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If the WRC was to succeed (or at least lose a more manageable amount) it would require MUCH faster train times and also through running to Limerick Junction to provide connections to Dublin, Cork and Waterford.

Tge second of these is mostly a matter of will, but the first requires such massive capital investment that it's not going to happen.

The whole WRC is a real pity as it's set back realistic rail openings like Dublin-Navan, should we ever have the money for that.

For good measure, they managed to produce a document that prioritised Athenry-Tuam using some pretty dubious selection criteria (town's gateway status [which is just a political sop] over size/demand, lack of national road from Tuam to Athenry, when Athenry will almost never be the destination).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson (Post 69543)

Unless Sheep become dedicated commuters there isn't much business that can be drummed up on the WRC

Waterford Rosslare closure saved about 1.75 million per annum, current WRC loss is just over 3 million

Best approach is probably to get Ennis Athenry numbers down to less than 4 per train, only be one taxi required then... Given the bus service who needs a taxi, its faster, serves Shannon and with the exception of the week of the Galway races is up to 25% faster than the train

Reality is closure of the WRC would be the quickest and least painful measure to deliver significant savings. Rip the TVM's out and deploy them elsewhere. Business between Athenry and Galway is booming with numbers continuing to increase and that could be made profitable as could Cork/Cobh/Midelton with a little bit of focus on service and revenue collection

Student numbers traveling are up massively this year as is revenue from students which shows what simplification of the ID requirement and fares can do.

People are still complaining of standing on intercity services so clearly there is demand out there but the cost to provide the service (or indeed the revenue not been collected) is killing the bottom line.

A TVM at Rushbrooke on the cobh line is urgently needed - the whole of cobh now knows to go there when heading to Cork with a likely 1 in 4 chance that you'll encounter a checker/RPO on the train

IR is losing tens of thousands a year by not having a tvm there

There seems to have been a major rebound in numbers on the Sligo line over the last few months and it isn't just students - unless the students have figured out that commuting is more cost-effective than living in Dublin. I reckon the numbers in the car-park at Edgeworthstown are back up to boom levels if not higher some days.

So whatever they are doing, they are getting something right. It is a pity they are about to cut the services back a bit because as things are they would be better off leaving well-enough alone. In fact there is scope for an additional service or two per week - given the numbers on the 1705 to Sligo last Friday, it would be worth having the 1805 Longford train push on to Sligo.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...o--212447.html

Quote:

High price of petrol forces students onto the train
By Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

An increasing number of students attending third-level colleges in Limerick are opting for daily train commutes rather than car due to the spiralling cost of petrol.

Jim Gallivan, business development manager with Irish Rail at Colbert station, Limerick, said student business has grown by up to 100% on some services since the start of the academic year, with a marked increase on the Ennis-Limerick, Thurles-Limerick, and Limerick Junction-Limerick services.

Mr Gallivan said: "We decided to go with any student travel card last May.

"But this academic year it has really taken off, with numbers up by about 100%, particularly in and out of Limerick, with the third-level colleges. We are also getting a lot of students travelling every day who are attending grind schools.

"There has been a marked increase in daily commute student numbers travelling by train, compared to last year — from about 300 a week to 600 a week. There has been a marked increase from places in the Limerick catchment area.

"We feel that the cost of petrol is the big factor and this is encouraging more students to travel by train. Also, many families don’t have the second car anymore, which may have been used for getting a student to and from a college in Limerick every day."

Earlier this year, Mr Gallivan said Iarnród Éireann, on a trial basis, discounted the main intercity student fares and also offered the student discount to holders of all current student cards with photo ID.

"Overall, there has been an increase of up to 50% in student journeys into and out Limerick in the first four weeks of the 2012/13 year compared to last year, with student numbers increasing from 7,300 to over 11,000 in this four-week period.

"Student travel on the Limerick-Dublin-Limerick corridor has increased by 70% where the student fare dropped from €38 return to €20, giving a saving of over 60% off regular fares."

A student weekly ticket from Ennis or Limerick Junction to Limerick is €31.20, accompanied by a valid student card.

Quiet an increase. Have other lines seen increases like this.

Its a nationwide increase

The decision to change the ID requirement was made from Dublin and is under constant review

The 304 bus actually connects the train station and UL these days.

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1347005...ty-network.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colm Moore (Post 69612)

The 304 bus actually connects the train station and UL these days.

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1347005...ty-network.pdf

It will be interesting to see what is proposed for the Heuston side timetable. Saw a number of inbound services last Friday and was really surprised how lightly loaded they were.

0615 from Cork had about 80 passengers, 0832 from Newbridge somewhere between 60 and 90 passengers in a six car ICR. 0845 from Kildare had a similar load, this time in a three car ICR.

I wonder what loads would be like on the Nenagh line if a) there was a connecting service from Castleconnell rather than sending ULers into town and back and b) the evening service didn't leave as early as it does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colm Moore (Post 69612)

The 304 bus actually connects the train station and UL these days.

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1347005...ty-network.pdf

Most confusingly, it technically does not. Inbound/outbound town-UL it stops a a block away from the station. If you want to to be dropped outside you have to wait for it to go down through town and it stops at the station when heading to/from raheen.

Quote:

0615 from Cork had about 80 passengers, 0832 from Newbridge somewhere between 60 and 90 passengers in a six car ICR. 0845 from Kildare had a similar load, this time in a three car ICR.

These 3 trains are my biggest problem with IE in the mornings. The inbound service for the 08.45 at Kildare holds up the 07.10, the 6.15 form Cork is always 10 minutes late passing Newbridge which delays the 6.35 from Galway 10 minutes which results in the 08.32 departing 5-10 minutes late everyday which means the 07.10 has a 40mph crawl to Celbriudge with all signals orange before it can overtake the 08.32. The Cork timetable needs to be sorted as Limerick J seems to be the problem if real time is correct. If you lucky they will they will delay the 08.32 at Newbridge until the 07.10 passes but that only happens the odd day. Compare this to a Saturday and it could be 10-15 minutes early in Heuston with not 08.32 service but it does have to wait for the 09.00 to Cork to depart everyday before it can arrive on plt5.