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Rushed2nowhere · 02-01-2007, 23:06

(dartify means to upgrade a line to D.A.R.T. standard)
This would be my plan.The Navan Kingscourt line would bereopened once the line from Clonsilla to Navan is reopened.
A line would then go; Carrickmacross,Castleblaney,Monaghan,Omagh, Netownstewart, Strabane/Lifford with the station built over the river and then terminate in Letterkenny with a spur to Derry.
A new line would be built from Portadown going through Armagh, Monaghan, Enniskillen, Manorhamilton and Sligo.
A third line could then go Monaghan, Clones, Cavan and then join up with Connolly Sligo line at Edgeworthstown.
A fourth line would go Sligo,Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Donegal,Balybofey/Stranar, Castlefinn and Lifford/Strabane.. These lines would effectivly serve this area. .
I would propose another westren rail corridor. The line to Tuam to be built as proposed. From Tuam it would go to Ballyhaunis, Ballaghaderreen and then follow the track bed between Ballaghaderreen and the Sligo Connolly line. I would also build a line going from Ballyhaunis to Ballina via Knock airport, Swinford and then a new station in Foxford closer to the town centre. Manaulla junction could then be closed and any unused land sold off. The tracks between said junction and Foxford could be reused and then the land sold off.The present W.R.C. could finally be buried and again the land could be sold off.
Not sure the spur to Shannon airport would be good idea. I am not familiar with Galway.
The Limerick Ballybrophy line would be diverted just after Roscrea and go Mountrath, Mountmellick and Portarlington.
I would reopen the lines to Foynes and operate this as a commuter service
with stations at Foynes, Askeaton, Rathkeale, Adare, Patrickswell and then one or two more in the suburbs of Limerick.
I would also reopen the direct line between Patrickswell and Charleville.The Limerick to Rosslare harbour line should have much more services. I would propose five in each direction, with commuter services operating around Limerick and Waterford on this line.
Not familiar with Cork transport woes but I support the commuter overhaul and the redevelopment of Cork Kent to face the river. I think a line needs to be built to Ringaskiddy and the airport.
The line between Killarney and Tralee needs to straightened and Farranfore station to be located in the airport.
Closer to home a twin track tunnel between Bray and Greystones needs to be built. We could even use the T.B.M's from the interconnector tunnel. The line south of Greystones should be deviated inland to run just east of Kicoole and Newcastle with new stations in both towns. A new line would then be built between Wicklow and Arklow as straight as possible. Once this is completed six trains a day would run between Dublin and Rosslare Europort each way. The commuter services would continue using the present alignment and the line would be dartified to Wicklow from Dublin.
Pearse station needs a facelift/ properly cleaned/ revamped.
The line between Athlone and Mullingar would be reopened with all trains to Galway, Westport and Ballina leaving from Connolly. This would free up space out of Heuston and there are four lines between Connolly and Liffey junction. There's four platforms where trains could terminate in Connolly.
The viaduct at Drogheda would be double tracked. Dunleer station could be reopened. I support the “extend the D.A.R.T. campaign” but I think also it should be extended to Kildare and Drogheda. These lines need to be dartified as soon as possible that the commuter railcars can be freed up and used for Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway commuter services. At the moment the way I see it Iarnrod Eireann have two options either they buy more commuter railcars or they dartify the Maynooth, Kildare and Drogheda lines to provide more capacity.
I think one major obstacle is the fact that at the moment we are only just producing enough electricity at peak times to meet demand. One solution to this problem would be for Iarnrod Eireann to produce there own electricity by funding wind turbines, building there own power stations etc (this power would be for all pubic transport).
Another issue I.E. need to address is the pricing issue. Cork Dublin. return by rail is nearly €60 yet the same journey by bus is €18. Another thing is the huge difference between adult fares and child fares. Does everyone become magically rich when they turn 16? Most people nowadays do there leaving cert. In Switzerland up to the age of 16 you pay ½ price on all the trains and once you turn 16 you can pay 150 Swiss franks (€100) and continue to pay ½ price on all the rail services.
Also I would propose a survey of all the level crossings in Ireland. The survey would examine the cost of eliminating them, the effect they have on train speeds, safety etc. As with the roads the railways need to be realigned to make them as straight as possible to increase speed and safety.
To fund all this I would stop building motorways/dual carriage ways and concentrate on bypasses and 2+1 roads.

02-01-2007, 23:06	#8
Rushed2nowhere New to the board Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 27	(dartify means to upgrade a line to D.A.R.T. standard) This would be my plan.The Navan Kingscourt line would bereopened once the line from Clonsilla to Navan is reopened. A line would then go; Carrickmacross,Castleblaney,Monaghan,Omagh, Netownstewart, Strabane/Lifford with the station built over the river and then terminate in Letterkenny with a spur to Derry. A new line would be built from Portadown going through Armagh, Monaghan, Enniskillen, Manorhamilton and Sligo. A third line could then go Monaghan, Clones, Cavan and then join up with Connolly Sligo line at Edgeworthstown. A fourth line would go Sligo,Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Donegal,Balybofey/Stranar, Castlefinn and Lifford/Strabane.. These lines would effectivly serve this area. . I would propose another westren rail corridor. The line to Tuam to be built as proposed. From Tuam it would go to Ballyhaunis, Ballaghaderreen and then follow the track bed between Ballaghaderreen and the Sligo Connolly line. I would also build a line going from Ballyhaunis to Ballina via Knock airport, Swinford and then a new station in Foxford closer to the town centre. Manaulla junction could then be closed and any unused land sold off. The tracks between said junction and Foxford could be reused and then the land sold off.The present W.R.C. could finally be buried and again the land could be sold off. Not sure the spur to Shannon airport would be good idea. I am not familiar with Galway. The Limerick Ballybrophy line would be diverted just after Roscrea and go Mountrath, Mountmellick and Portarlington. I would reopen the lines to Foynes and operate this as a commuter service with stations at Foynes, Askeaton, Rathkeale, Adare, Patrickswell and then one or two more in the suburbs of Limerick. I would also reopen the direct line between Patrickswell and Charleville.The Limerick to Rosslare harbour line should have much more services. I would propose five in each direction, with commuter services operating around Limerick and Waterford on this line. Not familiar with Cork transport woes but I support the commuter overhaul and the redevelopment of Cork Kent to face the river. I think a line needs to be built to Ringaskiddy and the airport. The line between Killarney and Tralee needs to straightened and Farranfore station to be located in the airport. Closer to home a twin track tunnel between Bray and Greystones needs to be built. We could even use the T.B.M's from the interconnector tunnel. The line south of Greystones should be deviated inland to run just east of Kicoole and Newcastle with new stations in both towns. A new line would then be built between Wicklow and Arklow as straight as possible. Once this is completed six trains a day would run between Dublin and Rosslare Europort each way. The commuter services would continue using the present alignment and the line would be dartified to Wicklow from Dublin. Pearse station needs a facelift/ properly cleaned/ revamped. The line between Athlone and Mullingar would be reopened with all trains to Galway, Westport and Ballina leaving from Connolly. This would free up space out of Heuston and there are four lines between Connolly and Liffey junction. There's four platforms where trains could terminate in Connolly. The viaduct at Drogheda would be double tracked. Dunleer station could be reopened. I support the “extend the D.A.R.T. campaign” but I think also it should be extended to Kildare and Drogheda. These lines need to be dartified as soon as possible that the commuter railcars can be freed up and used for Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway commuter services. At the moment the way I see it Iarnrod Eireann have two options either they buy more commuter railcars or they dartify the Maynooth, Kildare and Drogheda lines to provide more capacity. I think one major obstacle is the fact that at the moment we are only just producing enough electricity at peak times to meet demand. One solution to this problem would be for Iarnrod Eireann to produce there own electricity by funding wind turbines, building there own power stations etc (this power would be for all pubic transport). Another issue I.E. need to address is the pricing issue. Cork Dublin. return by rail is nearly €60 yet the same journey by bus is €18. Another thing is the huge difference between adult fares and child fares. Does everyone become magically rich when they turn 16? Most people nowadays do there leaving cert. In Switzerland up to the age of 16 you pay ½ price on all the trains and once you turn 16 you can pay 150 Swiss franks (€100) and continue to pay ½ price on all the rail services. Also I would propose a survey of all the level crossings in Ireland. The survey would examine the cost of eliminating them, the effect they have on train speeds, safety etc. As with the roads the railways need to be realigned to make them as straight as possible to increase speed and safety. To fund all this I would stop building motorways/dual carriage ways and concentrate on bypasses and 2+1 roads.