Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson
A 6 piece set is likely to do the Newry service will cut times by 10 minutes
The plan once the signalling is sorted is to run some express services from Dundalk/Drogheda so there will be more services and more seats for all
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"Sorting out" the signalling is not a pre-requisite for express services from Drogheda & Dundalk. Sufficient additional workings could be relatively easily accommodated within the existing infrastructure, provided they operated to/from Connolly only.
The yet to be commissioned signalling does a number of things, none of which particularly facilitate express services. The main feature will be additional intermediate signals between Malahde and Grand Canal Dock which will theoretically allow reduced headways although, if the signalling system is utilised to capacity, all trains will have to trave at the speed of the slowest trains and therefore journey time from Malahide will be dictated by DART and will average little more than 20mph, irrespective of the service, expess or otherwise.
Crucially, the new signalling does nothing to sort out the dysfunctional layout at Malahide and will see overtaking facilities commissioned in only one direction at Clongriffin.
While it will be possible to turn trains back towards the city at both Clongriffin and Bayside, these features are unlikely to be much used unless the Malahide or Howth DART services are curtailed at these locations.