Quote:
Originally Posted by ACustomer
The solution to the Friday afternoon bus substitution for Galway is not all that easy. Forget Mk IIIs for a start: the maintenance facilities for them don't exist any more, and I am sure that at this stage bringing them back into service in relatively small numbers would be prohibitively costly.
|
Both Inchicore and Cork are still fully equipped to maintain a Mk3 set. In reality they can run for months on end with little more than replacing the brake disks. There is a 6 coach ICR on standby in Heuston currently. If a Mk3 set was available it would be on standby and take up a Cork or Tralee service if required. There is a serviceable Mk3 set laid up currently
Quote:
|
One of the 6-car ICR sets appears to be out of commission since a shunting mishap at the Portlaoise depot. Tenders were sought for its repair: any one had any news on how things are progressing? Also two 3-car ICR units are missing because they were damaged beyone repair when in transit form Korea: IE are totally blameless (for once) on this last point.
|
Which further affirms the need for the Mk3 option.
The ICR fleet is cleared for 9 coach operation. As far as I know 9 coach passenger operation is cleared on Dublin/Cork/Tralee and since the platforms on the Galway line are the same length, they could split 3/6 in Athlone