I'm reluctant to post fantasy timetables, because it's very easy to come up with timetables that seem perfectly sensible to us, but we can never take into account all the operational issues that have to be factored into a real world timetable.
However, have a look at the northbound movements through Connolly in the peak evening commuting period:
Time Gap Destination
16:50 Belfast
16:51 00:01 Drogheda
16:54 00:03 Malahide
17:08 00:14 Howth
17:21 00:13 Dundalk
17:24 00:03 Howth
17:39 00:15 Malahide
17:47 00:08 Maynooth
17:54 00:07 Howth
18:05 00:11 Drogheda
18:08 00:03 Howth
18:23 00:15 Drogheda
18:27 00:04 Howth
18:40 00:13 Drogheda
18:42 00:02 Malahide
18:47 00:05 Maynooth
18:53 00:06 Howth
19:00 00:07 Belfast
I'm counting 6 gaps of over 10 minutes, and two of 15 minutes. It should be possible to fit at least 6, and possibly 8 extra trains through Connolly while maintaining the 5 minute gaps required by the signalling system.
It should be possible to fit extra extra train paths to allow 6 DARTs per hour without massive increases to train times. Is the problem that "every 10 mins" is too inflexible? If the extra trains were added a little more flexibly, with a little of clustering of DARTs and some slightly longer gaps to allow longer distance trains to get through without completely ruining journey times. I think DART customers would appreciate the extra services, even if it's not quite a 10 minute frequency. Off-peak services could more easily achieve something closer to a 10 minute service.
I also think that overcrowding on commuter services needs to be looked at. It wouldn't be hard to have a 4-car semi-express service running ahead of the busier northern line services, perhaps with stops in Balbriggan, Laytown and Drogheda, easing some of the demand on the stopping service following. I'm sure something similar on the Maynooth line would also be sensible.
Of course, extra services cost money, and I suspect the government subvention isn't likely to be increased any time soon.
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