Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > Irish Rail Customer Service Issues > Intercity and Regional > Dublin Mayo
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 14-05-2016, 14:07   #1
D08Dave
New to the board
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 4
Default Train Split at Athlone?

Hi,
I am travelling from Dublin Heuston to Ballina on a Monday morning soon departing Heuston at 7:35am. The journey planner states a change at Athlone and another at Manulla Junction.

From reading the timetable and searching online it appears this might not be a change but the train is split here and half goes to Galway and half to Westport. Is this correct or will I need to get off the train and wait for another train to Westport? If there is a split then it is really unclear on the journey planner

Confirmation would be appreciated
D08Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 14-05-2016, 15:42   #2
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Mon-Thurs it appears there is a change of train at Athlone and Manualla Junction. This may change depending on the numbers travelling so do check before boarding

in both cases the connecting train WILL always wait for you and is on the other side of the platform so no bridges or steps required
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 14-05-2016, 17:49   #3
D08Dave
New to the board
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 4
Default

Thanks for the response, it helps a bit with the logistics of Athlone. However I am still wondering if a split occurs with half the train going to Galway and half to Westport? Do Irish Rail split DMUs mid journey?

The journey planner shows that Mon-Thurs the train departs Heuston at 7:35am destined for Galway. This arrives in Athlone at 8:58am, departs Athlone at 9:05am and there is a connection to Westport at 9:08am.

On Fridays the journey planner shows the train departs Heuston at 7:35am but is instead destined for Westport. What happens at Athlone is similar with the train continuing to Westport at 9:08 and there is a connection to Galway at 9:05.

It seems that on Fridays they have reversed what happens with this connection Monday to Thursday but the timings all stay the same. Also because there is a 7-10minute stop in Athlone I thought perhaps the DMUs are split there. I also found some discussion on boards to that effect.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2056687290
D08Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 14-05-2016, 17:53   #4
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

They can/have split units mid journey however in this case a second train will be in Athlone waiting. As for the wait in Athlone I expect it crosses with the 07.15 ex Westport in Athlone.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 15-05-2016, 17:02   #5
berneyarms
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 602
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by D08Dave View Post
Thanks for the response, it helps a bit with the logistics of Athlone. However I am still wondering if a split occurs with half the train going to Galway and half to Westport? Do Irish Rail split DMUs mid journey?

The journey planner shows that Mon-Thurs the train departs Heuston at 7:35am destined for Galway. This arrives in Athlone at 8:58am, departs Athlone at 9:05am and there is a connection to Westport at 9:08am.

On Fridays the journey planner shows the train departs Heuston at 7:35am but is instead destined for Westport. What happens at Athlone is similar with the train continuing to Westport at 9:08 and there is a connection to Galway at 9:05.

It seems that on Fridays they have reversed what happens with this connection Monday to Thursday but the timings all stay the same. Also because there is a 7-10minute stop in Athlone I thought perhaps the DMUs are split there. I also found some discussion on boards to that effect.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2056687290
The timetable pdf clearly shows separate trains from Dublin to Galway and Athlone to Westport, except on Fridays when they switch and there is a direct train from Heuston to Westport and a connection from Athlone to Galway.

This is purely down to the loadings being much higher on Fridays on the Westport line, particularly the return working that this train operates from Westport.

There is no splitting done at Athlone any more (that stopped some years back) - the two services are separate trains - it will be a cross-platform interchange.

As above the reason for the wait in Athlone from 08:56 to 09:05 is that the train crosses with the 07:15 from Westport there.
berneyarms is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 03:29.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.