)
Translates into i havent an idea whats going on and have no clue as to long you will be stuck here we will say 40 minutes and hope for the best.
Not a thank you or sorry for the delay.
Mark Gleeson
06-01-2010, 22:22
Points at Cherryville Junction, froze or got clogged with snow.
They should have point heaters in place to prevent this, but they don't
ColmmacO
04-02-2010, 12:21
Saw this on the back display of a bray (or Lurgan??) bound 29 k yesterday afternoon.
Pretty much since this service was transferred to intercity operation that all manual announcements made are garbled and inintelligible. This seems to happen everyday on this particular service. This wouldn't be a problem if the PIS was on! Why they won't turn on the PIS is beyond me, as back in December when it was turned over to intercity railcars the PIS was working fine. Is it not breaking some rule to run a train without proper audible announcements either automatic or not and without the correct destination showing or in this case any destination showing?
Mark Gleeson
24-03-2010, 17:00
No destination displayed inside or out is a penalty item in the NTA contract on two fronts.
The train must
Display the correct destination front, back and side
Display and announce the next station, all stations to be served and destination inside before arrival and upon departure from every station
displaying mosney as the destination
drumcondra commuter
26-04-2010, 08:13
8.05 Maynooth train ex Connolly once again this morning showing Ballyhaunis on the front display (like every other morning for the last three weeks). No in-carriage announcements for stations.
No destination displayed inside or out is a penalty item in the NTA contract on two fronts...
Hi Mark,
is this actually happening?
Mark Gleeson
26-04-2010, 08:26
Where the equipment is fitted it must be functioning correctly. This is clearly not the case for most journeys
Where the equipment is fitted it must be functioning correctly. This is clearly not the case for most journeys
Who defines "functioning correctly"?
If I am sitting in the Westport carriage of the joint running Galway-Westport, and the information scrolling through says "This train is for Galway" is that "functioning correctly"
Colm Moore
27-04-2010, 07:05
Train at platform 1 at Pearse at 1906 last night going to Drogheda, Rosslare Harbour and Bray, all at the same time.
The 14:35 Arklow to Maynooth had littleisland on the front as it arrived into Lansdowne Road yesterday. Even with 2 drivers they couldn't get it to work properly.
Displayed locations such as Wicklow and Templemore as the next stop.
I would really hate to be a tourist in Ireland as you wouldn't know if you should get on a train or not since it doesn't display the correct final destination.
Where do they even get those destinations from? Are there any trains that have Ballyhaunis or Little Island as their terminus?
Colm Moore
29-04-2010, 14:25
Where do they even get those destinations from?
With the canvas scrolls, its the driver forgetting / not bothering change it.
With the electronic ones, it may be a database error, where the display is to display destination X (odd number) and destination X+1
How it should be programmed:
1 English name A
2 Irish name A
3 English name B
4 Irish name B
5 English name C
6 Irish name C
7 English name D
8 Irish name D
How we suspect is it programmed
1 English name A
2 Irish name A
3 English name B
4 Irish name B
5 English name C
6 Alternative English name C or spurious entry
7 Irish name C
8 English name D
9 Irish name D
Or
1 English name A
2 Irish name A
3 English name B
4 Irish name B
5 English name C
6 English name D
7 Irish name D
8 English name E
Are there any trains that have Ballyhaunis or Little Island as their terminus?No, nothing scheduled.
Thomas Ralph
29-04-2010, 18:08
I was on a train from Greystones to Howth earlier and it was saying next station Shankill as long as I was on it.
The 14:35 Arklow to Maynooth had littleisland on the front as it arrived into Lansdowne Road yesterday. Even with 2 drivers they couldn't get it to work properly.
Displayed locations such as Wicklow and Templemore as the next stop.
I would really hate to be a tourist in Ireland as you wouldn't know if you should get on a train or not since it doesn't display the correct final destination.
Same again today
drumcondra commuter
06-05-2010, 10:47
The 0805 ex Connolly commuter to Maynooth said Clonsilla on the front digital display. The driver announced at Broombridge that the train was bound for Maynooth. No other announcements - electronic or from the driver - made.
The 17.13 from Pearse to Dundalk yesterday and Wednesday displayed Drogheda on front of train and announcement on boarding thst the train was going to Drogheda. Lots of confused passengers, on both days, starting asking if it was going to Dundalk or not? Driver then announced that we were in fact Dundalk-bound.
On the 05.40 this morning from dundalk to Connolly - on board display continuously displaying that we were going to Castle Connell via Farranfore and NEWRY!!! The public announcement system was correct however for a tourist or any deaf passengers I'm sure this could cause major confusion!!!
The 17.13 from Pearse to Dundalk yesterday and Wednesday displayed Drogheda on front of train and announcement on boarding thst the train was going to Drogheda. Lots of confused passengers, on both days, starting asking if it was going to Dundalk or not? Driver then announced that we were in fact Dundalk-bound.
On the 05.40 this morning from dundalk to Connolly - on board display continuously displaying that we were going to Castle Connell via Farranfore and NEWRY!!! The public announcement system was correct however for a tourist or any deaf passengers I'm sure this could cause major confusion!!!
I thought Irish Rail were allergic to the Limerick - Ballybrophy line? (If) the Waterford - Rosslare line is "suspended" you might still see the Campile destination... about the only advertising it gets... :confused:
drumcondra commuter
10-05-2010, 10:59
8.05 Maynooth train ex Connolly once again this morning showing Ballyhaunis on the front display (like every other morning for the last three weeks). No in-carriage announcements for stations.
And again this morning.
i boarded this train at clonsilla heading maynooth bound
The destination was showing as littleisland
Stopping stations showing as kildare and knockroghery
Showing m3 parkway as the destination
The 13.30 Connolly to Rosslare arrived into tara st around 1415 but had Docklands on the front. I don't know if people didn't because of this
The 17:40 rosslare connolly terminated in connolly a few minutes ago.
The front, sides and back panels were showing dundalk as the destination!
Mark Gleeson
06-06-2011, 20:31
Train thought it was the Rosslare - Enniscorthy - Dundalk train (i.e. a normal Monday)
Is there stilla train from rosslare to connolly. I thought it was cancelled in the last timetable change?
I know this is a ghost thread at this stage but I had to post this https://mobile.twitter.com/Antonmcm/status/817070030324170752
Jamie2k9
05-01-2017, 20:37
Oh dear!, prehaps by accident driver hit 9 instead of 8 as part of ID or set change last minute.
shweeney
09-01-2017, 16:14
I note IR have solved the problem of the DART in-carriage electronic maps being inaccurate.
By turning them off, and in some cases covering them over with a cardboard map. Success! I'm sure when IR buy their next set of trains, they'll make a big song and dance about the sophisticated PIS onboard, only to quietly turn them off a few years later because they can't be bothered maintaining them.
Jamie2k9
09-01-2017, 21:06
I think they have been off with a long time. No easy or cheap fix possible. Its Clongriffin that caused them all the problems isn't it?
James Howard
10-01-2017, 08:06
Whatever the reasons for it, that is a really nasty screw-up to have to face as a passenger. Irish Rail always seem to treat passenger information as an optional extra - sure everyone knows where they are going.
I first came across those electronic light-up maps in Tokyo over 20 years ago and they were fitted to pretty old trains. Needless to say they worked flawlessly. I found it far easier to get around Tokyo than I did to get around Dublin despite not having a shared common language with any railway staff and not even being able to read their native character set. But their electronic passenger information worked every time where fitted and every driver announced every stop every time on a PA that worked consistently, clearly and loudly and said nothing else.
This is nothing to do with scale or investment - it's purely due to staff that give a damn. In Irish Rail, giving a damn is optional - most people do but enough don't to make for an inconsistent experience.
Dublin13
16-01-2017, 23:05
Simple solution to all of the issues with the 29000 and 86xx class PIS is to fit the same system that was used in the 81xx class since that system is very reliable and a proven off the shelf system that was used by Siemens in many other different trains.
System in the other trains is cheaper and less reliable and built to a price rather than a specifications to win the tender for new stock.
Colm Moore
20-01-2017, 18:47
System in the other trains is cheaper and less reliable and built to a price rather than a specifications to win the tender for new stock.Much of the problem is poor data, e.g. new stations not added or drivers logging into the system with the wrong train ID.
Dublin13
24-01-2017, 10:14
Much of the problem is poor data, e.g. new stations not added or drivers logging into the system with the wrong train ID.
May well be related to that, but the system used must play a part as well, 95% of the time the system on the 8100 trains works when in my experience on the 86xx it's about 25% of the time.
Mark Gleeson
24-01-2017, 19:39
The equipment is just fine, as with everything with Irish Rail its a lack of attention to detail
1. Not setup correctly by driver
2. Failure to load the current timetable
3. Failure to maintain, test and repair, its not safety requirement so is last on the list
Much has people like the Siemens PIS system, one of the systems on the LHB sets was on V36 of the software before approval, its a simple end to end all stations route. The PIS on the third batch of Tokyu car units is solid as well.
ACustomer
24-01-2017, 20:48
Failure to load the current timetable
There is also the failure to delete references to changing for a ferry at Dun Laoghaire. Total joke performance from Irish Rail.
Has anyone pestered them on specifics on the timetable?
I had similar with Bus Éireann, where they changed the route of their 220 bus through Carrigaline, meaning the Real Time app kept showing it arriving at my nearest stop in 8 minutes, over a period of 10 mins, before finally coming down. Once I complained, it was fixed within a week.
James Howard
25-01-2017, 07:21
I reported an issue with 29Ks announcing Longford as they passed the signal coming into Edgeworthstown more than 12 years ago. I haven't been down on a 29K for a couple of years but they were still doing it two years ago.
The 22Ks seem to work pretty well on Sligo although once I saw the distance to Dromad increase all the way from Carrick to Dromad. It reset itself at Dromad.
Jamie2k9
25-01-2017, 22:02
I reported an issue with 29Ks announcing Longford as they passed the signal coming into Edgeworthstown more than 12 years ago. I haven't been down on a 29K for a couple of years but they were still doing it two years ago.
The 22Ks seem to work pretty well on Sligo although once I saw the distance to Dromad increase all the way from Carrick to Dromad. It reset itself at Dromad.
Drivers on the 22's appear very aware of the PA so I am guessing when an announcement is made it shows up somewhere in the cab as the few times there are issues, they are quick to act whether that's just switching it off completely, silencing it or resetting. Or it's so load they can hear it...
One time when I was traveling the pa been 15km out of sink actually resulted in Real Time Data feeding onto the app/website south of Athy. Only works on up trains otherwise.
Dublin13
26-01-2017, 00:29
There are certainly some people who switch of the PA.
I used to ride up in the front carriage on a DART that had a driver change at Clontarf quite regularly and whenever there was one particular driver who got on the train, the PIS was always turned off after the change.
Could be many different units, but if that driver came on, without fail the unit would have its systems turned off. Either that or it goes off when last driver signs out and he doesnt' sign it back it.
I have seen Dublin Bus drivers do the same who do not like the stop announcements, they are not supposed to be able to do it but a few drivers know how to.
Colm Moore
28-01-2017, 15:40
I have seen Dublin Bus drivers do the same who do not like the stop announcements, they are not supposed to be able to do it but a few drivers know how to.Do you know any more about this? It may be why buses don't show up on the RTPI signs.
Dublin13
01-02-2017, 10:10
All I will say is the stop announcements need to know where the bus is, like the RTPI does.
Mark Gleeson
22-03-2017, 16:50
If someone sees this happening again, the specific date and time would be very helpful as we will then know the train ID, the unit numbers and by extension the roster will know who was driving
All I will say is the stop announcements need to know where the bus is, like the RTPI does.
Right, they never seem to know.
vBulletin v3.6.2, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.