I assume you mean that the seat frames are the same but that there is new and additional back padding under the covers?

Frames are the exact same, so no change in seat height, spacing, width or pitch. The headrest is different

The Enterprise seat were always a bit low

Yes you may be right once the foam settles down. The usual Friday Dublin 4:50 to Belfast so.
Gay Foreigners without seats taking pictures of other people standing?

I haven't been the refurbished Enterprise set yet, but as far as I know the only new seating is in the restaurant car.

Wouldn't get to excited about it as it's only 22000 seating.

In view of the last few posts on old/recycled seating, please remind us again what the total cost of this exercise is?

Replacing /recycling seats is incidental to this project and hardly the yardstick on which to judge it. The major issue with the seating configuration on these trains is the restricted leg-room in standard class dictated by seat density.

Yes - that's the link that the set is currently operating.

We have been promised a second set next Monday but skeptical but they need to have all 4 complete by December 31st

This will go on the 06:50 link so

0650, 1235, 1805
0935, 1520, 2050

The uncomfortable seating is probably down to the new filling and lack of head support!

Any truth in the rumours about a new Enterprise timetable which aligns better with commuter working day ? :)

Draft timetables are now out for consultation:
http://www.irishrail.ie/news/public-...muter-services

The draft timetable may show more even departure intervals for the Enterprise, but the trains are mostly slower: nothing shorter than 2h 15m. The new early departure from Belfast takes 2h 26 mins.

What's driving this is the new 10-minute interval DART service, which seems to slow everything up. I know that this really needs a new thread, but the Rosslare times have really gone to hell, and the Bray-Howth darts are generally about 75 minutes (remember when they took just 60?).

So you have to wait about 5 minutes less for a DART, and then finds it takes maybe 5 to 10 minutes longer to make the journey. Brilliant! Only on Irish Rail.....

SEATING - TRAYS
 

I used the refurbished Enterprise train yesterday for the first time, sitting in the seats without a table. When I tried to pull the tray down to put a coffee on, I found it would not lower past my stomach! I accept I am slightly overweight but I have never had an issue on any other NI train nor indeed on the previous Enterprise trains. I had to use the tray on the adjoining seat. I have emailed Translink and am awaiting a response (I suggested some of their staff sit in these seats and try using the trays).

Has anyone else experienced similar?

So are all the Enterprise sets back now?

I got the 8:20 from Drogheda to Connolly, which was served by an Enterprise set.

This morning the 8:18 relief was still running ahead of the Enterprise (about 20 mins late). Not sure if the Enterprise was using Enterprise stock.

James

The relief left Drogheda this morning at 0840 with the 0650 from Belfast following at 0845. With so much padding in the schedules and despite three permanent way slacks, both trains had reached Connolly by 0917. The 29k on the relief required the attention of maintenance staff at Drogheda and caused the Belfast train to be held outside.

Over the past couple of weeks they have been holding DART services to allow commuter and enterprise trains through, which I know will please someone on here.

Recently the 16:58 from Clontarf to Malahide has been running at least 10 minutes late every day normally because of late running commuter and Enterprise services and tonight it was running almost 20 minutes late waiting for the Enterprise to go through.

The platform display at Clontarf showed 1 min for over 10 min, when the Enterprise did go through the Malahide train and the following Howth were literally in convoy.

That DART was held for 5 minutes to allow the delayed 1650 to Belfast precede it at East Wall - this saved a further delay of 25 minutes to the Enterprise. This DART was 8 minutes late leaving Pearse and 13 minutes late at Portmarnock.

While the 1644 from Pearse to Drogheda is late most days due to congestion associated with the altered track layout at Pearse, it rarely affects the following DART as this is normally late before it gets to Pearse as was the case yesterday.

Oh that Dart is late all the time, no dispute about that, but I can tell you for certain that the time between the train showing due in 1 min on the display versus it actually arriving at Clontarf was 10 mins. At one point it vanished completely from the board.

My main gripe with it is because of it, is related to the timetable too, since it was almost impossible to board the DART to Malahide because of the sheer number of people due to even later than normal running.

Don't worry though, there was a Howth train right behind it that was probably empty, followed by another one that was probably empty as well, the service on the Malahide branch is a joke, trains are running late all of the time and overcrowded doesn't seem to effect the Howth branch nearly as much, but it just generates even worse overcrowding on the Malahide branch than there already is.

I was on that DART and it was stopped north of Connolly for six seconds under five minutes. It was full with a fair number standing but nothing spectacular given the delay and the time of the evening. Station stops were relatively brief, approximately 30 seconds at each station from Clontarf Road to Portmarnock again indicating that the train wasn't overly taxed in terms of passengers.

The main problem with operations on this route is that the infrastructure is inadequate to support the timetable and too inflexible to allow quick recovery in the event of anything other than a very minor disturbance. Without additional tracks stations such as Clongriffin can only be properly served by downgrading existing services which is in effect what the proposed new timetable does. Huge stations have been built on the Kildare line with up to five platforms in addition to fast and slow lines. Patronage at these stations are negligible while Clongriffin, which is much busier, has been built with four platforms and only three tracks !

I don't know how long it was stopped North at Connolly, all I know is that between the time it said 1 min on the board the train was nowhere in sight and 10 minutes later it had only just arrived.

It depends on the carriages, some of them were lightly loaded alwright but I had to try three doors before I got in one. It was nothing like the 17:58 or the 18:42 however from Clontarf which are the two that are absolutely wedged on a regular basis all the wya through to Cllongriffin, no chance of getting on them. if you have a buggy for instance or some luggage.

I noticed this morning the 7:30 is still being served by a 22K (it left Drogheda at 8:16 this morning, approx 9 mins late).

Weren't all four sets supposed to be back in service by the end of the year? Clearly at least 2 sets didn't make the deadline. What impact will have have on the project funding?

James

I think it was more the case that the money was spent before the end of the year, rather than all sets being back into service.

Refurbished enterprise set out of service until further notice. RSC have withdrawn authority for use after second door failure incident

And quite right to do so, the high rate of failure in service suggests the train is not fit for public service

Interesting. Are any refurbished sets currently in service.

Back around September I was predicting (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) that the Enterprise sets would all go out of service, and mysteriously never return, a bit like the 8200 DARTs...

As the safety certificate has been revoked, banned from passenger service within the Republic of Ireland

Being kept pretty low key to save face, wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't read it here.

I can think of another class of rolling stock which has featured in at least two major incidents in recent months. It will be interesting to see if the RSC take an equally firm line !

So its all sets or just the one with repeated door faults?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-35292165

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/envir...vamp-1.2492908

Latest update on the Translink website:

Enterprise Service Information, Wednesday 13th January

**Updated 1220 (13/1)

The Enterprise train will resume today with the 1405 from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly....also the 1650 from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central will operate as the Enterprise service (1St Plus is now available and each service will operate with full catering facilities).

Failed in depot this morning and did not do 1105/1400.

Separately all trains between Portadown and Belfast replaced by buses on 30/31 January. Cross border passengers bus to/from Newry

this is just amazingly incompetent at this stage. the premier service on the island, how are you.

Used the standard class for the first time this morning (9:10 ex-Dundalk), my only other time on the refurbished set having been in the buffet car. The general finish is good and the displays very clear, but the seats... the headrest seemed to me to be too "far back", if you could put it that way. It doesn't have the same amount of padding as the old ones did for supporting your head and, basically, I found it a bit uncomfortable. That said, there was plenty of support for the lower back. All-in-all it was a pleasant journey, and all carriages well filled. One final gripe: I really preferred the former dark green/yellow stripe/grey exterior, the present one is just nondescript. And the colour scheme on the driving cab end - what is it with this fixation on "swooshes" or whatever they are? It looks like a mobile stick of rock :D

Anyone tried First or Enterprise Plus as I suppose we must now call it?

Yes, I did, 9.10 ex-Dlk. Thursday this week. Paid the supplement over my yearly as I just wanted a bit of relaxation. Every bit as good as it was, I must say, and comfort, service, coffee (I being an addict in that respect) as good as ever. Well done, Enterprise people, love yiz❤. Puleeaze get the remaining sets back in commission a.s.a.p.

Second set is back in service as of Friday.

It remains to be seen if Irish Rail is going to live up to Translinks standards when the third set is returned. Translink staff always show up in Enterprise uniform with name badge, Irish Rail staff if you can find one don't bother

Based on prior Irish Rail performance, the answer to your question is obvious !

It's remarkable when you see something so small as a uniform becomes such an issue.

At times I struggle to see which is worse, unions or middle management. It is very simple wear the uniform or be given a P45 or continuing disciplinary action until a time comes when a P45 can be issued legally.