[16/07/2007] Westport/Ballina Services
 

The 12:40 arrived 1hr 30mins late into Ballina yesterday. By the time the 17:55 from Ballina got to Manulla we were waiting for about 20mins, no announcements (Well there isn't a PA system there anyway!) for the Westport train to arrive. Stopped at a level crossing outside Castlerea, no announcements either. Crossed the downtrain at Knockcroghery, that was late too. Further delay at Tullamore, this time we had 2 announcements, this was due to a signalling problem apparently. At this stage the train was 30mins late but made it to Heuston only 10mins late. Appology over the PA on arrival.

Any reason why atleast 3 services were delayed yesterday?

I would seem that lightning caused a problem with signalling somewhere near Knockcroghery. Occasionally lightning strikes can play havoc with electric signalling: happened on the Cork line many moons ago.

The 1310 from Westport also got overtaken by the 15:05 from Galway, which was on time, when it got to Tullamore, for a change. So that was at least 4 trains late.

Looked like the 17:50 back to Galway might have been very late as it was waiting for the Mayo train to get in....

It can be a nightmare when lightening strikes signal points having said that disruption to mayo services could have been much worst. It was not too long ago a couple of years that a lightening strike hit the signal point at clonsilla overnight and as a result there were no trains the following day until five o clock the next day.

The new fangled computerised signalling is quite sensitive to lighting strikes

coupled with the single track business, put everything a few hours late for the day.

Does it take all day to fix?

Excellence.

We passed that outside Athlone alright, normally where the Bank Holiday Monday Ballina - Dublin pulls in.

Bring back semaphores! :D (Joking of course)